How to Do a Shutdown Computer Prank

A shutdown computer prank is generally harmless. Pulling this prank will make your friends or family members feel confused, amused and impressed with your computing skills. There are two ways to pull this off. The first is to disguise a shutdown executable as a regular program that your victim usually opens. The other is to shut down the computer remotely from your own computer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Disguise an Icon on the Desktop

1. Right-click on a blank space on the Desktop. Select "New" and "Shortcut."
2. Put your cursor in the box labeled "Type the Location of the Item." Type "shutdown -s -f -t -c." Enter a 2-digit number after the "-t" which indicates how many seconds before the computer shuts down. After the "C," enter a comment in quotes, which will display on the screen when the computer starts to shut down.
3. Click "Next." Type in a name for the shortcut. Give it a program name as a disguise, like "Internet Explorer." Click "Finish."
4. Select the icon. Right-click to see "Properties." On the "Shortcut" tab, click "Change Icon" on the bottom of the window.
5. Browse to an icon to assign to the shortcut. Use the icon for the program that you are trying to disguise.
6. Delete the icon of the program that you are trying to disguise, if it exists on the Desktop.

Shut Down a Remote Computer

7. Go to the computer you want to shut down, while no one is using it. Click the Windows "Start" button. Go to "Control Panel" and open "System."
8. Click the "Computer Name" tab. Write down the name of the computer, shown on the window after "Full Name of Computer."
9. Return to your computer. Click the "Start" button. Click "Run." In the box, type "cmd."
10. Type "shutdown -s -f -t -c -m \\" at the prompt. Type in a 2-digit number after the "-t" which indicates how many seconds before the computer shuts down. Put in a comment with quotes around it after the "C." This comment will display on the screen when the computer begins the shutdown process.
11. Enter the name of the computer you want to shut down after the "\\."

Tips & Warnings

• Be nice. Include a warning to save any open programs in your "Comments," and allow enough time to do so.
• You must have administrator rights to shut down the remote computer.

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