Hey, Vista users: Ever noticed that when you click the Start button and then mouse over what looks like a power button, Vista doesn’t actually shut down? Instead, it goes to sleep. To actually shut down your system, you have to mouse over even further and choose the corresponding item from a menu.
Fortunately, there’s a way to reprogram that “sleep” button to become an actual power button. Veronica Belmont of Tekzilla fame shows you how in the above video. Don’t have time to watch? Here’s the process in a nutshell:
- Go to Control Panel.
- Go to Power Options.
- Click Change plan settings for your selected power plan.
- Click Change advanced power settings.
- Expand Power buttons and lid.
- Expand Start menu power button.
- Change the setting from Sleep to Shut down.
- Click OK.
Done! Man, way to bury that setting, Microsoft. Here’s a suggestion for Windows 7: Add a friggin’ Shut Down button to the Start menu! Or let us right-click that “power button” and choose what function we want it to have. Sheesh! Yeah, damn right I’m mad. [via Digital Inspiration]
