Enabling or disabling Shutdown Event Tracker

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Enabling or disabling Shutdown Event Tracker

You can use either Group Policy to enable or disable Shutdown Event Tracker on your system. For details on how to configure Shutdown Event Tracker by setting the Display Shutdown Event Tracker policy, see Configure Shutdown Event Tracker on your local computer or Configure Shutdown Event Tracker on a domain or organizational unit.

When Shutdown Event Tracker is enabled, the expected shutdown dialog box appears when you click Start and then click Shutdown, or when you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE and then click Shutdown. Should an unexpected restart or shutdown occur, the unexpected shutdown dialog box will appear to the first person with shutdown user rights who logs on to the computer.

When Shutdown Event Tracker is disabled, the standard Windows shutdown dialog box appears. It provides a way to restart or shut down your computer; however, it does not provide a way to record whether or not the event is planned or unplanned, or a way to record a reason for it. Should an unexpected restart or shutdown occur, the unexpected shutdown dialog box will not appear to the first person with shutdown rights who logs on to the computer. For definitions of planned and unplanned, and expected and unexpected startups and shutdowns, see Shutdown Event Tracker overview.