Solved How to block hard shutdown

[LoneGeek]

Is there a way to completely block/disable the physical power button on a desktop? My family members have a bad habit of using the power button to turn off the family desktop so I'd like to put a stop to that if possible

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
If these other people were using standard user accounts your admin account setting should overrule their actions in power option
Be aware if your computer locks up you might have to unplug it for it to shutdown.

 

[LoneGeek]

I've tried that, but if I hold down the power button for a few seconds it still shuts off

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yea it is sort of a recovery feature of the board heck even win-10 uses it for recovery access instead of other conventional methods.

What is the action actually doing to the machine that you don't want others using it as a way to shut down ?

 

[LoneGeek]

Won't it hurt the hdd or OS if it's shut down improperly too many times?

 

[Barman58]

The only way to do what you wish would be to override the action of the on off switch. This switch is designed and Mechanically constructed to work as you have described where a momentary press sends a signal to the Motherboard which triggers the system to go into a controlled shut down, and if this is longer than a pre-set time to hard cut the voltage to the device.

Although it may be possible to remove this functionality it would take a lot of work and probably involve major mods to the motherboard itself.

Your best bet has to be education, (a technique I have used is a card cover over the on-off switch, with a note explaining the correct method written on the Cover), you could of course open the case and disconnect the switch and re-locate to the rear of the case but this will not prevent a frustrated family member from pulling the plug from the wall.

 

[LoneGeek]

Thanks barman for that info

 

[Barman58]

If you ever get to look at a major server farm you may see that the on off switches are actually key operated, (with the keys removed), so it's not only a family issue

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Indeed
The only might be unexpected result of using the power button to shut down... is in win-7 it will usually go to a black screen with start normally/ Safe mode....
Which isn't necessarily a bad thing hdd's are pretty tough most of them
ssd's on the other hand it might pay a toll on them after a while.

But yes it is bad practice when it takes little effort to go through the start button and shut down.

 

[LoneGeek]

Thanks guys