Hello, and thanks for reading this question. There was a way to disable Shutdown Event Tracker in Server 2003. The line for this option is gone in Group Policy Editor in Server 2008, as far as I can see. Can anyone point to the right folder path for Server 2008, or give a safe regchange to do so? I'm not using this function, and it's just getting in the way. Many many thanks, and happy weekend! a.k.a.

Hi a.k.a, According to your description, I have test it on Windows Server 2008 RC1 and find the "Display Shutdown Event Tracker" in Group Policy Editor. 1. Expand "Computer Configuration", expand "Administrative Templates", and then expand "System". 2. Double-click "Display Shutdown Event Tracke"r. 3. Click "Disabled", and then click OK. Don't forget to "gpupdate /force" to force refresh the GPO. Please kindly find the option in Group Policy Editor, I think the GPO of Windows Server 2008 is similiar to Windows Server 2003. Thanks for your time.

the server 2008 documentation is wrong. There is no "Display Shutdown Event Tracker" policy defined or visable.Chad

I cannot find it there either... It is a bit frustrating. Lubor

start..run..gpedit.mscentercomputer configuration..Administrative Templates..System..Display Shutdown Event Trackerdouble click..check on Disabled..Apply..OK..screenshot: Shutdown Event Trackeralternately: create an empty text doc, paste the below and save and change extension to .regWindows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Reliability]"ShutdownReasonOn"=dword:00000000

Before anyone else replies with the Cut-And-Paste, straight-off TechNet answer regurgitation aboutdisabling "Display Shutdown Event Tracker" please read this:IT DOESN"T EXIST! The ONLY way I was able to get the Shutdown Event Tracker turned off was via the registry.This may have applied to RC1 or RC2, but in the retail and Action Pack releases of 2008 Standard (both 64bit and 32bit), theDisplay Shutdown Event Tracker option is not listed under System, or anywhere else that I can find, for that matter.Use Alfredo's helpful registry entry (above) and merge it in. It works like a champ.Tom

You are incorrect. I have Server 2008 SP1, and the option is there.

User inadvertently selected shutdownin Server 2008. Is there any way of stopping the shutdown, once the Shutdown Event Tracker appears?

Again, you are incorrect. I have 2008 sp1 and it's there.

I have two installs of Windows Server 2008 +SP1 and it's not displayed in either install. One was an upgrade from Server 2003 where it was present and disabled. It stayed disabled after the upgrade, but the policy entry vanished.Doug

I guess it must depend on exactly which group policy templates you have on your domain. On my domain at home, I have no need for the shutdown tracker so I have it disabled in the GPO. The appropriate portions of the script, at \\Domain.name\SYSVOL\Domain.name\Policies\{6AC1786C-016F-11D2-945F-00C04FB984F9}\Adm, is as follows: #ifversion>=3 CLASSMACHINE CATEGORY!!AdministrativeServices #ifversion>=4 EXPLAIN!!AdministrativeServices_Help #endif POLICY!!ShutdownReason #ifversion>=4 SUPPORTED!!SUPPORTED_WindowsXP #endif EXPLAIN!!ShutdownReason_Help KEYNAME"Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Reliability" VALUENAME"ShutdownReasonOn" VALUEONNUMERIC1 VALUEOFFNUMERIC0 PART!!ShutdownReason_BoxDROPDOWNLISTREQUIRED VALUENAME"ShutdownReasonUI" ITEMLIST NAME!!ShutdownReason_AlwaysVALUENUMERIC1DEFAULT NAME!!ShutdownReason_WkstnOnlyVALUENUMERIC2 NAME!!ShutdownReason_SrvOnlyVALUENUMERIC3 ENDITEMLIST ENDPART ENDPOLICY POLICY!!ShutdownEventTrackerStateFile #ifversion>=4 SUPPORTED!!SUPPORTED_WindowsNET #endif EXPLAIN!!ShutdownEventTrackerStateFile_Help KEYNAME"Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Reliability" VALUENAME"SnapShot" VALUEONNUMERIC1 VALUEOFFNUMERIC0 ENDPOLICY POLICY!!EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp #ifversion>=4 SUPPORTED!!SUPPORTED_WindowsNET #endif EXPLAIN!!EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Help KEYNAME"Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Reliability" VALUENAME"TimeStampEnabled" VALUEOFFNUMERIC0 VALUEONNUMERIC1 PART!!EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Desc1TEXT ENDPART PART!!EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Desc2TEXT ENDPART PART!!EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Desc3TEXT ENDPART PART!!EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Desc4NUMERICREQUIRED VALUENAME"TimeStampInterval" MIN1MAX86400DEFAULT60 ENDPART ENDPOLICY ENDCATEGORY;AdministrativeServices #endif [strings] EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp="EnablePersistentTimeStamp" EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Help="ThePersistentSystemTimestampallowsthesystemtodetectthetimeofunexpectedshutdownsbywritingthecurrenttimetodiskonaschedulecontrolledbytheTimestampInterval.\n\nIfyouenablethissetting,thePersistentSystemTimestampwillberefreshedaccordingtotheTimestampInterval.\n\nIfyoudisablethissetting,thePersistentSystemTimestampwillbeturnedoffandthetimingofunexpectedshutdownswillnotbedetected.\n\nIfyoudonotconfigurethissetting,thedefaultbehaviorwilloccur.\n\nNote:Bydefault,thePersistentSystemTimestampisrefreshedevery60secondsontheWindowsServer2003family.Thisfeaturemayinterferewithpowerconfigurationsettingsthatturnoffharddisksafteraperiodofinactivity.ThesepowersettingsmaybeaccessedinthePowerOptionsControlPanel." EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Desc1="Thesettingallowsyoutocustomizehowoftenthe EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Desc2="PersistentSystemTimeStampiswrittentothedisk." EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Desc3="Therangeis1to86400seconds(1day). EE_EnablePersistentTimeStamp_Desc4="Seconds:" ShutdownEventTrackerStateFile="ActivateShutdownEventTrackerSystemStateDatafeature" ShutdownEventTrackerStateFile_Help="DefineswhentheShutdownEventTrackerSystemStateDatafeatureisactivated.\n\nThesystemstatedatafilecontainsinformationaboutthebasicsystemstateaswellasthestateofallrunningprocesses.\n\nIfyouenablethissetting,theSystemStateDatafeatureisactivatedwhentheuserindicatesthattheshutdownorrestartisunplanned.\n\nIfyoudisablethissetting,theSystemStateDatafeatureisneveractivated.\n\nIfyoudonotconfigurethissetting,thedefaultbehaviorfortheSystemStateDatafeatureoccurs.\n\nNote:Bydefault,theSystemStateDatafeatureisalwaysenabledontheWindowsServer2003family." ShutdownReason="DisplayShutdownEventTracker" ShutdownReason_Help="TheShutdownEventTrackercanbedisplayedwhenyoushutdownaworkstationorserver.Thisisanextrasetofquestionsthatisdisplayedwhenyouinvokeashutdowntocollectinformationrelatedtowhyyouareshuttingdownthecomputer.\n\nIfyouenablethissettingandchoose"Always"fromthedrop-downmenu,theShutdownEventTrackerisdisplayedwhenyoushutdown.\n\nIfyouenablethissettingandchoose"ServerOnly"fromthedrop-downmenu,theShutdownEventTrackerisdisplayedwhenyoushutdownaWindowsServer2003familycomputer.\n\nIfyouenablethissettingandchoose"WorkstationOnly"fromthedrop-downmenu,theShutdownEventTrackerisdisplayedwhenyoushutdownaWindowsXPProfessionalworkstation.\n\nIfyoudisablethissetting,theShutdownEventTrackerisnotdisplayedwhenyoushutdown.\n\nIfyoudonotconfigurethissetting,thedefaultbehaviorfortheShutdownEventTrackeroccurs.\n\nNote:Bydefault,theShutdownEventTrackerisnotdisplayedonWindowsXPProfessionalandisdisplayedbydefaultontheWindowsServer2003family." ShutdownReason_Box="ShutdownEventTrackershouldbedisplayed:" ShutdownReason_Never="Never" ShutdownReason_Always="Always" ShutdownReason_WkstnOnly="WorkstationOnly" ShutdownReason_SrvOnly="ServerOnly"

Are you sure you are looking in the RIGHT hand column after clicking on SYSTEM? I found myself looking in the wrong area, until I remembered that under the main system folder there are individual policies (including the one in question) which were NOT in a folder, and hence were not visible under the tree view on the left, but only after seleting the folder, then scrolling down to the bottom on the right pane.I just confirmed it was here on my 2008 sp1 fresh install. gpupdate /force and it worked.

Hi Guys, You can use Alfredo's registry hack, except that you may have to create the key "Reliability" and the dword value through regedit.

I think you are looking in the wrong place. Select "system" from the left, then scroll down to the bottom on the right. The option is not a folder icon, it is a policy entry. I was also looking in the wrong place, as the option appears after the sub folders of system.

Also if you're not editing the local policy you have to open "Computer Configuration" then "Policy" then "Administrative Templates" then "System" (original directions left out the Policy step)Dave Hoppel - Network Admin - Philadelphia, PA

Make sure you are in Group policy editor gpedit.msc and NOT Local Security Policy. It isn't in local sec pol.

Are you sure you are looking in the RIGHT hand column after clicking on SYSTEM? I found myself looking in the wrong area, until I remembered that under the main system folder there are individual policies (including the one in question) which were NOT in a folder, and hence were not visible under the tree view on the left, but only after seleting the folder, then scrolling down to the bottom on the right pane. I just confirmed it was here on my 2008 sp1 fresh install. gpupdate /force and it worked. THIS IS THE CORRECT WAY TO FIND IT.

Just to let you all know...the process for disabling the "Display Shutdown Event Tracker" in Server 2008 R2 is the same... Start Run GPEDIT.MSC Computer Configuration Administrative Templates System Display Shutdown Event Tracker is at the bottom of the page. Double click and select the 'Disable' radio button.

The GPEDIT.MSC option is the correct way (not the only way mind you) and easiest way to disable the eventracker.

I searched this forum and never saw the answer to the question of how to disable to shutdown event tracker. Although, I found the answer for those of you who are interested. It has been tested and works in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008 Data Center R2 in both Domain Controllers and non-domain servers. Follow these steps: 1. Click the Start Menu. 2. Type in the search box: “gpedit.msc” (without the quotes). This will bring up the Local Security Policy window 3. Hit the + next to “Computer Configuration” 4. Hit the + next to “Administrative Templates” 5. Click on “All Settings” 6. Go down to the “D’s” and scroll further down until you see “Display Shutdown Event Tracker”. Double-click this and set to “Disable”. 7. Close all of your windows and click on the Start Menu 8. Click on the arrow next to the “Logoff” option and choose Shutdown. This will shutdown the server quickly and without needing a reason or comments. Hope this helps. Thanks for the inputs within this forum.

This Helped me. Many Thanks

This Helped me. Many Thanks

We are so used to expanding folder we get in trouble. It is NOT in a folder tree under System - it is IN the System item - don't look for it in the folders under System. Just click on the word System.what this?

Gpedit.msc is at "C:\Windows\System32\gpedit.msc" if you are looking for it in a folder. Once you are in it, it presents a view that is similar to the folders and files view presented by Windows Explorer.