How to Disable / Remove Annoying Shutdown Event Tracker in Windows Server 2003 / 2008?

If you are using Windows Server 2003 or 2008 then you have noticed that whenever you click on Shutdown button, it shows a dialog box asking for the reason. You have to select the option from drop-down box or write into Comment box to shutdown the system.

Many ppl find it annoying and want to remove it but they don't know the method to remove it. Here I'll tell you a simple way to completely remove this annoying dialog box:

1. Type gpedit.msc in RUN dialog box and press Enter.

2. It'll open Group Policy Editor. Now expand:

Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System

3. In right-side pane, look for "Display Shutdown Event Tracker" option.

4. Now double-click on "Display Shutdown Event Tracker" and select "Disabled". Now Apply it and the annoying dialog box will disappear.

NOTE: You can also use this method to enable Shutdown Event Tracker in Windows client OS like Windows XP, Vista, etc. Just set the option value to "Enabled".

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This article was posted in Troubleshooting, Windows Vista, Windows XP.

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9 Comments

Bobby Brown

Actually, if you leave it as not configured, it still pops up. You need to set it as disabled to make it go away.
Kailash Dhondiyal

Good one
Really helpfull and it works.
arastoo

I did exactly what you said, but it doesn't work! it's not so hard procedure, but I don't know why the event tracker stiil annoying!
I have a windows server 2003 on a server which is a member of domain! I do these steps in a domain server and in member too!
could you help me what should i do!
arastoo

I did exactly what you said, but it doesn't work! it's not so hard procedure, but I don't know why the event tracker stiil annoying!
I have a windows server 2003 on a server which is a member of domain! I do these steps in a domain server and in member too!
could you help me what should i do!
VG

I have checked the steps in many standalone PC using Server 2003 and 2008 and it works. Can't say about domains.
laez

Works fine in a domain.
1. Make sure you applied it to the group policy to the appropriate Organizations Unit
2. gpupdate /force
3. Reboot the machine (Event tracker has required a reboot to shut off every time for me)
subhadrai

whenever i on my computer a small window pupsup with name "system shutdown" and if i did not shut down the computer within the specified time it ll logoff my computer. i am sick of these problem so could you help me to solve this problem.
VG

^^ Seems a virus infection. Post your HijackThis log file in following topic:

http://www.askvg.com/is-your-system-infected-with-a-virus-spyware-adware-trojan/
Dragonsbane777

I have read this method on a number of sites. I am using Server 2003 64-bit and when I go to the Administrative Template folder, I only have Windows Components, nothing more. I have checked virtually every setting there, and cannot discover any setting related to this.

I am trying to make it so that in a power failure, this annoying box does not come up, preventing the automatic startup of my server! Help!

Also, I tried this:
To configure registry settings for the Shutdown Event Tracker,

1. Click Start, Run, enter regedit, and click OK.
2. The Registry Editor console opens.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, Software, Microsoft, Windows, CurrentVersion, and then Reliability.
4. Select ShutdownReasonUI. If ShutdownReasonUI does not exist, create a DWORD value, and then name it ShutdownReasonUI.
5. Enter a data value of 1 in the Value data box to enable the Shutdown Event Tracker, or enter a data value of 0 in the Value data to disable the Shutdown Event Tracker.
6. Click OK.
7. Close the Registry Editor console.
8. Restart the computer.

That did not work either