The Windows 8 Start Screen makes a lot of changes to the UI of the Windows operating system, and many common functions have been moved or changed around. One of them is how to shut down a computer running Windows 8. Previous versions of Windows used the Start Menu for shutting down, but Windows 8 has forsaken the Start Menu, and the button for shutting down is not visible anywhere on the Start Screen.
Fortunately, the shut down functionality is still there, though it is harder reach. Here’s how to shut down a Windows 8 machine.
First, summon the “Charms Bar”. The Charms Bar is a new UI feature in Windows 8 that accesses various system settings. To summon the Charms Bar, either move your mouse to the far-right edge of the screen, or hit the WINDOWS KEY+C on your keyboard.
Once the Charms Bar appears, hit the Settings icon – it’s the gear-shaped icon on the bottom of the Charms Bar.
This will bring up the Settings screen, which offers some basic settings for your computer (to change in-depth settings, you’ll need to use either the new Metro PC Settings app or the old desktop-based Control Panel). Once you’re on the Settings screen, click on the Power icon in the middle of the bottom row of icons.
You will then have two options – you can either shut down your computer, or restart it.
-JM
Ed Bott’s Windows 8 Head Start, CONSUMER PREVIEW EDITION (Need 2 Know)
