Using a shortcutSince not everyone has a keyboard with programmable hot keys, I'll start
with the shortcut method. In the article about integrating a Shut Down
menu into the Desktop context menu, I showed you a table containing eight command lines that perform all
the options typically associated with terminating an active session. For
your convenience, these eight command lines are shown in Table A.Table A: Command lines that perform all the options typically associated with terminating an active session

CommandCommand line
RestartShutdown -r -f -t 00Shut DownShutdown -s -f -t 00Hybrid Shut DownShutdown -s -f -t 00 -hybridSleepRundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState SleepHibernateShutdown -hLockRundll32 User32.dll,LockWorkStationSign OffShutdown -lSwitch UsersTsdiscon.exe

While you can use any or all of those command lines with this technique,
I'll just stick with the Shut Down command for this example. So, if you
right-click on the Desktop and select the New | Shortcut command, you
can create a shortcut using Shut Down command line, as shown in Figure A.Figure A
When the Create Shortcut wizard prompts you, enter the command line to shut down window.
Once you have created the shortcut, right-click on it and select the
Properties command. When you see the Properties dialog box, select the
Shortcut key text box and press the key(s) that you want to use to shut
down your Windows 8 system. Of course, you'll want to use an odd
keystroke combination that won't interfere with other existing keyboard
shortcuts and will not be easy to accidentally press. As you can see in Figure B, I have used [Ctrl]+ [F12].Figure B
You'll want to use an odd keystroke combination that won't interfere with other keyboard shortcuts.
Using a keyboard with programmable hot keys
Lots of keyboards have programmable hot keys. For example, the Logitech Wireless Keyboard K350 and the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 both provide you with programmable hot keys.
I have a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, and have installed the Free Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center, which allows you to easily program the available hot keys on Microsoft
keyboards and mice. While many of the keys on this particular keyboard
are assigned specific actions, such as volume controls or launching
Internet Explorer, there are five keys, called My Favorites, at the top
center of the keyboard that aren't assigned to any special operations.
Using the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center, you can easily configure
these keys to access Web sites, open files, launch programs, and even
run command line tools.
Returning to eight command lines shown in Table A above, I chose five
to assign to the customizable hot keys on my Microsoft keyboard:
Shutdown, Restart, Hibernate, Sign off, and Switch.
After launching the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center, I accessed the
keyboard section's basic settings, located My Favorites, and typed in
the command lines to initiate my chosen options, as shown in Figure C. Now, in addition to shutting down my Windows 8 system from the
keyboard, I can restart it, put it into hibernation, sign off, or switch
users. (I later affixed custom stickers to those keys to help me remember which key was which.)Figure C
The Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center makes it easy to configure these keys to shut down Windows 8.
Using the PC's power button
Most folks don't associate pressing the power button on a PC with a
controlled shut down procedure, because in the old days doing so would
just turn off the power - akin to pulling the plug of a running PC.
However, pressing the Power button on the front of your PC will initiate
the exact same procedure as selecting Shut down from Windows 8's Power
Charm, as illustrated in Figure D.Figure D
Pressing the Power button is the same as selecting the Shut down command.
Now, if you would rather have the Power button perform another
operation, such as put Windows 8 to sleep or into hibernation mode, you
can do so from the Power Options tool. To immediately access the Power
button settings in the Power Options tool, use the [Windows]+ W
keystroke to access the Search Settings page. Then, type Power button in
the text box and click the Change what the power buttons do item, as
shown in Figure E.Figure E
You can quickly access the Power button configuration options from the Search Settings page.
Alternatively, you can move your mouse pointer to the lower left corner
of the screen and when the Start Screen button pops up, right click to
display the WinX menu. You can then select the Power Options command.
When the Power Options window appears, select the Choose what the power button does command. This process is illustrated in Figure F.Figure F
From the Power Options window, select Choose what the power buttons do.
When you get to the System Settings page, locate the Power button
settings section and you'll see that the option is already configured
for Shut down, as shown in Figure G.Figure G
By default, the Power button settings should be configured as Shut down.
Now, if you don't want the Power button to shut down the system, you can
click the drop down arrow in the Power button settings section and
select one of the other options, such as Hibernate or Sleep, as shown in
Figure H. Once you make a change, just click the Save changes button and then close the Power Options window.Figure H
In addition to Shut down, you can configure the power button to put the system to sleep or into hibernation.
Using a Sleep button
There are actually quite a few keyboards out there that have a Sleep button on them, like the keyboard shown in Figure I. As you can imagine, the Sleep button is automatically configured to put your Windows 8 system into Sleep mode.Figure I
Many keyboards have a Sleep button.
When you access the System Settings page on a system with such a
keyboard, you'll find that the section is titled Power and sleep button
settings. If you click the drop down menu, you can also choose
Hibernate, as shown in Figure J.Figure J
The System Settings page allows you to reconfigure the Sleep button.
Closing the lid
On a laptop, you have one more option for terminating an active session -
closing the lid. When you access the System Settings page on a laptop,
you'll find that the section is titled Power and sleep buttons and lid
settings. As you can see in Figure K, on this particular laptop, I have configured the When I close the lid setting to be a Shut Down operation when on battery and a Hibernate operation when plugged into AC power.Figure K
On a laptop, you can configure the various operations to occur when you close the lid.
What's your take?
As you can see, there are a number of different ways that you can
shut down a Windows 8 system. What method do you currently use? Are you
interested in employing one of the keyboard or power button techniques
shown in this article? As always, if you have comments or information to
share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by the TechRepublic Community Forums and let us hear from you.