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Windows 7

Change What Power Button Does from Start Menu

SUMMARY: On the Windows 7 Start Menu choose what happens by default when you click the Power button.

When you click the Start button in Windows 7, a Power button appears at the bottom-right of the Start Menu. Clicking the button performs a default action, and clicking the arrow next to the button lets you choose from several power-related options: Shut down, Log off, Lock, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate (these options may vary depending on your system settings).

If you frequently perform a particular action, you may want to change the default action that occurs when clicking the button. This way you won't have to choose from the list of power-related options each time.

1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and choose "Properties".

2. The "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" multi-tabbed dialog box appears. Click the "Start Menu" tab.

3. Next to "Power Button Action", click the pull-down and select the desired default action.

Configuring the Windows 7 Start Menu's Power Button action

4. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.

This tip was written for Windows 7 RC. Screenshots and information are subject to change between this and the official release of Windows 7.