UPDATE: Tutorial updated with registry method.
If you are using Windows Server 2003 or 2008, you might have noticed that whenever you click on Shutdown button, it shows a dialog box asking you the reason behind shutting down the system. You have to select an option from drop-down box or write into Comment box to be able to shutdown the system.
Many people find it very annoying and want to disable it but they don't know how to disable it.
Today in this tutorial, we'll tell you a simple way to completely remove this annoying dialog box:
METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor
1. Type gpedit.msc in RUN dialog box and press Enter.
2. It'll open Group Policy Editor. Now go to:
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". Apply it and the annoying dialog box will never appear again.
NOTE: You can also use this method to enable Shutdown Event Tracker in Windows client OS like Windows XP, Vista, 7, etc. Just set the option value to "Enabled".
METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor
If you face problems while using Group Policy Editor, you can also use Registry Editor to do the same task.
1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter.
2. It'll open Registry Editor. Now go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT
3. Under "Windows NT" key, look for a key "Reliability". If its not present, create it.
4. Now select "Reliability" key and in right-side pane, look for following 2 DWORD values:
ShutdownReasonOn
ShutdownReasonUI
If the DWORD values are not present, create them.
5. Now set values of both DWORD to 0
6. That's it. Now you'll not see the reason dialog box while shutting down the system.
Thanks to our readers "Config" and "Dragonsbane777" for sharing registry method.
NOTE: You can also use this method to enable Shutdown Event Tracker in Windows client OS like Windows XP, Vista, 7, etc. Just set the values of both DWORD to 1 using Step 5.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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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 :(
WBman1000
I have a system with the same issue as DRAGONSBANE777 --- there is only the "windows components" listed. However my other servers, both stand-alone and domain have the policy listed correctly.
Perhaps there was an update to the OS that installed that policy additionally?
Strange that my latest server 2003 doesn't have it, but all my other ones do, and they're all at the same update and SP level too!