Executing a batch script on Windows shutdown

Question

Is there any way, in Windows 7 Professional, to run a batch script (e.g., a .BAT file) when the user clicks on "shutdown" (not a batch file scheduled to shut down the machine, just one that runs only if the user clicks on "shutdown")?

Ideally, such a script would show the command prompt window and offer an option to cancel the shutdown procedure.

Solutions that do not require a third-party utility would be preferable.

Answer 1

I found this topic while searching for run script for startup and shutdown Windows 10. Those answers above didn't working. For me on windows 10 worked when I put scripts to task scheduler. How to do this: press window key and write Task scheduler, open it, then on the right is Add task... button. Here you can add scripts. PS: I found action for startup and logout user, there is not for shutdown.

Answer 2

Create your own shutdown script - called Myshutdown.bat - and do whatever you were going to do in your script and then at the end of it call shutdown /a. Then execute your bat file instead of the normal shutdown.

(See http://www.w7forums.com/threads/run-batch-file-on-shutdown.11860/ for more info.)

Answer 3

You can create a local computer policy on Windows. See the TechNet at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd630947

1. Run gpedit.msc to open the Group Policy Editor,
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration | Windows Settings | Scripts (Startup/Shutdown).

Answer 4

For the above code to function; you need to make sure the following directories exist (mine didn't). Just add the following to a bat and run it:

mkdir C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\Scripts\Startup
mkdir C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\Scripts\Shutdown
mkdir C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\User\Scripts\Startup
mkdir C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\User\Scripts\Shutdown

It's just that GP needs those directories to exist for:

Group Policy\Local Computer Policy\Windows Settings\Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)

to function properly.

Answer 5

Well, its an easy way of doing some registry changes: I tried this on 2008 r2 and 2016 servers.

Things need to be done:

1. Create a text file "regedit.txt"
2. Paste the following code in it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Shutdown] 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\Scripts\Shutdown]     

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Shutdown\0]  
"GPO-ID"="LocalGPO"    
"SOM-ID"="Local"    
"FileSysPath"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\GroupPolicy\\Machine"    
"DisplayName"="Local Group Policy"    
"GPOName"="Local Group Policy"    

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\Machine\Scripts\Shutdown\0\0]    
"Script"="terminate_script.bat"    
"Parameters"=""    
"ExecTime"=hex(b):00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00    

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\Scripts\Shutdown\0]
"GPO-ID"="LocalGPO"    
"SOM-ID"="Local"    
"FileSysPath"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\GroupPolicy\\Machine"    
"DisplayName"="Local Group Policy"    
"GPOName"="Local Group Policy"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\Scripts\Shutdown\0\0]    
"Script"="terminate_script.bat"    
"Parameters"=""
"IsPowershell"=dword:00000000
"ExecTime"=hex(b):00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

3. Save this file as regedit.reg extension

4. Run it on any command line using below command:

   regedit.exe /s regedit.reg