How to Windows-disable the front-panel restart button?

In Spontaneous restarts, perhaps seemingly caused by power switch? Help! I describe a bothersome situation where, as of now, it appears that my PC is rebooting itself once in the morning upon being woken from sleep and logged into, then behaves fine after that (so overheating, hardware failure, etc., are not the likely causes).

In Random reboot someone experiencing a similar problem a couple years ago says "I've set Windows 7 to do nothing when the button is pressed" as the way the user solved his random restarts, and I'd like to try that myself.

I know if I were a "real man" I'd open the case, find the restart button, and unplug it.

But I'm not. I'm a wimp who hates moving his case, unplugging things, and opening the case, if it can be avoided.

Is there really a setting in Windows or in the BIOS that would disable the signal from the reset button? My case does have separate buttons for power and for restart.

If it is the reset button you are trying to disable, it cannot be done from Windows.

It is a hardware reset directly to the circuits on the motherboard.

450125 said:

In Spontaneous restarts, perhaps seemingly caused by power switch? Help! I describe a bothersome situation where, as of now, it appears that my PC is rebooting itself once in the morning upon being woken from sleep and logged into, then behaves fine after that (so overheating, hardware failure, etc., are not the likely causes).

In Random reboot someone experiencing a similar problem a couple years ago says "I've set Windows 7 to do nothing when the button is pressed" as the way the user solved his random restarts, and I'd like to try that myself.

I know if I were a "real man" I'd open the case, find the restart button, and unplug it.

But I'm not. I'm a wimp who hates moving his case, unplugging things, and opening the case, if it can be avoided.

Is there really a setting in Windows or in the BIOS that would disable the signal from the reset button? My case does have separate buttons for power and for restart.

Yep! Do this:

1. Open the Start menu
2. Type edit po (or type edit power plan) and press Enter
3. Press Enter again to select "Change advanced power settings"
4. In the window that appears, look for "Power buttons and lid"
5. Expand it
6. Under "Power button action", choose "Do nothing"
7. Click OK

Now it should do nothing. If this doesn't work, then we'll have to figure out how to do it for your computer. However, I have my doubts that this will work, but it certainly won't hurt anything.

I've seen the W7 "Power Options" but have not changed any of the defaults. My Gigabyte mobo has setting in the BIOS for reset button control under "Power Management".

TwoCables said:

Yep! Do this:

1. Open the Start menu
2. Type edit po (or type edit power plan) and press Enter
3. Press Enter again to select "Change advanced power settings"
4. In the window that appears, look for "Power buttons and lid"
5. Expand it
6. Under "Power button action", choose "Do nothing"
7. Click OK

Now it should do nothing. If this doesn't work, then we'll have to figure out how to do it for your computer. However, I have my doubts that this will work, but it certainly won't hurt anything.

I did see this, but I want to have the power button functionality, so I left it as was. My computer has separate power and restart buttons, and it's the restart I'd like to disable.

madcratebuilder had suggested looking in BIOS (I have a Gigabyte mb myself) and I did, but there's no restart-specific button.

450125 said:

TwoCables said:

Yep! Do this:

1. Open the Start menu
2. Type edit po (or type edit power plan) and press Enter
3. Press Enter again to select "Change advanced power settings"
4. In the window that appears, look for "Power buttons and lid"
5. Expand it
6. Under "Power button action", choose "Do nothing"
7. Click OK

Now it should do nothing. If this doesn't work, then we'll have to figure out how to do it for your computer. However, I have my doubts that this will work, but it certainly won't hurt anything.

I did see this, but I want to have the power button functionality, so I left it as was. My computer has separate power and restart buttons, and it's the restart I'd like to disable.

madcratebuilder had suggested looking in BIOS (I have a Gigabyte mb myself) and I did, but there's no restart-specific button.

Oh, I misread it as your case does NOT have separate buttons.

Yeah, the Reset button (not restart, but reset) can't be changed - but it can be disconnected.