Allow Restart Only...not Shut Down

[DannoSV]

Is there a way to prevent users from shutting down a workstation while still allowing them to restart using Group Policy?

I want users to restart each night if they remember but I do not want them to shut down any workstations which prevents scheduled maintenance from running.

Thank you!

 

[aquias]

This policy will remove their ability to reboot the system, at all. It's the one drawback of this, unless you create a scheduled task (with administrator privileges) to do a nightly reboot as well.

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar\Remove and Prevent Access to the Shutdown Command.

I'd also recommend enabling (under the same directory) enabling the "Add Logoff to the Start Menu

 

[DannoSV]

Thanks. I saw this but was looking for a way to keep the ability to restart so this won't work. Creating a scheduled task is an option for the restarts though but in this environment it would be important for them to be able to restart should their system have a problem.

thank you.

 

[aquias]

Put a shortcut to the users desktop.

Make it a "Reboot" computer shortcut. Have it point to shortcut.exe with the /r switch enabled. Then use a program called "Runasuser" (

http://www.palmersoft.co.uk/main.asp?content=runasuser)

to create a file that can be run with administrator privileges.

 

[Seaspray0]

Even if you don't have the permissions to shut down or restart a PC, just about every PC will shut down if you hold the power button for 10 seconds. If you explain to your users that this is for emergency use only as there is a slight posibility of causing "bad things" if done on a regular basis, they should respect that.

Start, Help. You'll be surprised what's there. A+/MCP/MCSE/MCDBA

 

[DannoSV]

Thanks aquias.

Seaspray0 - while you make a good point about the Help feature which I point out often, the purpose of posting here is to find an efficient solution to a problem and avoid telling users to hold the power button to shut down the system. I reserve that for when there actually is an emergency.