Well I just did a little more research. According to MS the power off option is only truely supported in windows 2000 although it will work on others. On any other system hardware and data may or MAY NOT be protected.It varies from system to system dependant on the BIOS and hardware.Apparently yours is ok to go if it has been that long nad you see no ill effects. I still would be leary tho. Jimi_l

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if there are errors on the disk you will be prompted to do a scandisk if you start a defragment, or speed disk, if you use norton's. i've known a number of people who shutdown using the power button, and they almost always end up with "bad sectors". what kind of comp do you have? if i remember right, the power button on some older models actually puts you in standby, but then you'd probably notice the difference between a full boot and coming from standby. could be that the manufacturer of the computer knows the power button is used so often to shutdown that they rigged it to go through the shutdown process as though you had done it from the start button. i would expect this might be a feature of a compaq, dell, or gateway. i don't have any of those. mine is a frankenstein that used to be an a.b.s. try looking at the manual that came with the comp, if you still have it. :)

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How short of time are you to want to do this? It must only save you about 5 seconds. I would not risk damaging your 'puter for the sake of 5 seconds. but its only my opinion and its your 'puter so if it suits you, Carry on :-)

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Tell you what SMUOD, I use a little program called "Shutz", it resides by my clock in the tray..Left click, shuts it down, right click restarts it..Simple and fast..Best of both worlds, I suppose...Uses no resources and works well, I don't worry about an improper shut down and yet I do not have to go thru the windows long winded shutdown...Something to consider... Regards, Hal

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I have one icon on my desktop for shutdown and one for reboot. I love them. I even downloaded some beautiful Celtic icons I use with them. The info has been in magazines, but it's here too: http://www.computing.net/howto/simple/shuticon/ This doesn't speak to your original question, but it's much faster and simpler than going to Start/Shutdown/OK (or Start/Shutdown/pick the right option/OK). If you use these icons, you may not even want use your power button.

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Thanks for the advice everyone. Click here to find instructions for creating a shutdown shortcut for your desktop. This method is also much quicker than the start button/shutdown. Now i wonder if this will also cause damage to the drive.

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SMUOD, I doubt this would cause any kind of problem with windows shutdown..Windows likes to ask permision for every thing.."Are you sure you want to ...."?...Myself. I like to keep my desktop clear..However, you could drag the short cut you create to your task bar next to the start up and it would put a short cut there, then you could delete the desktop short cut...You have many options, my friend... Regards, Hal

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I've been using the Reboot/Shutdown icons for over a year without a problem. Get the Celtic Icons here

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Ok Ren how did i miss your repsonse #11? This would have saved me tons of time searching my text files for the desktop shortcut information. I guess if i named the text file shutdownicon.txt instead of 117.txt it would have been easier to find :) Thanks for the celtic icons. Very cool.

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Ren,I have used the icons for almost a year now too.I had only one problem that using the icons caused.Some windows folders were not rebuilt upon restart with icon.ShellIconCache in particular.Other than that issue,they have worked flawless.

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Update... the link in repsonse 12 has been removed from my space. The same information exists in the link left by Ren in response 11. I type slow :)

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SMUOD, I have power and wake up buttons on my keyboard. If i press "power" the computer shuts down and turns off, But i Always get IMPROPER SHUTDOWN on re-boot. This is why i wonder if bypassing windows to shut down could do some damage. Did anybody clarify your original question? Regards, DJ :-)

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The shutdown/reboot icons do NOT result in improper shutdown messages. And (re)read responses #14 & #16.

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It's easy to think "This is why i wonder if bypassing windows to shut down could do some damage." means "Since my buttons do this, maybe the icons may cause damage also." Also, this is a forum, which by definition is open. If you want to have a private conversation, use email. ================================================= Language that is full of invective and innuendo is unnecessary for the already converted, and a turn off to those whose hearts and minds we want to change. It is also not good writing. (rm)

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DJ, Im not familiar with these buttons on your keyboard. I have a mutlimedia keyboard in which i can program shortcuts. If i create a shortcut using the link in response 11 then attach it to my keyboard im able to use it to shutdown and i dont receive any errors. Using these keys is the same as using a desktop shortcut/icon, the key launches the shortcut. Your keyboard or the app that runs it may be bugging up the command. If you have the ability to program a key try using the link in response 11 to create the shutdown shortcut then attach it to your programmable key. This might get rid of the improper shutdown error message allowing you to shutdown from the keyboard. My question about using the power button wasnt really answered. It doesnt cause an error message to popup and ive been doing it for ages but ya never know. Better safe than sorry. Im still interested in any information about this. My questions...... Is this a windows feature or hardware feature that only exists with certain computers/power supplies/bios whatever? If this is a windows feature will it cause damage to the OS or HD? Anyone with information please contact me via email. My celtic icon will do for now :) Thanks.

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Thanks SMUOD Your'e a Gent....... DJ

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