That is my problem. I have recently moved from Windows XP, and it had this functionality, but here I only see three options in Power Options (I don't understand why it's impossible to set it to Restart too), and none of them is "ask me what to do". Is there a way to set it to ask me what to do?

Hi,Right click on the power button and select properties. You can selectrestart from the pulldown menu.If you select the arrow next to the power button, it give a list of what you want to do. To me, this is the same as it asking me what I want.

I think I might have been not precise enough. I am not talking about Power Button in Menu Start, I'm talking about the physical switch. That's all I can choose for this one: http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6494/000unf.png On some machines it's easy to accidentally push it so ability to cancel the shutdown would be really great.

You can set that from the biosIt's all about Windows.

You can set that from the bios It's all about Windows. Can I set it in the BIOS to make OS ask me what to do after pushing the physical Power Button? I find it extremely unlikely.

If your computer motherboard bios support the option then when you press on the button your computer will restart. you can download a desktop gadget that has your "ask me what to do thing".It's all about Windows.

If your computer motherboard bios support the option then when you press on the button your computer will restart. you can download a desktop gadget that has your "ask me what to do thing". It's all about Windows. I don't really care about the restart thing, I just noted that it was also absent. What really bothers me is that I have to either remove any functionality from Power Button or, when I accidentally push it, I won't be able to cancel shutdown.

On each of the machines on which I have runWindows 7 or Vista, you can set the power button to do nothing, sleep, or shut down. It is, however, a situation where you select your setting and that is what you have unless you change it later. Windows XP's intervening dialog box with the washout background has been gone since the arrival of Vista. I wish I could be of more assistance....Stephen

Try looking for third party programs, there should be something doing what you want.

On each of the machines on which I have runWindows 7 or Vista, you can set the power button to do nothing, sleep, or shut down. It is, however, a situation where you select your setting and that is what you have unless you change it later. Windows XP's intervening dialog box with the washout background has been gone since the arrival of Vista. I wish I could be of more assistance.... Stephen I would have understood if it were true, but when you press alt+f4 while on the Desktop you see said dialog box (even if it looks a bit different). I'm pretty sure that it is possible to make Windows show it after Power Button (physical one) is pressed. I just don't know how.

You asked about the power button and I gave you an answer - you did not ask about Alt+F4. A key stroke combination is hardly the same thing as reprogramming the functions of a hardwired button and (unless someone can say something to the contrary specifically about that button) Microsoft has chosen to give the button three functions. Those are: sleep, nothing, and shutdown - I actually Iforgot hibernate which is probably also an option but I disable it immediately anyway.Other forums have discussed this subject both for the beta and for Vista and the end result is always the same. Some XP user say it is essential, some Vista and Windows 7 users say that theyhate the XP style, and others say it doesn't matter unless you find someone to program an XP emulator. Personally, I have always hated the XP dialog box and was glad to see it go. I don't mind someone saying that I said something untrue when that is the case. In this case I answered your question about the power button and if you don't like it that doesn't make it untrue.Stephen

You asked about the power button and I gave you an answer - you did not ask about Alt+F4. A key stroke combination is hardly the same thing as reprogramming the functions of a hardwired button and (unless someone can say something to the contrary specifically about that button) Microsoft has chosen to give the button three functions. Those are: sleep, nothing, and shutdown - I actually Iforgot hibernate which is probably also an option but I disable it immediately anyway. Other forums have discussed this subject both for the beta and for Vista and the end result is always the same. Some XP user say it is essential, some Vista and Windows 7 users say that theyhate the XP style, and others say it doesn't matter unless you find someone to program an XP emulator. Personally, I have always hated the XP dialog box and was glad to see it go. I don't mind someone saying that I said something untrue when that is the case. In this case I answered your question about the power button and if you don't like it that doesn't make it untrue. Stephen You said "Windows XP's intervening dialog box with the washout background has been gone since the arrival of Vista ". Windows 7 (and presumably Vista too) does have such dialog box, hence your statement is untrue.

I believe your statement was: "I think I might have been not precise enough. I am not talking about Power Button in Menu Start, I'm talking about the physical switch." Based upon your own statement, I responded that"Windows XP's intervening dialog box with the washout background has been gone since the arrival of Vista." While you may not like it,it is nevertheless a true statement. Unless someone from Microsoft chimes in to the contrary, what you want is not a function associated with the power button - they redesigned that in Vista and carried over a slightly modified version of the Vista version in Windows 7. Given no one has bothered to say otherwise in the couple years Vista has been out, it is a reasonable assumption that no one is planning on saying anything. The subject has been discussed since the release of Vista and the answer has always been the same in all the threads I have seen - no response from Microsoft.No real surprise from my perspective, since (again) that was part of the suite ofdesign changes inVista that set it off from XP. Hitting Alt+F4 is not the same as pressinga hardwired button and that was the root of your question.One is a keystroke combination that has been carried over from version to version and the other involves setting (or altering) the functionality of a hardwired button. You might also note that when you hit Alt+F4, you also do not get the XP screen washout - just a dialog box.FWIW, hitting Alt+F4 is barely even functional on my copy of the x64 RC.If I hit it on the external keyboard for my laptop it does nothing - it only responds if I key it in on the laptop keyboard. I'll opt out at this point since I relayed the information and you apparently don't like it.I am certain you can find someone to write a little hack to have the button do what you want if that is what you choose. Unless someone from Microsoft says otherwise though (not likely), it not just a matter of turning on a hidden function, any more than it is in Vista. How you proceed, however, is up to you. Good luck....Stephen

You can change the function of the power button in the advanced power properties control panel. -Nick

That is my problem. I have recently moved from Windows XP, and it had this functionality, but here I only see three options in Power Options (I don't understand why it's impossible to set it to Restart too), and none of them is "ask me what to do". Is there a way to set it to ask me what to do? Dude, you're not alone. I wonder why there isn't an option to "ask me what to do". I've read all the responses and it seems like other people either have no clue what you're talking about or they act like you're asking something ridiculously preposterous. Can someone please enlighten me as to if it is possible to do at all, if not, why can it not be done? Just to recap, I'm asking if I press the physical power button on my computer, can windows ask me what I want to do next (Like in XP where the dialogue comes up and gives three options; Shutdown, Restart, Log Off) as well as when I push the "Shutdown" button in the start menu. I don't think it's unreasonable that someone asks this question!

I'm sorry to dredge this up again, but I really want this functionality. It -should- be a standard feature to at least have a confirmation dialog when a hardware power button is pressed to prevent accidental button presses. No 'ask me what to do' option in Power Options->System Settings is a serious regression from Windows XP. It doesn't have to be default, but it definitely SHOULD be an option, especially since I can't immediately think of a way for a third-party program to implement it.

I, too, want this functionality. MS has made some stupid decisions on things related to this (like the system shutting down without a confirmation dialog like XP when you select Shutdown), etc."Fear disturbs your concentration"

Chiming in my hopes for an Ask Me dialog to return. My laptop only has a power button, no sleep button. Really pointless to take it out IMO

Chiming in my hopes for an Ask Me dialog to return. My laptop only has a power button, no sleep button. Really pointless to take it out IMO Go to power options,select"Choose what the power buttons do," then change the option for "When I press the power button." If you set it to sleep, then pressing once puts the machine to sleep and pressing and holding shuts it off. FWIW, yes it really is your opinion - personally I think it would be really pointless to put something back that they actually took out with Vista. Based upon past experience, that annoying XP dialog box wastes more energy than pretty much anything else with the typical XP comuter. I have spent years turning peoples's machines off after they clicked on shut down and left (leaving it hanging because they didn't bother to wait for the dialog box). It is hardly worth debating anymore though since it obviously is not making a return appearance. The RTM version has been out for quite some time and (thankfully) they made no changes to the Windows 7/Vista approach to shutting downa system....Stephen

That doesn't change anything with one of the biggest reasons to have the confirmation. To CONFIRM that you meant to hit it. Kids, pets, accidents etc all can shut off/stand by your system with a single button. Thats not logical. If someone is leaving it after pushing the button, then it isnt the dialog that is wasting energy, its the user. The fact is, the functionality is already there as demonstrated by its appearance while doing alt+f4. Adding (or leaving) it as an option to the power button requires little more.

A confirmation is pretty senseless. You have to hit the power button and then, with the mouse or keyboard, you have to confirmate this. Takes two steps. You could also just open the start menu and shut it down there, also takes two steps, so what's the advantage of a power button confirmation?Also, you said that it's a user issue if the people don't wait for the dialog and leave the PC earlier. Well, it's also a user issue if you accidentially hit the power button.And finally, it's not a Windows issue, it's your personal fault if you buy such a poor designed computer or such a cheap computer case which allows you to hit the power button easily. My computers don't have such a problem.Adding the option to show a dialog first which then needs a confirmation, is senseless, as already said, because then there's no need to use the power button at all to shut down the PC.

A confirmation is pretty senseless. You have to hit the power button and then, with the mouse or keyboard, you have to confirmate this. Takes two steps. You could also just open the start menu and shut it down there, also takes two steps, so what's the advantage of a power button confirmation? Also, you said that it's a user issue if the people don't wait for the dialog and leave the PC earlier. Well, it's also a user issue if you accidentially hit the power button. And finally, it's not a Windows issue, it's your personal fault if you buy such a poor designed computer or such a cheap computer case which allows you to hit the power button easily. My computers don't have such a problem. Adding the option to show a dialog first which then needs a confirmation, is senseless, as already said, because then there's no need to use the power button at all to shut down the PC. Okay, here's a completely different reason why Microsoft should re-enable this valuable feature. In XP, I can press my keyboard's Sleep button, then U if I want to shut down or R if I want to restart. It's much faster than using the mouse. Microsoft, if you're listening, please bring this feature back!

How can I make a shortcut to the power option box that comes up whenI pres Alt + F4,the only problem is it closes other programs before it comes up.

How can I make a shortcut to the power option box that comes up whenI pres Alt + F4,the only problem is it closes other programs before it comes up.

How can I make a shortcut to the power option box that comes up whenI pres Alt + F4,the only problem is it closes other programs before it comes up. I have no idea. As far as I know, it's still impossible.

Hi Fesak, So Did you get this worked out yet? I am in the same situation as you and looking to add that function to the power button as well. I noticed that since the option is there if you hit ALT+F4, then we should be able to add this feature ourselves. I normally run an XP / UBUNTU setup and just recently went ahead and added 7. At the moment I am thinking that I can make the file to remap the key in VisualStudio then call that from the registry to readd this missing feature. Have you tried anything like this yet? Thanks

I doubt anyone did, so please post your solution here should you have one.

Hi Fesak, So Did you get this worked out yet? I am in the same situation as you and looking to add that function to the power button as well. I noticed that since the option is there if you hit ALT+F4, then we should be able to add this feature ourselves. I normally run an XP / UBUNTU setup and just recently went ahead and added 7. At the moment I am thinking that I can make the file to remap the key in VisualStudio then call that from the registry to readd this missing feature. Have you tried anything like this yet? Thanks Unfortunately not. I just put XP back on my netbook and gave up.

Unfortunately not. I just put XP back on my netbook and gave up. Going professional with your netbookI see. Works well without a video card. Has all kinds of goodies too.Anywho, I'll have to write my own powerinterface for WIN 7. If you want something done right do it yourself."Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury"

Unfortunately not. I just put XP back on my netbook and gave up. Going professional with your netbookI see. Works well without a video card. Has all kinds of goodies too.Anywho, I'll have to write my own powerinterface for WIN 7. If you want something done right do it yourself."Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury"

Well, I had stability problems on it with 7. Its an old eee900 and the SSD is dying. 7 was just too demanding on it and it would bluescreen on me occasionaly due to I/O glitches. Id rather have stayed with 7, even with the stupid changes to power settings.

Well I will see what can be done to add that option. Everything so far is running super smooth and I am using a m1730 triple boot XP / UBUNTU / 7 Using the grub boot manager and everything worked great. I even mapped all my docs from each OS to my personal drive (m1730 Laptop holds 2 drives so (2)500GB 7200RPM Seagates) so that no matter what OS you boot into my docs are the same, desktop the same, even firefox has the same tabs and browsing no matter which OS I boot into. Only feature I am missing at the moment is this is the only OS that wont ask me what to do with the power button. So I will start looking into mapping the key to that ALT+F4 pop up, That looks perfect to me. Well I will keep you guys posted with what I find out ;) **one of these days I would love to checkout the Ubuntu netbook remix running on 1 of those... I was amazed on an old dell Inspiron 8200 to load up Ubuntu 9.10 and with an old 32m ATI card enable the full Compiz desktop and the Sphere Display, Simply amazing and the old machine is still very snappy. My daughter (2 1/2) still uses it learning ;) Oh, If the SSD is too much to replace I saw this handy little gadget the other day http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19384

Well I will see what can be done to add that option. Everything so far is running super smooth and I am using a m1730 triple boot XP / UBUNTU / 7 Using the grub boot manager and everything worked great. I even mapped all my docs from each OS to my personal drive (m1730 Laptop holds 2 drives so (2)500GB 7200RPM Seagates) so that no matter what OS you boot into my docs are the same, desktop the same, even firefox has the same tabs and browsing no matter which OS I boot into. Only feature I am missing at the moment is this is the only OS that wont ask me what to do with the power button. So I will start looking into mapping the key to that ALT+F4 pop up, That looks perfect to me. Well I will keep you guys posted with what I find out ;) **one of these days I would love to checkout the Ubuntu netbook remix running on 1 of those... I was amazed on an old dell Inspiron 8200 to load up Ubuntu 9.10 and with an old 32m ATI card enable the full Compiz desktop and the Sphere Display, Simply amazing and the old machine is still very snappy. My daughter (2 1/2) still uses it learning ;) Oh, If the SSD is too much to replace I saw this handy little gadget the other day http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19384 I'm saving up for this little puppy. Ohh ya.... If you get it to work then let me know.

Of courseit goes without saying "%systemroot%\system32\shutdown /I" "Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury"

Of courseit goes without saying "%systemroot%\system32\shutdown /I" "Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury"

I saw that as well and I think we can do better. Now in Win 7 Regedit my Power Options are at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 And the actual event triggered on the power button being pressed happens here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347\7648efa3-dd9c-4e3e-b566-50f929386280 (the files with all letters and numbers should just be real filename hashes) Now we can see most all of the power options are being referenced @ powrprof.dll and we do know the system has the function to launch that pop up. Now looking under the options we have in the registry we can see each reference to the powrprofdll and see each reference to functions as -50 through -58. I tried to play a little with this and as long as my next power option was a match then it worked and added the new power option to the menu, however, If the new option did not exist then it was defaulting to "Do Nothing". So if the Ask Me function is sitting there it might be possible to make it work there again but to make it work we need an exact match. Ive done this in programming often in if else statements. Now another option here is see if another command exists command line to launch that popup and if so then we can modify: Of courseit goes without saying "%systemroot%\system32\shutdown /I" To our new command. And another possibility we might have is to use rundll32.exe and launch the window ourselves with those options, long shot, again. And of course the last possibility that im sure will work would be to hard map the power button to the actual ALT+F4 function binary data but that is going to require changing registry data type and Ill resort to that last. I'll keep you guys posted on what I figure out. =D

Well heres what Ive found so far in powrprof.dll powrprof.dll @%SystemRoot%\system32\powrprof.dll,-X, change X to be any number from 0 to ????? Programming arrays can go on forever..... ****** x below means no output returned to the Advanced settings menu, nothing returned will result in this line being returned in output "@%SystemRoot%\system32\powrprof.dll,-X," where X = the number attempted to be viewed in the array() [10] x [20] x [30] x [40] x [50] Do Nothing [51] Do Nothing [52] Sleep [53] Sleep [54] Hibernate [55] Hibernate [56] Shut Down [57] Shut Down [58] Do Nothing [59] Do Nothing [60] x [70] x [80] seconds [81] % [82] milliseconds [83] microseconds [84] x [85] x [86] x [87] x [88] x [89] x [90] x [100] The default windows power plan types include Balanced, Power Saver, and High performance.. [101] Power Plan Type [102] Require a password to wake the computer from sleep [103] Require a password on wakeup [104] Specify how long your compouter is inactive before going to sleep [105] Sleep after [106] Specify how long your computer is inactive before hibernating [107] Hibernate after [108] Allow windows to save your work and enter a low power state..... [109] Allow Hybrid Sleep [110] Enables system to show a progress bar during transitions to sleep [111] Enable Sleep Progress Bar Now This could go on for quite a while. In theory, If they left the option there then we could make the Registry changes and point to the Ask Me function with our new context menu item ;)

It's impossible to find the process to alt+ 4 when it kills the task manager or process monitor.Seesons greetings!

It's impossible to find the process to alt+ 4 when it kills the task manager or process monitor.Seesons greetings!

Ok, well I found the ActiveXObject that will bring that window up fine. I just now need to get this fired off. I added a new power option and have been looking at getting the ShutdownDialogue.js fired off now. So far it seems having a file in sys32 would be the best choice for firing off this command and there to access in system32 for future use. So If you open up notepad and add 1 line to the top as: (new ActiveXObject("Shell.Application")).ShutdownWindows(); and save that as whatever.js (I named it ShutdownDialogue.js and placed it in system32 for now) when you double click it the shutdown dialogue will open. Now I just need to tie it in either by hopefully adding a power option or last resort SetWindowsHookEx() should work fine. Ill keep everyone posted as time permits for me to finish this. If someone ties it in somehow and this works let me know, thanks.

Excellent!Seesons greetings!

Excellent!Seesons greetings!

Stephen,With all due respect, you are obviously blinding yourself to the reality that this is a dialog that *should* have not been removed, because it also removes a very valuable feature -- the "Ask me what to do" setting that was available in XP. Just becuase it was removed with Vista, doesn't mean it was a good thing. Removing it permanently because -- in your experinece -- too many people left the dialog up without actually shutting down, is just not acceptable. If anything, it could have been removed as default behavior, with an option somewhere to bring it back for the benefit of those that have been enjoying the feature in XP -- such as myself -- very frustrated for MS to remove features permanently. And what you mention about setting the behavior to "Sleep" so that pressing it once sleeps and pressing/holding turns it off give you the same functionality is not acceptable, since pressing/holding does acold shutdown (i.e., Windows won't shut down properly). Nor is it correct, because with "Ask me what to do" I can choose Hibernate, Standby, Shutdown, or Cancel (oops, didn't mean to press it).Citing the change in Vista isn't very compelling either. Many folks were very annoyed with the shutdown options in Vista: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/11/21.htmlAnyway, if you think it's better to remove something in a future version of Windows, then at least make that change the *default*, and let those who want to continue using it anyway able to turn it back one in some settings dialog.I will agree with you on this though: there's no point in debating it further since it appears that MS just decided to yank it, and too bad for anyone that doesn't like it. And that's not just me, but lots of other people.I just needed to vent...

...snip.... I have spent years turning peoples's machines off after they clicked on shut down and left (leaving it hanging because they didn't bother to wait for the dialog box)....snip...Stephen What a shame, youshould spend days be setting their powermanagement to more suitable option. Or even less doing this globally in domain politics. Your argument is not a reason and there also no ultimate truth either. I assume your users have desktop PCs. I'm using notebook and it's extremly annoying when you accidentally (or somebody on purpose) press power button and system shuts down.

I can't believe that there are so many people willing to get worked up against this thing. The comments Stephen has been making really seem more like a Mac user would voice than the Windows users of old. It would be such a simple thing to modify in Ubuntu so why is it so hard here? The hardware button still send the signal but the OS just ignores it. Surely there is an easy way to tie that in with the Alt + F4 combination (as ugly and unhelpful as it is). I just don't know how to do it myself. Another note on the uselessness of the Alt + F4 combination is that you still have to use your mouse to access the drop-down menu. I would really prefer to use keyboard shortcuts whenever possible, especially because I am normally using my laptop with a touchpad. Why move your hands if you don't have to? Oh dear, this is why I use a Mac for my design use. It stops me from doing any of the time-consuming fun stuff that makes your computer usage more rewarding.

I can't believe that there are so many people willing to get worked up against this thing. The comments Stephen has been making really seem more like a Mac user would voice than the Windows users of old.It would be such a simple thing to modify in Ubuntu so why is it so hard here? The hardware button still send the signal but the OS just ignores it. Surely there is an easy way to tie that in with the Alt + F4 combination (as ugly and unhelpful as it is). I just don't know how to do it myself.Another note on the uselessness of the Alt + F4 combination is that you still have to use your mouse to access the drop-down menu. I would really prefer to use keyboard shortcuts whenever possible, especially because I am normally using my laptop with a touchpad. Why move your hands if you don't have to?Oh dear, this is why I use a Mac for my design use. It stops me from doing any of the time-consuming fun stuff that makes your computer usage more rewarding. For some reason I forgot to turn off notifications on this tedious old thread (won't make that mistake this time). I have been using Windows since 3.0 and DOS prior - have done a fair amount of IT over the years as well. I like many of the changes from Windows version to Windows version and do not like others. Most notably I loathed XP from its release and my opinion has never changed, particularly since I have spent far too much time rescuing people from its bugs and their own screw-ups. I responded to this thread three times - back in May and September and in each case just gave people suggestions as work arounds, examples of the Windows 7 functions, and my (clearly identified) opinions. I don't see why a very small number of people continue to drag out this completely dead issue, as if Windows 7 was still a beta, or as if the essense of the whining wasn't actually a change made in Vista years earlier. If you don't like how it works, switch to Ubuntu or stay with XP. Otherwise, work with someone to write a little utility/hack to get your vitally important function back. Beyond that, count the number of people who actually responded to this thread - does this look like there is some groundswell of public opinion to bring back XP in Windows 7, or does it look like a very small number of people who think their own personal wants outweigh Microsoft's goal of designing an OS that will be run on millions of computers? You can't design an OS for an 80-90% market share and make everyone happy. For this one a small number of people are, indeed, unhappy about something most seem to think is not very significant. That is just the nature of life at times - get over it and move on already....Stephen

No one has mentioned the issue that I would consider. The only time I ever use the manual power off button is when my computer is frozen up. At this point asking me what I want to do is kind of pointless, since I have no way to reply, and if that stopped me from shutting it off it would be a bad thing. When I push my power button on my FNW PC, I have to hold the button in for quite a long time (est, 10 to 15 seconds) before it will shut off. This certainly stops any accidental shut downs. What I would like to know is if this time is adjustable because a friend of mine running Windows 7 as well has a computer that shuts off if you even look at his power button. It would be nice to change is so that it has a delay like mine does. I have accidentally shut his off several times when reaching down under his desk for the DVD button. Mike

Stephen, a quick google of '"Ask me what to do" setting missing' would show you that there are thousands of people who have written that they are unhappy the setting is removed (include me in that list) and that's just people who have actually written about it. I bet at least a hundred people have read this thread and agree without writing it ... as far as I can tell even if only 2% of people want something from Windows, Microsoft should at the very least give those users the option. I had a case that had a finnicky power button, and when i moved to Windows 7 (From XP, I did not use Vista for more than a few weeks for this reason exactly), the popup every hour or two asking me what to do did little more than bother me, now I bought a new case since 7 just shut off when I breathed to hard in the vicinity of the power button. Also missing from the Laptop Lid menu is "Turn the Screen Off", my laptop screen remains on when I close the lid since this is missing ... on top of it all, I'm "red X happy" and often went to shutdown without realizing I had something important going and had a moment to realize it and cancel the shutdown. I think the number of people who want this feature back is substantial enough to add this option back, and I'm sure it could be done very easily in an update. I remember the update for XP that removed the fourth Hibernate Option from the XP Shutdown Menu, and that had me a bit confused, Why make it more confusing to hit Shift+Stand By in order to hibernate? (It could be added again with regedit, until SP3 I believe) For users that just want the power button to turn the computer off, they could set it to do so in XP, they had the option before, why not keep the old default as an option? If we want something to work, how else would those who cannot code as well as Brakeangrily get it done than to ask about it in a forum? If Microsoft didn't cater to the minority of users who want something included in Windows, Windows probably would not be able to have the 80-90% market share that it does, there are hundreds of things that are included in Windows that you might feel is necessary, that most of the userbase never even touches. If they were to remove everything that less than 1% of users actually care about, I bet all together more than 80% of Windows users would feel they got gypped on some option or other. I think removing the option altogether was a poor choice of action on the Microsoft Development Team's part. Even if 1 in 200 people want to click their power button on their laptop and get options, it should be available, especially since they have already had the option before. Then every tech help forum wouldn't have all the posts trying to find this option, and since they do have so many posts, you would think they would have noticed by now, but I suppose it is the kind of thing you can only find out by searching for it, and MS developers probably don't search for this after they made the decision to remove it. There should be a poll about adding the "Restart" and "Ask Me What To Do" options back to the power button and the "Turn the Screen Off" to the close lid options, I'm sure the numbers would surprise you. Sure: more than half probably won't care for it, but I don't think as small of a minority want it back as you implied. I understand that to some people it might be a nuisance for other reasons, such as workstations in an office with lazy/computer-illiterate employees, where client sessions are not fully logged out. In this case the office administrator had the option to have all the computers set to shutdown without the dialog, but now those who would like the dialog don't have that option. I hope a Microsoft development tech realizes this soon. It'll make a lot of people with laptops happier with Windows 7. -- Van

Once again I am surprised by your militance. Why get so worked up against this? This isn't a forum thread working to undermine the workable Os that Microsoft has produced, nor are we asking them to change it to our liking. I'm personally more interested in finding someone more knowledgable about coding than myself who has produced a small script fixing our 'problem'. I just know that under Linux this would be an easy fix so it seems strange that it is so difficult under Windows.

Okay, I am totally baffled by this entire thread. I understand EXACTLY what the initial thread requestor was asking and some of the people answering have no freaking clue whatsoever what was being asked and again I am going to reiterate the need in my own way. In both Windows XP and Windows Vista, a user has the ability to select what the power button does in the event it is pressed. In Windows XP, the following options are available: 1. Shutdown 2. Sleep 3. Hibernate 4. Ask me what the ____ I want to do in case I don't remember what I set it to or someone else may have accidentally bumped me and my finger came flying across the freaking keyboard and hit the stupid little power button on accident and I don't want my entire system to go shutting down when I have 100 important screens up. In Windows Vista, the following options are available (minus a couple just for getting my point across): 1. Shutdown 2. Sleep 3. Hibernate Now, again, to reiterate what the original poster was asking, all we want. I repeat, all we want is for option #4 to come back. We are not arguing with Windows Vista users that all the existing options should be removed. We are only asking for an additional option that some very small population of people were using because it made sense. Adding this options to Windows Vista will not make any existing Vista user's life any more difficult than it is today. It is simply an additional feature that will address the needs of different people.

Actually, it's not even an additional feature, because the dialog is already there (try pressing Alt+F4 with desktop in focus). It's just the option missing for no apparent reason.

THANK YOU jbergado, you have TOTALLY hit the nail on the head, 10/10 my good fellow. I run Windows 7 on a Macbook Pro, there IS no sleep button, only power, AND I have on a few occasions accidentally pressed the button, so I'm not alone there. ALSO, OSX 10.5 offers the "Ask me what the ____ ... " dialog so why can't Windows 7 still have it as an *additional* option as XP had! Removing something for the sake of simplicity doesn't make it better as some of you have stipulated.

>>> I don't see why a very small number of people continue to drag out this completely dead issue <<< The issue isn't dead just because you wish it dead. I've seen you justify this decision a million ways but still haven't heard one good explanation as to why the option was removed. It should have been left as an *option* so that those (few, if you insist) who relied on it can enable it and continue to enjoy while those (many, if you insist) who hate it can leave it off and live without it.

>>> public opinion to bring back XP in Windows 7 <<< That is an absurd statement. We're talking about a single feature here that people miss, which was a good feature removed for (no apparent) reason. It's unfair for you to bluntly dismiss these (Microsoft) customers as stuck in the past, or unable to advance to new OSs, when the truth (like it or not is) is that MS blundered on this one feature (and they did!)

>>> make everyone happy <<< If you would have left the feature in as an option for those who want to continue using it to enable, leaving it off by default to satisfy your (questionable) usability research, then you *could* have made everyone happy!

>>> You asked about the power button and I gave you an answer - you did not ask about Alt+F4. A key stroke combination is hardly the same thing as reprogramming the functions of a hardwired button <<< That's a rather obnoxious statement. We're all talking here about the dialog that used to appear in XP when pressing the (hardwired) Power button if you chose the option to "ask me what to do". In an earlier post, you actually stated that this dialog box was gone *altogether* from Windows 7 ("Windows XP's intervening dialog box with the washout background has been gone since the arrival of Vista"). Apparently not! You can hit F4 on the desktop to see it. But it's just been removed (permanently!) as a possible action of choice from the "When I press the Power button..." options (and without even an option to bring that choice back, removed permanently for no good reason). Tell me something, what's the reason for showing the dialog when hitting F4 on the desktop!?! It makes sense to show it then but not (upon choosing the option) when hitting the power button?!? Come on! I've been a software developer for 30+ years (Microsoft technologies a specialty). "Reprogramming" the function of the hardwired Power button wouldn't be necessary if MS didn't "reprogram" it the first time when they removed this functionality. And it certainly can't be "difficult".

Stephen, just because you don't use / like a feature does not make it pointless. With my home theater PC my remote has a power button. I would love to find a fix so I can turn the computer off, restart or standby without getting the keyboard out.

Stephen, just because you don't use / like a feature does not make it pointless. With my home theater PC my remote has a power button. I would love to find a fix so I can turn the computer off, restart or standby without getting the keyboard out. Are you aware that this thread is over a year old and that my last response was nearly six months ago. It is also made up of the same rather small number of responders. That should tell you how much interest there is in the subject - it certainly is consistent with my lack of interest. Again, people need to get over it and move on. If this is so important, work with some open source people to put together a hack that does what you want. Windows 7 itself is about to have the SP 1 beta released and I haven't heard anyone say there was the least bit of interest in addressing it in the beta. Some other things that people wanted to see are on the list but I have seen nothing about this one. It also, again, was not even introduced with Windows 7 - it showed up with Vista. I guess I will uncheck alert me" again and hopefully it will stick. Getting more about this tedious thread in my e-mail is annoying as spam. Please respond to each other rather than me - I certainly have no interest in furthering this discussion.... Stephen

FYI? I'm one of the who knows how many hundreds of people who've found this thread via googling for info on how to get this feature back. Just because most of us don't have the inclination to spend all our time on a microsoft site telling the world how our own opinion is the only one that matters doesn't mean we don't have concerns about microsoft products. Normally, I'd have read this thread, confirmed the info in a few other places, and gone back to my life as usual; but you are such a painfully arrogant, self-obsessed liar that I couldn't resist chiming in, just to make you look even dumber than you're already making yourself look. But of course, I'm SURE you'll never read this, because you've "turn[ed] off notifications on this tedious old thread." No, for real this time! We know you TRIED. It was the silly old forum gremlin, making your settings "not stick!" Watch and learn as I fail to ever even think about this thread again. it's good to have a life outside an online forum! Try it! Anyway, nothing I can add to the actual thread beyond "Yeah, I miss this option as well." I can't believe I waited the better part of a decade for an upgrade to XP and still haven't actually gotten one. Bleh.

Ask me what to do. Here's what I'll do. I'll add it to the long list of excellent features removed when migrating to Windows 7 which just isn't a viable solution for myself and so many others at this point in time.

Ask me what to do. Here's what I'll do. I'll add it to the long list of excellent features removed when migrating to Windows 7 which just isn't a viable solution for myself and so many others at this point in time.

>>> I certainly have no interest in furthering this discussion <<< That doesn't change the fact that MS made a mistake, and (for whatever reason) you have a hard time admitting it!

Okay, I am totally baffled by this entire thread. I understand EXACTLY what the initial thread requestor was asking and some of the people answering have no freaking clue whatsoever what was being asked and again I am going to reiterate the need in my own way. In both Windows XP and Windows Vista, a user has the ability to select what the power button does in the event it is pressed. In Windows XP, the following options are available: 1. Shutdown 2. Sleep 3. Hibernate 4. Ask me what the ____ I want to do in case I don't remember what I set it to or someone else may have accidentally bumped me and my finger came flying across the freaking keyboard and hit the stupid little power button on accident and I don't want my entire system to go shutting down when I have 100 important screens up. In Windows Vista, the following options are available (minus a couple just for getting my point across): 1. Shutdown 2. Sleep 3. Hibernate Now, again, to reiterate what the original poster was asking, all we want. I repeat, all we want is for option #4 to come back. We are not arguing with Windows Vista users that all the existing options should be removed. We are only asking for an additional option that some very small population of people were using because it made sense. Adding this options to Windows Vista will not make any existing Vista user's life any more difficult than it is today. It is simply an additional feature that will address the needs of different people. Quoted for truth and entertainment. The people who have responded to this thread in earnest aren't looking for a HARDER way to shutdown their Windows 7 machines. The desired workflow is not, "Click Start, click Shutdown, click annoying popup window". If I want to PURPOSEFULLY shutdown my Windows 7 machine, yes, I will click Start --> Shutdown and have no issue with the machine shutting down immediately. But if the physical power button on my case is pressed INADVERTENTLY (while hunting for a DVD eject button, act of nature, children, pets, a strong breeze, etc.) or PURPOSEFULLY (for the Mac users with only a power button, or the HTPC users whose remote control only has a power button, or the note/netbook users who have an easy-to-press power button) this is a very desirable, if not borderline necessary feature. And further still, re-including this feature in Windows 7 would not negatively affect ANY existing users, as long as the default value stays the same. Like many others have stated in this thread (and countless others have thought as they've read this and other threads) we simply want the OPTION back, not to have it forced down every user's throat as the ONLY option. Here's hoping Microsoft will consider this (seemingly simple) request. On that note - what's the best way of getting Microsoft's attention, since these forums seem a bit attention-dry? Windows Team Blog? Microsoft Connect? -BaTz

BaTz, All too true. MS really goofed on this one, and this Stephen dude has obvious issues with admitting that. It seems like he wants it forced down every user's throat (and is wishing this away) just the same as Microsoft. ~ Lenni

Chiming in here as well, as a power user who has been using Microsoft OSs and many other OSs for the better part of three decades... having "ask me what to do" REMOVED from the list of physical power button options was just inane. Change the default, sure, but allow it to be set SOMEHOW. When I need to hibernate/shutdown/restart my old XP pro laptop, I hit the power button, it pops up the alt-F4 window, and I either hit ENTER (to select what was selected last time), or arrow up/down to select my choice and then ENTER, and it does what I want it to. Simple, easy. In addition, I have a toddler who loves pressing anything that looks like a button. When he presses the button on my XP pro system, no problem, he's not hitting ENTER, too, so I can abort the shutdown/hibernate/whatever. Like a lot of people, I skipped over Vista. I just got a new laptop with W7 installed and noticed the feature was missing, so I searched online to try and find a solution. I found this thread among others, and apparently I am going to have to turn off the hardware power button until my son gets older, losing the functionality of being able to quickly shut down my laptop without navigating menus with a mouse or the trackpad. And for the record, I also agree that Stephen appears to be showing how much he can't understand that other people MIGHT need to use interfaces differently than his holiness does. I hope he's not in IT or software development; he should be working for the DMV or some other government agency with his attitude. The OP was very clear and it took Stephen about four posts to even understand the question, and then he argued that the question was stupid. There's only one thing stupid in this thread, Stephen. Thank goodness you're not following it anymore.

Yes, please please please, Microsoft, return this feature. I too have had to just disable my power button to avoid shutting my machine down accidently.

And further still, re-including this feature in Windows 7 would not negatively affect ANY existing users, as long as the default value stays the same. Like many others have stated in this thread (and countless others have thought as they've read this and other threads) we simply want the OPTION back, not to have it forced down every user's throat as the ONLY option. Yes, please please please, Microsoft, return this feature. I too have had to just disable my power button to avoid shutting my machine down accidently. I think this makes more sense. I too had some issues before when I got a keyboard with a power key next to the enter button. That sucks coz my fingers are huge and I often inadvertently click on that key. executing a shutdown process. http://www.cesabarre.com/

I'm mostly replying because I miss this feature as well (running on an MBP) and to annoy that Stephen ____. Good job knowing anything at all about human computer interaction and good luck with attempting to force your ideas down the throats of everyone who disagrees with your asinine statement. God help the world if you ever come into a position of power (though you would fit right in with USA politicians, so there's that). Get the ____ out and learn something.

I'm happy to read that I'm not the only one who is bothered with this shutdown option missing. I've missed it since the early days I installed Windows 7, but always thought I would one day find the advanced setting box where I could choose my old trustworthy setting to 'ask me what to do'. It's sad that Stepphen says there are not enough people out there complaining to make this a serious issue. It has given me a reason to reply. If anyone finds a neat solution to get the confirmation dialog back when pressing the shutdown button, I'd love to know.

Hey Stevo, guess what? I want the 'ask me what to do' feature back too! Haha the jokes on you, lol. You loathe XP? You spent years turning peoples's machines off? That's hilarious. There actually is a place to "vote" for this option to be put back. Here's the link: http://www.windows7taskforce.com/view/3463

A workaround might be enough to satisfy some people but, I appreciate, not all. If accidental pressing of the power button is the concern, you can use the power scheme[s] to set its action to "Do nothing" or use the Windows Start, properties to set it to "Lock". This is safe and can be overriden in emergency by pressing for ten seconds or so. The routine shutdown procedure would then be by pressing F4 or clicking on the Windows Start then the little arrow next to "Shutdown".GPLyons

A workaround might be enough to satisfy some people but, I appreciate, not all. If accidental pressing of the power button is the concern, you can use the power scheme[s] to set its action to "Do nothing" or use the Windows Start, properties to set it to "Lock". This is safe and can be overriden in emergency by pressing for ten seconds or so. The routine shutdown procedure would then be by pressing F4 or clicking on the Windows Start then the little arrow next to "Shutdown".GPLyons

A workaround might be enough to satisfy some people but, I appreciate, not all. If accidental pressing of the power button is the concern, you can use the power scheme[s] to set its action to "Do nothing" or use the Windows Start, properties to set it to "Lock". This is safe and can be overriden in emergency by pressing for ten seconds or so. The routine shutdown procedure would then be by pressing F4 or clicking on the Windows Start then the little arrow next to "Shutdown".GPLyons

Hi KrzaQ, I understand your frustration on this issue. I'm still researching some ways to enable it so it looks like when you press Alt-F4 on the desktop. For the meantime, what you can do is to enable the Display Shutdown Event Tracker in your Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 7. I know its not the same but it will ask for confirmation before you shutdown. To enable it: Run > gpedit.msc Expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System. Double-click Display Shutdown Event Tracker. Select Enable. Good luck and I'll let you know if I find out how to enable the 'ask what to do' feature.

Hi Diego, Unfortunately this does not work when the power button is pressed - it still shuts down automatically. What a shambles this issue is. 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

A confirmation is pretty senseless. You have to hit the power button and then, with the mouse or keyboard, you have to confirmate this. Takes two steps. You could also just open the start menu and shut it down there, also takes two steps, so what's the advantage of a power button confirmation? Also, you said that it's a user issue if the people don't wait for the dialog and leave the PC earlier. Well, it's also a user issue if you accidentially hit the power button. And finally, it's not a Windows issue, it's your personal fault if you buy such a poor designed computer or such a cheap computer case which allows you to hit the power button easily. My computers don't have such a problem. Adding the option to show a dialog first which then needs a confirmation, is senseless, as already said, because then there's no need to use the power button at all to shut down the PC. Yea, I know it's a personal problem that I bought such a poorly designed system that they included a problematic version of windows (7) instead of something decent.. (XP, Linux, OSX) Is that what u were getting at??? P.S. STFU swyost/Stephen, you arn't helping anyone by having a little girl anxiety fit about being wrong... Anyone got some real advise on how to fix this? maybe a registry entry to change or something??? How about a dll or sys file swap from a previous version of windows?

Yes bros, you are not alone! I'm looking for this same for a long time ago since Windows Vista. I find a command can call the box - "taskkill /im explorer.exe", not sure is it useful for if someone can remap the power button with this command, it will be great. But I do search with Wiki too, it said there is no longer with this function - List of features removed in Windows Vista (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_features_removed_in_Windows_Vista#Boot.2C_shutdown.2C_power_management)