# Shutdown **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 12, 2012, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shutdown/637502 "2012-10-12T11:52:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shutdown/637502/1 "2012-10-12T11:52:52Z")
My wifes laptop has Windows Vista. I go to Start and type Shutdown for info on it and a box with some letters pops up and immediately disappears. Anyone know how I can prevent the disappearance of the box. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shutdown/637502/2 "2012-10-12T12:22:27Z")
Go back to “Start” and type “cmd” instead of “shutdown”. A console window with a “DOS”-prompt opens. Type “shutdown” in there, and the info about this command should appear. ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shutdown/637502/3 "2012-10-12T17:44:12Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Go back to “Start” and type “cmd” instead of “shutdown”. A console window with a “DOS”-prompt opens. Type “shutdown” in there, and the info about this command should appear. I actually prefer to type “Run” which gives you the Windows XP-style “Run” dialog box. If you’re only doing a single command (like “shutdown -i”), I think it’s more convenient. It’s also better at figuring out what you mean if you type something like “iexplore”… CMD will complain if it’s not in the PATH variable, “Run” will just find and run it.