Remote Shutdown over the 'net

RomeoS · 2 Mar 2006 at 22:20

The problem:

A laptop has been left running (not on battery) in location X (about 300 miles away) with the administrator logged in.

I need to shut down this machine from location Y.

Its in a VPN with my main server in location Y.

Solutions:

I've tried everything from command prompt scripts to remote shutdown tools, nothing works.

To make matters worse, there is no one I can get in touch with to shut down the laptop for me over there.

Notes:

Remote laptop is running XP Home edition SP1 with latest updates.

Its sitting behind a router with the IP of 192.168.1.12

Remote Desktop login is enabled but I cant seem to log in?

Any ideas fellas?

Ricochet J · 2 Mar 2006 at 22:26

Don't laptops switch off when idle anyway?

But to be safe yeh switch it off.
Well, you've logged onto the VPN right but you can't seem to log in? It might be because the laptop is on standby due to it being idle.

Uhtred · 2 Mar 2006 at 22:27

re the remote desktop - does the user account have a password? is port 3389 forwarded to the ip of the laptop?

RomeoS · 2 Mar 2006 at 22:33

eXSBass said:
Don't laptops switch off when idle anyway?

But to be safe yeh switch it off.
Well, you've logged onto the VPN right but you can't seem to log in? It might be because the laptop is on standby due to it being idle.

This one dosent switch off when on AC, just dims the screen slightly

The VPN serves only for maped network drives and the laptop is logged in according to the main server.

Zap said:
re the remote desktop - does the user account have a password? is port 3389 forwarded to the ip of the laptop?

The user account dosent have a password, port 3389 is not forwarded to the router, I normally do RDP over the VPN connection which seems to work normally but the laptop user has to send the request.

MarkLP · 2 Mar 2006 at 22:36

could you not telnet if you know the ip and shut it down that way?

EDIT: gs_shutd ???

EDIT again:

How to shutdown a Win2000/XP remotely

To remote shutdown windows 2000/XP, 1) run MMC>Computer Management; right-click Computer Management (local)>connect to another computer; select the remote computer; right-click Computer Management (remote computer)>Properties>Advanced>startup & Recovery>shutdown. 2) use command shutdown \\computername. Note: The specified computer may not shut down when you use the Shutdown.exe tool to shut it down. This behavior can occur if the Unlock Computer dialog box appears on the desktop, or if the computer is locked. 3) Other remote access software such as Terminal Service, pcAnywhere, Netmeeting, VNC and Telnet. 4) Use Shutgui.exe from NT Resource Kit

RomeoS · 2 Mar 2006 at 22:53

MarkLP said:
could you not telnet if you know the ip and shut it down that way?

How would I do that m8?

To remote shutdown windows 2000/XP, 1) run MMC>Computer Management; right-click Computer Management (local)>connect to another computer; select the remote computer; right-click Computer Management (remote computer)>Properties>Advanced>startup & Recovery>shutdown.

Tried that but I cant click on the Advanced tab :confused:

2) use command shutdown \\computername. Note: The specified computer may not shut down when you use the Shutdown.exe tool to shut it down. This behavior can occur if the Unlock Computer dialog box appears on the desktop, or if the computer is locked.

Tried it, no luck im affraid

3) Other remote access software such as Terminal Service, pcAnywhere, Netmeeting, VNC and Telnet.

Nothing else is set up on that laptop

4) Use Shutgui.exe from NT Resource Kit

Tried a similar tool but didnt work

Sp00n · 3 Mar 2006 at 00:40

The admin account doesnt have a password?

tododo · 3 Mar 2006 at 10:55

I use start>>run>>shutdown-s through remote desktop, works fine

Sorry wasnt -a its shutdown s

RomeoS · 3 Mar 2006 at 11:26

Sp00n said:
The admin account doesnt have a password?

One of my reasons to shut down the laptop a.s.ap

RomeoS · 3 Mar 2006 at 11:26

tododo said:
I use start>>run>>shutdown-a through remote desktop, works fine

Cant RDP into the laptop for some reason

NotJimNot · 3 Mar 2006 at 17:56

i've used the shutdown command in a situation like this

start->run->"command"
then "shutdown"

will give you the options how to shutdown a remote ip computer.

EDit:
shutdown -s -f -m \\192.168.xxx.xxx

RomeoS · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:02

Hi mate, tried that, command prompt just freezes

just_grass · 4 Mar 2006 at 08:03

RDP will not work connecting TO the laptop, as it is XP HOME! - xp home does not support connecting to it remotely.

make sure you are contacting the laptop via the CLIENT VPN IP and no other and ONLY from the VPN server.

This should work and also allow the "shutdown -m \\laptopname -f -s -t 0" command to work.

Can you ping the CLIENT VPN IP? - sometimes laptops can standby or whatever and not properly disconnect from the vpn. so the server thinks it is still connected.

Alex

RomeoS · 4 Mar 2006 at 18:56

Hi mate,

Yeah I can ping the machine fine, get a reply of 3ms average.

Command didnt work, command prompt just locks up

Im 110% certain the laptop isnt on standby as its running off the AC.