Windows 8: Lock Screen And Turn Off Display

Windows 8: How To Lock Screen And Turn Off Display

One of the problems that I have encountered when using Windows 8 on tablet pc is to lock the screen and turn off display. Android and iOS machines normally have power buttons which would do the job. However the power button for windows tablet (mine is Acer Ultrabook) is limited to sleep and hibernate mode. These modes stop the system including ongoing tasks such as downloading process. There must be a way to lock the screen, turn off the display but at the same time allows ongoing processes to continue until they are complete.

The following tutorial helps you to add this function to your desktop context menu. However, you are expected to have some basic skills in windows file management in order to follow the steps. Beware, if you do not follow the steps properly, you may corrupt your windows registry!

I have tried it out and it worked on my tablet.

The following note was copied from http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/195374-lock-computer-turn-off-monitor-add-desktop-context-menu.html

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How to Add "Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor" to the Context Menu in Windows

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to add Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor to the desktop context menu inWindows 7 and Windows 8.

When used by a user, it will lock the computer and turn off the display (monitors). To return to Windows, you would just need to move the mouse or press a key on the keyboard to turn on the display (monitors) again, then log on from the lock computer screen.

   Note

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to add this to the desktop context menu, but all users on the computer will be able to use the context menu.

EXAMPLE: "Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor" added to Desktop Context Menu

 

Here's How:

1. Do either step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Add "Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor" to Context Menu

A) Download the 32-bit or 64-bit version of NirCmd at the bottom of the website below that is the same as your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows, and save the ZIP file to your desktop.

NirCmd - Windows command line tool

B) Open the downloaded ZIP file, and extract (drag and drop) the nircmd.exe file to your desktop, and unblock the file.

C) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and save the .bat to your desktop.

Turn_Off_Monitor_and_Lock_Computer.bat

D) Unblock the .bat file.

E) Move both the unblocked nircmd.exe file and unblocked Turn_Off_Monitor_and_Lock_Computer.bat file into your C:\Windows\System32 folder, and approve (Continue-Yes).
NOTE: The .bat file must have this exact name. Rename if needed.

F) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and save the .reg file to your desktop.

Add_Lock-Computer_Turn_Off_Monitor_to_Context_Menu.reg

G) Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it, then click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted to approve the merge.

3. To Remove "Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor" from Context Menu

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.

Remove_Lock-Computer_Turn_Off_Monitor_from_Context_Menu.reg

B) Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it, then click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted to approve the merge.

C) In Windows Explorer (Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8), navigate to C:\Windows\System32, and delete the nircmd.exe and Turn_Off_Monitor_and_Lock_Computer.bat files.

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