A Desktop Shutdown Shortcut No Longer Working

Try3 · Jul 12, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
The question I answered was how to create an Automatic Restore point, like I do on every boot.

The script you posted in post #6 does not do what you claimed.
Its inability to do so has nothing to do with startup folders or anything else. That script is not capable of taking any action on anything. It is merely an impotent extract from Brink's complete script.

Denis

JAM83 · Jul 12, 2023

HDL said:
For years I have used a desktop shortcut to shut down all versions of Windows since Win 7. This same shortcut has worked fine on all my Win 11 machines until recently. It no longer worked on 1 on the machines. The properties of the shortcut is %windir%\system32\shutdown.exe -s -f -t 0

In trying to fix it, I tried running the Command Prompt as the Administrator and found out I couldn’t open it either. So, I booted into the mode where I could have booted to the Safe mode but saw an option the run the Command Prompt there. I ran SFC /SCANNOW and it found system errors and corrected them.

Next, from this same Command Prompt, I tried running DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and got the message that the commands or switches were not valid commands even when I tried running them 1 at a time.

I then booted to the Safe mode and found out from there I could open the Command Prompt. So, I booted to the normal way and tried running the DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth command again and it ran perfectly. This also means I was once again able to open the Command prompt and also use the shortcut to shut down the computer once again.

It seems that for now I have solved the problem but my concern is why or what caused this to happen and is there anything that needs done to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Thanks

%windir%\system32\shutdown.exe -s -f -t 0

definitely works for me. I right clicked on the desktop, New>Shortcut and pasted that in there, and then double clicked on the icon and it shutdown my PC.

zbook · Jul 12, 2023

See options #9 and #10 in this tutorial for additional shutdown commands:

Shut Down Computer in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you different ways on how to shut down your Windows 11 computer. If you don't plan to use your PC for a while, then you could shut down (turn off) the PC to save energy. A shut down closes all apps, signs out all users, and turn your PC off completely. When shutting...

www.elevenforum.com

Try3 · Jul 13, 2023

The shutdown problem was solved.
This thread has moved on to the OP's difficulties with Task scheduler.

All the best,
Denis

HDL · Jul 13, 2023

Try3 said:
That setting is, by default, at the highest level in Windows 11.
[In Windows 10, the default was at the second highest level. I did a clean install of Windows 11 a couple of weeks ago and I don't have any note about having altered that setting which is why I think the default is now Highest.]
Why did you change it?
I urge you to set it back to the highest level.

Opening Task scheduler [and several other actions] will then challenge you using the dialog I showed you earlier.
View attachment 64646
Please check this is happening.

I'll look at the TS screenshots when you've had a chance to run through with UAC at its highest level.
Do not try to edit whatever you've already entered for that task. Start again from scratch.
If you do still have problems, it would be worth running through creating a simple task in TS just to make sure you can use it successfully. You could create a task to run the Action cmd.exe {which will open a cmd prompt window} then test it by running it manually {right click on it in the TS list of tasks & select Run}.

All the best,
Denis

In anticipation of this I set it at the middle level, see attachment. At that level I was not challenged the entire way through trying to create that task. I never set that setting on any of my machines. Until yesterday, I didn't even know it existed.

I am not familiar with creating tasks but I'll try to do as you ask.

If I understand everything I have read here, if it is going to challenge me, it will do it as soon as I try opening the task scheduler.

HDL · Jul 13, 2023

Try3 said:
The shutdown problem was solved.
This thread has moved on to the OP's difficulties with Task scheduler.

All the best,
Denis

Not to be be argumentative and I have no problem with the thread being moved but here was what I originally asked after explaining how I got the shortcut to work, "It seems that for now I have solved the problem but my concern is why or what caused this to happen and is there anything that needs done to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Thanks" This thread took a right turn when it was suggested to use restore points to help in the future and I hope to eventually work that out with your help but I still have no idea what caused my problem or how to avoid it happening again in the future. Maybe there is no answer except the one somewhere above that suggested things happen. I'd just like to know why, but again, maybe there is no answer.

I appreciate all the help and will continue with trying to get task scheduler working. Again thanks for all the help.

HDL · Jul 13, 2023

OK, I just set it to the highest setting. It challenged me when task scheduler opened. I created the task and still had it bomb out with the same error message at the end. I have to leave for a while but will try to create that other task you asked me to try later.

Try3 · Jul 13, 2023

I thought it was you who wanted to start using Restore points.
I don't use them. They are unreliable.
Making frequent system images is a reliable way of protecting your system instead.

Denis

Try3 · Jul 13, 2023

HDL said:
I never set that setting on any of my machines

Then something else did.
Perhaps you ran some tweak that claimed to make Windows "better"?
With UAC off, a hacker who got through to your computer & malware would have had unfettered access to your computer without any warnings being generated.
Scan your computer with Defender. I suggest a Quick scan then an offline scan.
Scan with Microsoft Defender Antivirus - ElevenForumTutorials
Run Microsoft Defender Offline Scan - ElevenForumTutorials

HDL said:
"It seems that for now I have solved the problem but my concern is why or what caused this to happen and is there anything that needs done to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Thanks"

Now you can understand what might well have caused this to happen.

Denis

HDL · Jul 13, 2023

Try3 said:
Then something else did.
Perhaps you ran some tweak that claimed to make Windows "better"?
With UAC off, a hacker who got through to your computer & malware would have had unfettered access to your computer without any warnings being generated.
Scan your computer with Defender. I suggest a Quick scan then an offline scan.
Scan with Microsoft Defender Antivirus - ElevenForumTutorials
Run Microsoft Defender Offline Scan - ElevenForumTutorials

Now you can understand what might well have caused this to happen.

Denis

My computers, from day one, are scanned on a daily basis with both Windows Defender and real time protection from Malwarebytes. I never run any tweaks unless the shortcuts like my shutdown is considered a tweak. It is a mystery. Possibly when I have my computers built, I specify one user account with full Admin privileges. Perhaps that is how it got set as it is on all my machines.

Since I don't use

Try3 said:
I thought it was you who wanted to start using Restore points.
I don't use them. They are unreliable.
Making frequent system images is a reliable way of protecting your system instead.

Denis

I had not even thought of doing this until it was suggested. I agree they are not reliable at all. Too often they fail to restore to a previous date.

"You could create a task to run the Action cmd.exe {which will open a cmd prompt window} then test it by running it manually {right click on it in the TS list of tasks & select Run}." I did this and it ran perfectly.

Is there anywhere in this forum that would have a batch file created to create a Restore Point? I did search but came up empty.

Try3 · Jul 13, 2023

HDL said:
I had not even thought of doing this until it was suggested. I agree they are not reliable at all.

I suggest you don't bother with the subject.

I thought creating a shortcut to create a Restore point was one of the things you did earlier and that your only problem was messing about with Task scheduler.

HDL said:
Is there anywhere in this forum that would have a batch file created to create a Restore Point?

HDL said:
Possibly when I have my computers built, I specify one user account with full Admin privileges. Perhaps that is how it got set as it is on all my machines.

No.
"when I have my computers built" rather than when I build my computers - if somebody else did the job then they must have turned off UAC if you didn't.
There is no mechanism that would turn off UAC without deliberate action having been taken with Admin permission granted.

All the best,
Denis

HDL · Jul 13, 2023

Thanks again for all your help. When I have time, I will check out those links. I probably already have seen a couple of them but I'll check them out again.