This article explains how to use the Windows Command Prompt to shut down your computer.
Steps
Step 1. Open the "Start" menu of the PC
You can do this by clicking on the Windows logo located in the lower left corner of the screen or by pressing the ⊞ Win key. The menu opens with the mouse cursor already positioned in the search bar.
Step 2. Type command prompt in the search field
This will cause the computer to search for the command prompt application, then present it at the top of the menu.
- You can also open the Windows 8 operating system search bar by moving the mouse pointer to the top right corner of the screen and clicking on the magnifying glass that appears.
- If you are using Windows XP click on the application instead Run located on the right side of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Right click on the command prompt icon, which looks like a black box
Doing so will open a drop-down menu.
If your computer has the Windows XP operating system you have to type cmd in the "Run" field instead
Step 4. Click on the Run as administrator option
You can find it at the top of the drop-down list and it allows you to open the application with administrator privileges.
- You must confirm your choice by clicking on Yup when prompted by the system.
- On Windows XP you have to click on OK to open the application.
- If you are a restricted user, using a public PC or connected to a network (for example the one in the school or library), you are not able to access the command prompt.
Step 5. Type shutdown -s in the application
This command turns off the PC within one minute from the moment you issue it.
- If you want the machine to shutdown immediately, you have to use the command shutdown -s -t 00.
- To shutdown the computer after a specified number of seconds or minutes after the command, type shutdown -s -t ## replacing "##" with the number of seconds (ie "06" for six seconds, "60" for one minute, " 120 "for two minutes and so on).
Step 6. Press Enter
In doing so, the system executes the command and turns off the computer; usually it takes less than 1 minute.
