Shutdown on Schedule

[enjay]

What are people using to shut computers down? I've just realised that ours aren't doing it properly...

 

If possible, users should get a visible warning that the PC is going to shut down, ideally with a "cancel" button. I'd like to set different times for different locations, but that isn't essential. I don't mind whether it is server-based or client-based, so long as the client elements can be deployed, I'm not going round manually installing or configuring things. As with all things, low cost would be good but it doesn't need to be free.

 

All recommendations, both positive and negative, welcome.

[sdc]

I've written a batch file which is run as a Scheduled Task and this calls BeyondExec to shut down the PCs. No installation, and each room/department/building's PCs are in their own text file, so I can simply add/remove PCs by editing these text files to include/remove the appropriate machine names. Also allows a warning to display, a cancel button, etc. All very customiseable and really easy!

[enjay]

I used to use that, but had problems when we went to Win7. Does it work now?

[sdc]

It's working fine here, so I guess so! If you want the command line structure I've used, please let me know.

[sdc]

Photographs?

[ict_support]

Photographs?

 

wrong thread mutiple tabs are great

[sdc]

Indeed!

[rickypike]

We used to use BeyondExec aswell and as SDC said it is very customiseable, but we have installed Impero over the summer for classroom management (wanted by teaching staff) + other tasks, this has a lovely power management feature which can be scheduled. I use this now and have a mixture of Win XP / Win 7 fat client + lots of older machines which we have turned into terminals (Win Thin PC) to run our mixture of Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop, works fine for the whole environment.

[enjay]

Reading my notes, it looks like it was S2003 which BeyondExec didn't like so I'll give it another try on S2008R2.

 

We have Impero on trial, but I'm not sure if we'll be buying it so I need something to handle power management in the meantime. I did spot a bug in the power management with Impero, too, so hopefully if we do get it they'll have fixed that by then.

[enjay]

Is there a way of getting the message to appear on-screen immediately? At present, a little box pops up (minimised) saying "a process is trying to display a message", and users have to click on that before they can see the message box and cancel button. I've tried adding the -i switch so it can interact with the desktop, but it still happens. Edited December 18, 2012 by enjay

[enjay]

Also, the process sits for ages on a computer which is turned off. I've tried adding -t 10 to the command line, however it doesn't seem to register.

[free780]

we have a issue with student computers. I think its to do with using a task for xp. Most of our machines are 7. I found this.

 

The solution (according to this post).

Task Scheduler failed to start. Additional Data: Error Value: - Microsoft Community

 

in task scheduler, click on the scheduled job properties >>> then settingsin the last listed option:"if the task is already running, the following rule applies:"select "stop the existing instance" from the drop down list.