Configure Shutdown Event Tracker on Local Computer

In this post we will look at steps to configure shutdown event tracker on local computer. When you install Windows 7 OS, shutdown event tracker is not enabled by default. The Shutdown Event Tracker is only displayed on Windows Server family. When you configure shutdown event tracker, you get a set of questions before shutting down a computer. This is to collect the reason for the shutdown of computer. Furthermore this information collected lets you know why the computer was shutdown by an user. So once you configure shutdown event tracker, no user can shutdown without providing reason.

In this post I have a Windows 7 test machine on which I will configure shutdown event tracker. The user account must be a part of local Administrators group to complete this procedure.

Configure Shutdown Event Tracker on Local Computer

Let’s see how to configure shutdown event tracker. Click Start, type gpedit.msc in the Search box. This will open the Local group policy editor window.

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In the Local Computer Policy navigation pane, expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates, and click System. In the console pane look for policy setting “Display Shutdown Event Tracker“.

Right click the policy setting and click Edit. To enable the policy click Enabled. Under Options, Shutdown event tracker should be displayed, you find 3 options when you click dropdown.

1. Always – Choose this option to enable shutdown event tracker during shutdown.
2. Server Only – Choose this option to display shutdown event tracker when you shut down a Windows Server. This applies to server family beginning with Windows Server 2003.
3. Workstation Only – Choose this option to display shutdown event tracker when you shut down a windows workstation. This applies to OS beginning with Windows XP and above.

Click Apply and OK.

Finally after applying the policy wait for few seconds. When you now attempt to shutdown the machine, you see Shutdown Event Tracker comes up.