Sigh. How do I restart or shut down the PC in Windows 8?


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Both are just too complicated for non-tech. savvy users (or they simply won't know about Power Options etc. in order to do that).

They could do it in Windows 7, they'll struggle in Windows 8...

Maybe it's MS secret plan to keep people logged into windows longer, the first time I used 8 with the Charms bar, I had to Google how to shutdown too

Right corner/WinKey+C > Settings > Power

WinKey + W > Turn Off

WinKey + M > Alt + F4

WinKey+R > shutdown -h -t 0

WinKey + L > Power Options (IIRC)

Ctrl+Alt+Del > Power Button (right hand corner)

Press the hardware power button

...I think that's almost every option possible :p

Right corner/WinKey+C > Settings > Power

WinKey + W > Turn Off

WinKey + M > Alt + F4

WinKey+R > shutdown -h -t 0

WinKey + L > Power Options (IIRC)

Ctrl+Alt+Del > Power Button (right hand corner)

Press the hardware power button

...I think that's almost every option possible :p

Non of which are as intuiative as how it was in Windows 7 for PC/desktop users :p

Looks like everyone has you covered already. My next question would be, why are you installing Windows 8 already if you can't even figure this ou?

Tell that to the thousands and thousands of people who will be purchasing a new PC on October 26th of this year.

  • Like 3
Non of which are as intuiative as how it was in Windows 7 for PC/desktop users :p

And again, it's bothering you that bad that the old shutdown/reboot/sleep buttons aren't as in your face obvious as they used to be then just make new ones. You can do that. Takes all of three seconds.

This topic has derailed. You originally wanted to ask about how to easily restart the computer and have been given solutions, to which you then post about how typical Windows users won't get it.

We're not talking about "typical Windows users", we're talking about you, the person who asked. And by bringing them up, you've derailed a support thread into a complaint thread. We have plenty of those.

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This topic has derailed. You originally wanted to ask about how to easily restart the computer and have been given solutions, to which you then post about how typical Windows users won't get it.

We're not talking about "typical Windows users", we're talking about you, the person who asked. And by bringing them up, you've derailed a support thread into a complaint thread. We have plenty of those.

We're not just talking about me, because I have been into computing for a very long time and if people like me are struggling with something so simply, we're talking about millions of users.

I totally agree that anyone who has never used 8 before will be lost looking for the power options, I was, but thinking about it, its my least used setting in Windows, so having it out of the way isn't too bad really, unless you have another screen to the right of the main one and your using a mouse to access the charms bar

I totally agree that anyone who has never used 8 before will be lost looking for the power options, I was, but thinking about it, its my least used setting in Windows, so having it out of the way isn't too bad really, unless you have another screen to the right of the main one and your using a mouse to access the charms bar

Which I am and it's a right bugger :p

We're not just talking about me, because I have been into computing for a very long time and if people like me are struggling with something so simply, we're talking about millions of users.

Without resorting to this, how do I restart or shut down my PC in Windows 8?

Key word: I

Please make it clear that you are talking about users other than yourself. We entered this thread to offer advice to you.

  • Like 2

Because I, like many users on this forum, am the person people go to for computer help.

yes, and when those people come to me, I will show them exactly where to go and that will be the end of it

I don't see how clicking 'start' to stop a computer is more intuitive.

lol, but then there are things like "Windows update must first download an update for windows update before windows update can download updates for your system"

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It's different, but not really complex. People don't constantly shut down/reboot their PCs, it's something that's done maybe once, or a handful of times a day at the very most. An extra step or two isn't a big deal.

We're not just talking about me, because I have been into computing for a very long time and if people like me are struggling with something so simply, we're talking about millions of users.

You would have known the answer if you had payed any attention to the tutorial the first time you fired up Windows

You would have known the answer if you had payed any attention to the tutorial the first time you fired up Windows

Don't even get me started on the fact the "hot corners" need a tutorial... :rolleyes:

I don't see how clicking 'start' to stop a computer is more intuitive.

because it starts the shutdown process :) :p

i have started seriously using windows 8 today with the RTM for testing and orientation. Although i must admit i couldn't find the shutdown option and had to google it, unlike when i first used windows 95 when it was first released, there was only one button start and it was quite obivious when clicking it.

I understand that Windows 8 is targeting slate devices as well but surely Windows 8 could have detected that it was running on a standard PC and had a couple of easier options for shutdown in a more visible place.

That aside i have found windows 8 less jaring, i am using it with the office 2013 beta at work again to get my bearings for future help desk calls, so far so good. Wished they would have done more work on Win8's version of hyper-v, being able to run Server VM's is handy but i was hoping to run client VM's a bit better for testing etc.. however it still treats these as server vm's, no sound and an annoying experience. Performance seems great though and am slowly getting used to the start menu for my source of quick information instead of gadgets.

Before i was don't like it, now im indifferent, at this rate i may even like it :D

Have you considered pressing the power button on your PC? Default setting is too shut down the PC.

But sometimes, I want to Restart. Or Sleep.

So this topic still needs to exist so people (including myself) can find those options.

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