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Remote Restart Windows Server 2008
You can remotely reboot your Windows server with the built-in Shutdown.exe utility.
The entire command so far should look something similar to this: shutdown workspace1 /r /f. Press ↵ Enter to restart the computer immediately. Continue to the next step to add a timer with a comment. Here's how to properly reboot (restart) a Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, or XP PC. Shutdown r command in Windows 10.
Topics For Remote Server Restart
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Built-inShutdown.exe Command – The Basics
This shutdown utility is available at the command line in Windows Server 2008 and earlier operating systems going right back to XP. Start by typing cmd; remember to ‘Run as Administrator’. Once the DOS box launches your first real decision is do you want to reboot (-r), or shutdown (-s) that server in another part of the network?
Note 1: The default with -r is the local machine! Thus introduce the -m switch if you want a remote restart.
Note 2: While your ‘victim’ is probably a Windows Server, you can launch the command from Windows 7 or earlier Microsoft clients.
Warning: Despite what anyone tells you, nobody gets to be an expert with Shutdown without accidentally downing the local machine instead of the target computer. To recover from this mistake pay close attention to the syntax of Shutdown’s abort switch -a.
Select Your ComputerName With -m
When you attempt to restart a remote Windows server always remember that the default computername is the local machine, therefore to access a remote server you need to append -m ComputerName.
The full command would be:
Shutdown -r -m BigServer If the minus sign is unfamiliar, you could try
Shutdown /s /m BigServer, in this example, ‘BigServer’ is the hostname of the remote operating system. None of these commands is case sensitive so sHUTDOWN -R -m bigserver would work just as well.
Shutdown -r -m BigServer If the minus sign is unfamiliar, you could try
Shutdown /s /m BigServer, in this example, ‘BigServer’ is the hostname of the remote operating system. None of these commands is case sensitive so sHUTDOWN -R -m bigserver would work just as well.
Note 1: There is no space between the double backslash and the computername
BigServer would not work.
BigServer would not work.
Note 2: If you substitute -s for -r that would mean shutdown.
For testing -m on the local machine, try 127.0.0.1
For example, shutdown -r -m 127.0.0.1 Such a command is useful in batch files. Alternatively, to reboot numerous computers try PowerShell’s command Restart-Computer.
For example, shutdown -r -m 127.0.0.1 Such a command is useful in batch files. Alternatively, to reboot numerous computers try PowerShell’s command Restart-Computer.
Examples of Shutdown switches
shutdown -r -m YourSrv – Reboots a remote machine called ‘YourSrv’.
![Shutdown R Now Restart Shutdown R Now Restart](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125613063/619853552.jpg)
shutdown -s -m Laptop – Shuts down, or stops a remote machine called ‘Laptop’.
While you probably want to reboot a Windows server, Shutdown works on all modern Microsoft client operating systems.
Note 3: For once the sequence of switches is vital, hence shutdown -m -s Laptop does not work.
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![Shutdown R Now Restart Shutdown R Now Restart](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125613063/941433103.png)
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Shutdown Access is Denied. (5)
This is often a permissions problem, or to be precise a lack of the user right to ‘Force shutdown from a remote system’.
One solution is to launch Secpol.msc and adjust the settings as follows:
- Local Polices
- User Rights Assigments (Scroll down)
- Force shutdown from a remote system
- Add the user who needs to remotely restart the server.
Trap : You typed Secpol, and forgot the .msc extension thus: Secpol.msc. See more on Secpol
Windows Shutdown – Check the Additional Commands
Here is addition information about the optional commands to remotely restart your Windows Server.
-a Is for abort. Naturally it only works during the time-out period. Of all the optional switches, this the one to test before you start restarting servers for real. The syntax is deceptively simple:
Shutdown -a
Avoid overthink, you don’t need the -m switch or the machine’s name.
-t is for time. Is 30 seconds too long or too short a time? You can adjust with -t: 60 to display the dialog box for one minute. The maximum time is 600 seconds!
-f is for force. ‘Mr Nasty’, is coming – ready or not! Shutdown -r -f as you may have guessed, restarts the machine, and closes any programs without warning.
-c is for a comment. Would you like to put your stamp on the shutdown? Let people know who is in charge, who is restarting their server? -c 'Guy is shutting you down'
-d p:4:1 reason. Personally, I would avoid this switch, the syntax is tricky the numbers obscure, and it does nothing exciting. That said the idea is sound, it enters a reason for the shutdown in the event log. If you activate shutdown’s help, then you will get a whole list of major and minor reasons that you could employ with this switch. For me, this switch is an option, an option that I do not take.
Note 1: The shutdown command line switches work equally well with a forward slash, for example, /d, /r or /a
(instead of -d, -r or -a)
(instead of -d, -r or -a)
Note 2:Here is another example of Shutdown in action
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Launch The GUI With Shutdown -i
You could just click on the Start orb and type: ‘Shutdown -i’.
Consider making a shortcut to shutdown. The advantage is that you can include the -i (/i) for interactive switch. The benefit is that you have a GUI to control your remote server restarts.
Just right-click the desktop, New, Shortcut, type
Shutdown -i
Shutdown -i
A shortcut is born. (See screenshot above right).
Full List of Windows Server Shutdown Commands
Usage: shutdown [/i | /l | /s | /r | /g | /a | /p | /h | /e] [/f]
[/m computer][/t xxx][/d [p|u:]xx:yy [/c 'comment']]
[/m computer][/t xxx][/d [p|u:]xx:yy [/c 'comment']]
/i Display the graphical user interface (GUI). This must be the first option.
/l Log off. This cannot be used with /m or /d options.
/s Shutdown the computer.
/r Shutdown and restart the computer.
/g Shutdown and restart the computer. After the system is rebooted, restart any registered applications.
/a Abort a system shutdown. This can only be used during the time-out period.
/p Turn off the local computer with no time-out or warning. Can be used with /d and /f options.
/h Hibernate the local computer. Can be used with the /f option.
/e Document the reason for an unexpected shutdown of a computer.
/m computer Specify the target computer.
/t xxx Set the time-out period before shutdown to xxx seconds.
The valid range is 0-315360000 (10 years), with a default of 30. If the timeout period is greater than 0, the /f parameter is implied.
/c 'comment' Comment on the reason for the restart or shutdown. Maximum of 512 characters allowed.
/f Force running applications to close without forewarning users. The /f parameter is implied when a value greater than 0 is specified for the /t parameter.
/d [p|u:]xx:yy Provide the reason for the restart or shutdown.
p indicates that the restart or shutdown is planned.
u indicates that the reason is user defined. If neither p nor u is specified the restart or shutdown is unplanned.
xx is the major reason number (positive integer less than 256).
yy is the minor reason number (positive integer less than 65536).
/l Log off. This cannot be used with /m or /d options.
/s Shutdown the computer.
/r Shutdown and restart the computer.
/g Shutdown and restart the computer. After the system is rebooted, restart any registered applications.
/a Abort a system shutdown. This can only be used during the time-out period.
/p Turn off the local computer with no time-out or warning. Can be used with /d and /f options.
/h Hibernate the local computer. Can be used with the /f option.
/e Document the reason for an unexpected shutdown of a computer.
/m computer Specify the target computer.
/t xxx Set the time-out period before shutdown to xxx seconds.
The valid range is 0-315360000 (10 years), with a default of 30. If the timeout period is greater than 0, the /f parameter is implied.
/c 'comment' Comment on the reason for the restart or shutdown. Maximum of 512 characters allowed.
/f Force running applications to close without forewarning users. The /f parameter is implied when a value greater than 0 is specified for the /t parameter.
/d [p|u:]xx:yy Provide the reason for the restart or shutdown.
p indicates that the restart or shutdown is planned.
u indicates that the reason is user defined. If neither p nor u is specified the restart or shutdown is unplanned.
xx is the major reason number (positive integer less than 256).
yy is the minor reason number (positive integer less than 65536).
Restart-Computer PowerShell Cmdlet
As an alternative to the built-in Windows Server shutdown command try PowerShell. It has a family of cmdlets such as Stop-Computer and Restart-Computer. A likely scenario is that you wish to automate the reboot of a remote server. With a tiny substitution to the cmdlet’s verb you could change the command so that it simply shuts down the computer. See more about using PowerShell’s restart-Computer cmdlet.
Summary of Remote Restart Windows Server
It’s fun to learn the Remote Restart Windows Server, and one day they will save you a long walk when you want restart or stop a remote computer. My advice is to perfect the -a (abort) switch, that way you won’t panic if you issue a command to shutdown the local computer instead of the network machine.
For beginners, shutdown -i helps you to check the options in a GUI.
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Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Topics:
• Server 2008 Home • Overview • What’s New? • Server Manager • Install
• Hyper-V • Windows LDP.exe download • Group Policy • Remote restart Windows server
• Network Performance Monitor • Windows Server 2012 • SP1 Review • IPAM 3 Review
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Hi Zeeshan,
Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community.
I do appreciate your efforts and time.
Restart the computer a few times.
Also, check for Windows Updates. In the search box on the taskbar, enter Windows Update, select Windows Update. On the Windows Update page, select Check for updates.
Run the Power Troubleshooter.
Power troubleshooter will automatically fix some common issues with Power Plans. Run the Power troubleshooter to adjust your computer's power settings. The Power troubleshooter checks things like your computer's timeout settings, which determine how long the computer waits before turning off the monitor display or entering sleep mode. Adjusting these settings can help you conserve power and extend your computer's battery life.
- Press Windows key + W and type Troubleshooting.
- Select Troubleshooting and click on System and Security.
- Click on Power and follow the onscreen steps.
Also, place the system in Safe Mode and check if it works fine.
- Restart your PC. When you reach the sign-in screen, hold the Shift key and select the Power button, and then select Restart.
- After your PC restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options >Startup settings > Restart. After your PC restarts, you should see a number of options. Press 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with networking.
Hope this helps in resolving the issue. If the issue persists, do get back to us. We will be happy to assist you.
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I'm not asking how to change screen timeout or change sleep mode time.
Another issue here is that when i restart my laptop instead of restart it shutsdown.
Another issue here is that when i restart my laptop instead of restart it shutsdown.
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Hi Zeeshan,
Thank you for the reply.
Did you try the steps provided above?
If not then please try the steps provided above and get back to us with the results.
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Yes, I tried the steps you mentioned above but the problem is still there?
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I agree with Kalpana. The steps above do not make sense for fixing the 'doesn't shut off properly'. What does setting up a power troubleshooter have to do with shut down? All this troubleshooter did was tell me that my screen brightness will use more battery.
The second step did nothing as well. Yep, I am in safe mode. Now what?
My Microsoft updates are current.
The computer does not shut down properly. It doesn't shut down all the way when power off is used. The lights are still on and I have to hit the power button to complete. Sleep and hibernate modes do the same. Essentially I am powering 'off' my computer every time.
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Mine is the same, its driving me mad, runs slow, takes ages to start, wont shut down properly, jez what about testing updates before sending them out and messing everyone's systems up. you ask for help, some lunatic tells you rubbish about power options.
microsoft can you help us, or dont you care
get someone who understands the problem to answer
I'm sick and tired of having to run through help articles that don't help.
Please , please, get someone to give us a fix
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I have uninstalled the Intel Management Engine from device manager and now the problem is solved my laptop shutdowns, restarts, hibernate and recovers from sleep mode properly you should also try it.
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I am not comfortable uninstalling something when Microsoft should just fix the issue!
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15 people were helped by this reply
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Worked like a charm! Thank you! I've been trying to figure this out forever. I agree that Microsoft should fix the problem though.
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