Change What Your Power Button Does

Printer Friendly Version |

Rating:

Total Votes: 40

Like These Tips? Get Them Free In Your E-mail Everyday!

Rate This Tip! :

It's time to think outside the box on this Quicktip. The power button on the front of your PC; what does it do? It tends to put my computer at home to sleep when I press it, but what if you've got other stuff you'd rather it be doing?

What about just shutting the system down? Perhaps you'd like it to make your PC hibernate? Shoot, what if you don't want it to do anything at all?

Here's the tip.

For Windows Vista:
Type “Powercfg.cpl” in the search box minus the quotes. Once the Power Options window appears, click on “Choose what the power button does” off to the left. Here, you can assign a function to the power button and away you go!

For Windows XP:
Click Start>Run and then type in “Powercfg.cpl”, once again, minus the quotes. Under the Advanced tab you'll see options for how you want the power button to react to your press. Funny, though, that only XP gives you the option to have Windows ask you what you want to do when you press the button. This option is strangely absent in Vista. I guess Vista doesn't ask, Vista only tells!

~Andrew

Want to comment on this tip? Click here! We'd love to hear from you!

Do you know something helpful to add to this tip? Click Here and let us know. We'll share it with the world!

Your name:
Email:	Your email address will not be published.
Subject:
Your suggestion:	Please Note - Use this form ONLY if you have additional information you think should be added to this tip (For example, you have a better / faster way of doing it, an additional warning, etc). All submissions are moderated by WorldStart personnel and subject to our approval and / or revisions. If approved, your information will be added below for anyone visiting this page to see. If you have a comment or question, please do not use this form! Instead, use the "Tip Feedback" link above.

Like these tips? Get them for FREE in your email!

Computer Tips with MS Office Tips Newsletter

Computer Tips Daily - Run your Windows PC like a pro! No matter what your skill level, beginner or advanced, you'll find tons of valuable tips, tricks, and ideas in every issue (plus great software deals). Become the computer guru you've always wanted to be! The tip you've just read was in this newsletter!
Computer Tips Weekly - If you don't want our Computer Tips newsletter every day, then sign up for this weekly newsletter to get the best information of the week. Sent on Fridays.

Other Newsletters

Software Deals - Every week, we send out great deals in our Software Deals newsletter. Many of these deals are exclusively for our Software Deals newsletter subscribers and can't be found with our regular specials.
Just For Grins - Each issue includes a couple clean jokes, some funny quotes, and a hilarious reader's story. Newsletter is sent five days a week.

Enter Email Address:

Your e-mail address is safe with us!
We only use it to send you the newsletters you request. It is NEVER disclosed to a third party for any reason, ever! Plus, if you decided you don't like our newsletters (don't worry, you'll love them), unsubscribing is fast and easy.

Computer Tips with MS Office Tips Newsletter

See what others say!

Sentry Folding Speaker System - $14.97