Create Shortcuts That Lock, Restart, and Shutdown Windows Vista

Introduction

This guide shows you how to create a shortcut that’ll lock, restart, or shutdown your Windows Vista computer when double-clicked.

Create Lock, Restart, and Shutdown Shortcuts

Lock Shortcut

In this example I’m going to create a shortcut that locks your computer. Information on how to create shutdown and restart shortcuts is below.

1. Right-click an empty space on your desktop, point at New, and then select Shortcut.
2. Type rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation in the location and then press Next.

   

3. Type the name of the shortcut in the name box. I used Lock in this example.

   

4. Click Finish to create the shortcut.

The lock shortcut should work now. Let’s pretty things up and give this shortcut an icon.

1. Right-click the new shortcut and select Properties.
2. Click the Change icon button.
3. Type %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll in the Look for icons in this file box and press enter on your keyboard.
4. Select the icon you want to use and then click OK.

   

5. Type something like Lock Computer in the Comment box in the shortcut properties window.

   

   This text will appear when you hover over the shortcut with your mouse.

6. Click OK to save your changes.

Restart Shortcut

Follow the steps above but type shutdown.exe /r /t 01 in the location box.

Shutdown Shortcut

Follow the steps above but type shutdown.exe /s /t 01 in the location box.

Still need help? Ask your computer question now.

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