Shutdown, restart, or hibernate your computer on a schedule

In this instructable, I will be showing you how to shutdown, restart, or hibernate your computer on a schedule.

See the notice at the end if you are using an older operating system than Windows XP.

Step 1 Create a batch file

First, you must create a batch file (.bat) to be executed. Open notepad (all programs\ accessories). Type in exactly as I dictate:

For shutdown:

c:\windows\system32\shutdown -s -f -t 00                  (or do ...shutdown -p -f)

For restart:

c:\windows\system32\shutdown -r -t 00

For hibernate:

c:\windows\system32\shutdown /h

Save it anywhere you like as shutdown (or whichever accordingly) .bat so it would be "shutdown.bat" for example.
DO NOT save as a -.bat.txt, you are then merely saving text.

Comments

[DeanGPotts]

Hi i have a similar instructable and i use the path %windir%\System32\
which windows should recognise on virtually all versions of windows.

Hope this helps :)

[nehav]

where to put our mobile number from which we are sending shutdown command

[chosenone3]

Good tutorial ,but windows folder may be on other drive like "D:" :]

[gamerguy13]

The windows folder is on the drive that the OS is on. If your OS is on the D drive, the filepath would be:

d:\windows\system32\shutdown...

[chosenone3]

I know but i think there is a way to shutdown a pc using other method (that doesn't need to have path specified)

[Padlock]

A program does not have to have a path specified, as long as it resides in one or more of the directories listed in the %path% variable. To see the path, open command prompt and type echo %path%.

[gamerguy13]

Doing that with shutdown.exe automatically make it perform an immediate shutdown. It may not always be what someone wants though.

[Padlock]

I'm assuming you had meant to reply to my other comment. This is false. With the "/t xxx" switch you can delay it as long asdesired. It is exactly the same as referring to it inside of a batch file.

[gamerguy13]

Command prompt does not require typing the entire filepath.

[Padlock]

Hmm. You're creating a batch file to run a single command. Unnecessary?

Next time, just try scheduling the task to run shutdown.exe. And the /h (hibernate) switch for shutdown.exe is only compatible with Vista, and maybe Windows 7. Unsure about the latter though.

[gamerguy13]

Simply running shutdown.exe does not work if you have tried it.

[Padlock]

Uh, it has to work. A batch file is literally a set of programs with specific parameters to run. You are most likely running it without parameters. In the task scheduler, set it up to run shutdown.exe directly; not the batch file. Where it says "Add Arguments" try "/s /t 30" or another parameter; it should work. It has to work.

[gamerguy13]

A bonus to batch files are that they can run outside a schedule actually in Windows, though I am not sure what for exactly.

[Padlock]

I am not sure what you are trying to communicate.

A batch file is a list of programs located within the path. A batch filewith a single command is useless because you can simply refer to thecommand directly. Anything you can do with that batch file, you can do without.

[gamerguy13]

Then that is another way to do it.

[lemonie]

A lot of tasks that will run while you're in bed have the shutdown option: what are you running on this?
(interested)

L

[gamerguy13]

?

[lemonie]

Why do you use this or what for?

L

[gamerguy13]

It could be used for a server. I currently have no use for it but I thought I would just share some knowledge.

[lemonie]

OK.

L

[uthus]

For Linux just edit your cron file:

# To restart daily at say 4 AM:
0 4 * * * reboot  # (or shutdown -r)

# To restart the first day of the month at 4 AM:
0 4 1 * * reboot

# To restart to shutdown at 12:01 AM on New Year's Day:
1 0 1 1 * shutdown

# To restart Monday at 6 AM to be ready for the upcoming workweek:
0 6 * * 1 reboot

# Columns are:
# 1 minutes
# 2 hours
# 3 day of month
# 4 month
# 5 day of week

# for more information `man 5 crontab'

Check this script for hibernating or suspending:
http://www.linux.com/news/hardware/laptops/8253-how-to-suspend-and-hibernate-a-laptop-under-linux