Handy Command-Prompt Shutdown Commands

Here i will be discussing day to day vital Microsoft Commands needed to operate and administer any Windows Environment ranging from Windows Server, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2019.

Here are some switches associated with Windows regardless of the environment. I will be discussing a few.

Shutdown: The shutdown command allows you to shutdown your PC or Server as the name implies. This will ensure windows initiates the shutdown of the server and same process is followed as shutting down via the UI. The Switches below can be used with the shutdown command.

Syntax Usage: shutdown [/i | /l | /s | /r | /g | /a | /p | /h | /e | /o] [/hybrid] [/f] [/m computer][/t xxx][/d]

Let’s explain what these switches are in details. Note, some systems can let us use (-) switches or (/). This depends on the version of your system.

switches	Syntax Description
/i	Display the graphical user interface (GUI). This switch must be the first option.
/l	Log off. Note: The /l switch cannot be used with /m or /d options.
/s	Shutdown the computer.
/r	Full shutdown and restart the computer.
/g	Full shutdown and restart the computer.
/a	Abort a system shutdown. But can only be used during the time-out period.
/p	Turn off the local computer with no time-out or warning. Can be used with /d and /f options.
/h	Hibernate the local computer. Can be used with the /f option.
/hybrid	Performs a shutdown of the computer and prepares it for fast startup. Must be used with /s option.
/e	Document the reason for an unexpected shutdown of a computer.
/o	Go to the advanced boot options menu and restart the computer. Must be used with /r option.
/m computer	Specify the target computer.
/t xxx	Set the time-out period before shutdown to xxx seconds. The valid range is 0-315360000 (10 years),
/c	Comment the reason for the restart or shutdown.
/f	Force running applications to close without forewarning users. The /f parameter is implied when a value greater than 0 is specified for the /t parameter.
/d	Provide the reason for the restart or shutdown.

Here are some are examples of how these syntaxes are used.

shutdown /r /c "Rebooting for after windows updates."

This command display a Windows system shutdown window about 30 seconds prompting the user that the computer is going to shutdown and then restart the computer

shutdown /s /m PCtest /t 10

This command will shut down remote Server “PCtest” after 10 seconds.

For other older switch (-) usage, Please the examples below.

shutdown -s (Shuts down)
shutdown -r (Restarts)
shutdown -l (Logs off)
shutdown -h (Hibernates)
shutdown -i (Interactive mode". Instead of performing an action, it displays a GUI dialog)
shutdown -a (Aborts a previous shutdown command)
shutdown -t 0 -r -f (Force an immediate reboot:)
shutdown -t 30 -r (For a more friendly "give them some time)