Question:
What is the difference between the "Hard" and "Soft" turn off options in Power Manager?
The main difference between soft shutdown and hard shutdown is that the soft shutdown will wait for the current logon user’s response to the confirmation of the end session message.
Soft shutdown is as same as using the Windows “shutdown.exe” without “-f” option or clicking on Start --> Shutdown.
Soft Shutdown
This launches the command "C:\Windows\System32\poweroff.exe /SOFT 30" on the client. This activity can be seen in the PWMCFG.EXE.LOG file on the client.
1. Asks the client user if he wants to shutdown now and
wait for 30 seconds.
a. User selects “shutdown” and then the computer will shut down.
b. User selects “cancel” and then the computer will not shut down.
c. Timeout and then the computer will shut down.
wait for 30 seconds.
a. User selects “shutdown” and then the computer will shut down.
b. User selects “cancel” and then the computer will not shut down.
c. Timeout and then the computer will shut down.
After A. or C. a call for a soft shutdown is sent to the operating system.
Soft shutdown process:
a. Windows O.S. informs all programs that it will close the session.
b. Programs asks the user when it need user to confirm any unsaved data.
i. User selects “save” and then the program responds “shut down” to the Windows
i. User selects “save” and then the program responds “shut down” to the Windows
ii. User selects “don’t save” and then the program will send “shut down” to Windows
iii. User selects “cancel” and then the program sends “Don’t shut down” to Windows
iv. Wait for user’s response when the workstation is not locked.
v. Wait for user’s response with a timeout when the workstation is locked. Stop the shutdown process if there is no response.
iv. Wait for user’s response when the workstation is not locked.
v. Wait for user’s response with a timeout when the workstation is locked. Stop the shutdown process if there is no response.
*Note: Soft shutdown cannot work successfully, if any program hangs during the shutdown process. (For Windows XP and all
versions prior to Windows XP)
versions prior to Windows XP)
Hard Shutdown
This launches the command "C:\Windows\System32\poweroff.exe /FORCE 30" on the client. This activity can be seen in the PWMCFG.EXE.LOG file on the client. After the 30 second timeout, a shutdown is forced. This is not graceful, and any unsaved changes will be lost.
1. Informs the user that a Countdown to System Shutdown has begun and gives them the option to Shutdown immediately or Cancel
a. User selects “shutdown” and the computer will shut down.
b. User selects “cancel” and the the computer will not shut down.
c. Timeout and the computer will shut down.
b. User selects “cancel” and the the computer will not shut down.
c. Timeout and the computer will shut down.
To configure the shutdown delay:
1. Click on Options
2. Set the "Delay shutdown for second(s)." to the desired value.
The shutdown message presented to the user is also not configurable, but will likely be changed in a future release.