Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if this thread is in the right forum, if not, feel free to move it.

We are currently migrating our organisation to Windows 8.1 Entreprise with Novell Client 2 SP3 IR10. In Windows XP, couple years ago, we added a Force Logoff button to the unlock screen using this value in registry :

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Novell\NWGINA\Login Screen]
"ForceLogoff"=dword:1

I'm trying to add the same button to the unlock screen in Windows 8.1 but this value won't work anymore. I'm trying to find a solution. Please, keep in mind that Fast User Switching is disabled and that our users aren't administrators.

I've made some research on Google. I've read some things about the Force Logoff option being removed from Windows 6.x and replaced by Fast User Switching. I've seen some posts talking about installing some program to add the possibility to unluck using an account that is administrator but this won't do it because our users need to be able to do it on their own, without having to call helpdesk. I'd rather not install any program or plugin on my workstations.

Is there any solution? Or should my users keep shutting down workstation to login?

Hi Jean-Michel,

Would you please share us the main purpose or the details of the applying environment?

If we want to log off the machine, there used to be an option of "shutdown" menu.
As an alternative, we can run "shutdown /l /f " to force log off the present account.

Best r

In a Windows network environment, the command query session /server:MyServer can be used to identify logged on and/or disconnected users.

Sample output:

C:\>query session /server:MyServer
 SESSIONNAME       USERNAME                 ID  STATE   TYPE
 rdp-tcp#2         User1                  2  Active  rdpwd
 rdp-tcp#3         User2                3  Active  rdpwd
 rdp-tcp#1         User3               4  Active  rdpwd

You can use Reset Session /server:MyServer 2 to reset (this means log off) the session #1 from the MyServer computer.

Thanks for your answers.

We are currently running under a Novell Environnement. Don't worry, we plan to get it out sooner or later.

Previously, in Windows XP, when a user wanted to connect to a workstation that was locked by a previous user, he could press a button that was in the unlock your account screen called Force Logoff. Doing so, the session of the previous user was shutted down and he could login then.

I am looking for a solution when the user, that is not administrator, could shutown the session without calling helpdesk. He has to be able to do it on his own, just like in Windows XP.

I never tried shutdown /l /f but I'll try it to see what it does.

Thanks again!

Hi Jean,

How about the issue, is there anything to update?

Best regards

Hi,

Still haven't found anything.

Hi Jean,

Have you tried to run "shutdown /l /f"?

Best regards

Of course I did, works like a charm! But it doesn't solve my problem...

Hi dlakey,

"But it doesn't solve my problem..."

The command line can be used to force the present user to log off. For this issue, please feel free to let me know if I have missed something.

Best regards

Hi MeipoXu,

Sorry for the delay to answer! Been in vacation and blablabla!

What you might have missed is that I need a solution that a user can use without having to call helpdesk!

Like I said previously, in Windows XP there used to be a button called Force Logoff. Users could press that button to kick out the previous user that was still logged in!

Unfortunatly, this button doesn't exist anymore!

Hi Jean,

As a workaround, we could deploy a "logoff.bat" file including "shutdown /l /f" to user`s desktop. They could click it easily when they want to force the user log off.

Best r

It would work MeipoXu, but it won't solve the problem.

The user couldn't launch the batch file on his desktop because he can't login on the workstation! :(