Put the Hibernate button on your Windows XP shutdown prompt

I love Hibernate on my Tablet PC and ultra-mobile devices.  I like to eke out every last drop of juice from my batteries and using Hibernation throughout the day really helps extend how long I can run before heading for the wall plug.  One thing about the Windows XP shutdown prompt dialog that’s never made sense to me is that the Hibernate button is missing from that prompt.  Oh sure, you can hold the Shift key down and the Standby button will become a Hibernate button but this is not exactly convenient on a device without a keyboard attached.

I’ve been getting around this lacking feature by using the “Turn off Computer” plug-in for True Launch Bar which uses it’s own shutdown prompt dialog that is user configurable.  I’ve put the Hibernate button right next to the Standby button so I can use either one very easily.  It sure would make more sense to be able to put a Hibernate button right on the standard Windows XP shutdown prompt where it belongs.

Raphael Salgado is a long time mobile device geek who’s been bugged by the same lack of a Hibernate button and he’s done some sleuthing and uncovered a simple registry hack that will put that button right where it belongs.  As always when working with the registry be sure and back it up before making any changes and if you don’t know what you’re doing then it’s best to stay out of there.  For everyone else, here are the simple instructions:

In the registry, create this key:
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\Shutdown
Create a DWORD value named ShowHibernationButton and set its data to 1.  Now, go ahead and click Start, Shutdown, and you'll see all four buttons available simultaneously.
 
Lastly, you can go to the Display Properties' Power Management applet and choose "Tell me what to do" when you flick the Power switch and get all the options at your fingertips!

Simple and effective, the type of fix I really like!  Here’s what the new dialog box looks like on Raphael’s Sony UX:

Thanks for sharing that with jkOnTheRun, Raphael! 

-jk

Comments

[Supp0rtLinux]

Interesting that he had to do it on his UX... I've been plagued by this on my OQO and eventually created a desktop shortcut to hibernate. However my UX180P came with the "integration into the Windows shutdown box" out of the box... no tweaking with the registry needed. I'm surprised he had to make the registry change for it to work on his UX...

[Raphael Salgado]

Actually, I wiped out the UX in order to get a clean version of XP installed without all of Sony's bloated trialware and other customizations.

[Alslayer]

I can't get it to work on my Q1.

[jkrashid]

Hmm me neither....

[charles pritt]

It didn't work on my Q1, but I think the Q1 automatically puts it into hibernation when you select standby. Just my observation. It saved my text in the text editor which had not been written out to disk before i went into standby and when i returned the text was still in the editor as i had entered it, all apps were opened as before and the text file behind the one opned it the editor did not contain the text i have displayed in the editor. that i believe is the definition of hibernation.

[Stu Gisburne]

Guys, According to Microsoft Article 893056, we still need a hotfix to make it work. The article goes on to say that in addition to the registry additions, we need this hotfix that is available by request only. I got into an online support chat with MS (Bruce) and he is sending the link and password to me via email. I'll keep you posted if it works.

[JKK]

Both hotfix and working reg file:

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=B8ED7FBE5345404F

Works with amtek umpc...

[JKK]

Above link is to some upload server which sometimes opens popups etc... sorry ..

Anycase, files are there and maybe someone else will put them to better place.

[Fred]

Thanks for the files but it only works for english XP version. It did not want to install on my french Q1.

[Stephen Feger]

Just as a point of reference, I tried adding the registry key and the post stated on my HP TC1100 and it did not work. Not too much of a loss for me as I have the bibernate button on my QMenu.

[Stu Gisburne]

I got the email from Microsoft and downloaded the hotfix. I had already applied the registry settings on my Q1 and that alone did not do it. After applying the ENGLISH hotfix (sorry...no French...although maybe you could ask them for a different language version) it WORKED! Thanks JK for the heads up on this.

[Stu Gisburne]

Oh, one more thing. James mentions that the DWORD name is "ShowHibernationButton" The MS Article as well as my LE1600 have the name as "ShowHibernateButton"

[Oliver]

It's funny how the bubble help that pops up if you hover over the "Turn Off" option of the start menu, says "... for activating stand-by or hibernating modes." Yes, holding down the shift key switches between Stand-by and Hibernate, but would it have really hurt to show both options out of the box? Maybe they thought it would confuse the average user? (quite possible, as I am not sure the difference is obvious).

[jk]

I think they did it because Hibernate is not enabled by default in WinXP so they didn't want to confuse anyone like Oliver says.

[BadBatz]

Or just put the following shortcut on your desktop (Windoze XP only, all editions AFAIK) to hibernate with just one click of the rodent:
%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll, SetSuspendState

[Don't Panic!]

I don't get Shutdown Buttons when I hit shut Down on my Q1. I get a dialog box instead.

http://www.wrrx.com/images/dontpanic/shutdownbox.jpg

[Stu Gisburne]

Don't Panic! - I believe you get the dialog box because your PC logs onto a network domain. My LE1600 has the same dialog, however it did not until I configured it log onto my work domain. Once I did this the buttons turned to the dialog box. I did read in the Microsoft article that you will not get the buttons if you use the classic shutdown menu. Not sure how you would switch to this though.

[lloyd411]

Taken from another site: just hold the Shift key while the Shut down menu is displayed on your screen, and notice the Standby button being replaced by a new, fully functional Hibernate button, which can be clicked with the left button of your mouse. :)
If you release the Shift key, the Hibernate option will disappear once again, to be replaced by Standby. Hocus-pocus! :)

PS With sticky keys the hibernate obtion will stay till shift enabled is clicked again.

[Don't Panic!]

Thanks for the explanation Stu. Actually I'm content with the shutdown dialog box I was just wondering why mine seemed different from everyone elses.

[Alslayer]

That hotfix worked for me. Thank you JKK.

[Fred]

Microsoft sent me the french version of the patch and all worked well.

[Andrew Forde]

The link seems to have expired. Can you create a new one? Thanks.

[Tianhou]

Must....Get....Fix..... Anyone have the hotfix? If yes, please post a link or send to thzthzthz@hotmail.com

Thanks

[Keos]

Did any of you tried to hide the "Turn off" button ?? So you have option only for hibernate and standby.

[Samer]

Must....Get....Fix..... Anyone have the hotfix? If yes, please post a link or send to
sameristhebest@hotmail.com