1. Open Command Prompt.
   
2. Type:
   shutdown /i to display the Remote Shutdown dialog box (Shutdown.exe).
   
3. Under Computers, click Add to enter computer names, or click Browse to open the Find Computers dialog box.
   
4. Under What do you want these computers to do, click Restart or Shut down.
   
5. If you did not anticipate restarting or shutting down the target computers at this time, clear the Planned check box.
   
6. Select the appropriate reason from the list.
   
7. If a comment is required, the OK button will not function until you type at least one character one in the text box.
   

Notes

• To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt.
  
• To perform this procedure, you must have the user rights to force a shutdown from a remote system. For a list of security groups that have this permission by default on computers running Windows Server 2003 family operating systems, see "Privileges" under Related Topics.
  
• The Remote Shutdown dialog box can be displayed only by typing shutdown /i at the command prompt.
  
• If the remote computer is functioning properly, but Shutdown.exe fails to restart it or shut it down, wait for two minutes before making a second attempt: Either the log on dialog box or the unexpected shutdown dialog box is open on the remote computer, causing an error.
  
• Shutdown Event Tracker records data only for the Restart and Shutdown options.
  
• If the System State Data feature is enabled and you specify an unplanned reason for the restart or shutdown, a file containing relevant system data will be created in the %windir%\system32\LogFiles\Shutdown\ directory. The System State Data feature is enabled by default on all Windows Server 2003 family operating systems.
  
• For information on defining custom reasons, see "Best practices" under Related Topics.
  
• The Warn users of the action check box is selected by default.