Stopping a computer from shutting down

[Road Runner]

Does anyone know if it is possible to stop a computer from shutting down unless there is a power outage? I am running Windows 7 Ultimate and trying to recover files from a 1 terabyte hard drive. I have had it shutdown once by software and by carelessness on my part after running for around 36 hours. It would be nice to finish for a change so that I can use the hard drive for other things.
Thanks Road Runner

 

[gregrocker]

Set all Power Options to Never and turn off Windows Updates.

Stay away from power button and cord.

 

[Road Runner]

Greg sorry I should have mentioned that I already am doing that. I downloaded something that requested a restart or do it later. I chose the later and a within a couple of minutes it restartedanyways.
Thanks Road Runner

 

[WindowsStar]

You could use a compare software like Beyond Compare to copy/move etc. the files. If the computer reboots you can restart Beyond Compare and start transfering from where you left off.

Beyond Compare - The file compare, folder compare and remote directory compare utility from Scooter Software

 

[Road Runner]

I am trying to recover the files on my hard drive using Media Recover which is working like a dam except I always seem to end up having my computer shut down before the recovery is complete. 1 Terabyte takes a while to recover.
Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Greg sorry I should have mentioned that I already am doing that. I downloaded something that requested a restart or do it later. I chose the later and a within a couple of minutes it restartedanyways.
Thanks Road Runner

If it's the file recov program which is causing this, browse through Help contents to find a way to run it unattended.

 

[Road Runner]

GregRocker

Thanks again for the suggestion but it really revolves around my stupidty (doing something on the computer to mess it up). I just wish I could make the computer ask if it is "OKAY TO SHUT DOWN" instead of just closing first. When I have something that will likely have to run for a couple of days or more it just becomes way to easy to, you know just hit a wrong button, and next thing you know you are crying because of the mistake.

 

[Tepid]

Yep, they changed that in Vista cause people complained about it in XP...
"Are you sure you want to shutdown" ,, users complained, "Yes, I clicked the shutdown button didn't I?"
So, they got rid of it. That's my Theory anyway.

If you are fast enough (which you probably aren't, which no one is) you might catch the shutdown before it happens by....

hitting Win key +R
type shutdown /a
hit Enter

This will abort a shutdown squence.

 

[logicearth]

You could just revoke permission to shut down the computer?
Security Management (Local Security Policy) > Local Policy > User Rights Assignment

Shut down the system

This security setting determines which users who are logged on locally to the computer can shut down the operating system using the Shut Down command. Misuse of this user right can result in a denial of service.

Default on Workstations: Administrators, Backup Operators, Users.

Default on Servers: Administrators, Backup Operators.

Default on Domain controllers: Administrators, Backup Operators, Server Operators, Print Operators.

 

[Dinesh]

Open Run box and type

shutdown -A

 

[Dzomlija]

There are various Shutdown scenarios that you can adjust in Control Panel:

1. Open Control Panel
2. Click "Hardware and Sound"
3. Click "Power Options"
4. In you selected Power Plan, click "Change Plan Settings"
5. Change "Put computer To Sleep" to "Never"
6. Click "Change advanced power settings"
7. In the "Power buttons and lid -> "Power button action", change the setting to "Do Nothing"
8. Click "OK"
9. Click "Save Changes"

You can also try to adjust your Windows Update settings:

1. Open Control Panel
2. Click "System and Security"
3. Click "Windows Update"
4. In the left panel, click "Change Settings"
5. Change the "Important Updates" setting to "Download updates but let me choose whether to install them"
6. Click "OK" (You may need to respond to a UAC prompt)

If you are still having this shutdown-in-the-middle-of-the-night problem, then it is likely that some piece of software other than Windows itself that could be causing the restarts. Try and determine which it is, and either close them, or turn off their own automatic updates functions...

 

[Road Runner]

Your suggestions were already posted at the top of the thread and I had responded saying those settings had already been setup. I think Tepid has the right idea in as much as the shutdown prevention was in XP but had been removed for Vista. That is the problem the option is not available in Win 7.

 

[Tepid]

Your suggestions were already posted at the top of the thread and I had responded saying those settings had already been setup. I think Tepid has the right idea in as much as the shutdown prevention was in XP but had been removed for Vista. That is the problem the option is not available in Win 7.

Correct you are no longer prompted when you click Shutdown, so you should be sure that is what you want to do, and I do not know if there is or ever will be an option to enable the "are you sure prompt".

shutdown /a does work though.

I just wanted to clarify as you post kinda suggested that shutdown /a doesn't work in Vista or 7. Just a wording thing.