Remote Shutdown

The error message you’re encountering, “The entered computer name is not valid or remote shutdown is not supported on the target computer” (Error 53), typically occurs due to one or more of the following reasons:

1. Incorrect Computer Name or IP Address:

• The computer name or IP address you entered might be incorrect or unreachable.

1. Network Connectivity Issues:

• The target computer might not be accessible over the network.

1. Remote Shutdown Permissions:

• Your user account might not have the necessary permissions to perform a remote shutdown.

1. Firewall or Security Software:

• Firewall settings or security software on the target computer might be blocking the remote shutdown request.

1. Remote Registry Service:

• The Remote Registry service might not be running on the target computer.

1. Group Policy Restrictions:

• Group Policy settings might be preventing remote shutdown.

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Steps to Troubleshoot and Resolve the Issue

1. Verify the Computer Name and IP Address

• Ensure the computer name (e.g., NOS069) or IP address (e.g., 10.23.1.69) is correct.
• Use the ping command to check if the target computer is reachable:

  ping NOS069

or

  ping 10.23.1.69

• If the target computer is unreachable, check network connectivity (e.g., ensure both computers are on the same network).

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2. Check Remote Shutdown Permissions

• Ensure your user account has the necessary permissions to perform a remote shutdown.
• On the target computer:

1. Open the Local Security Policy editor:
   • Press Win + R, type secpol.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment
3. Double-click Force shutdown from a remote system.
4. Add your user account or the group your account belongs to (e.g., Administrators).
5. Click OK and close the editor.

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3. Enable the Remote Registry Service

• The Remote Registry service must be running on the target computer.
• On the target computer:

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Locate the Remote Registry service.
3. Right-click it and select Properties.
4. Set the Startup type to Automatic.
5. Click Start to enable the service.
6. Click OK and close the Services window.

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4. Check Firewall and Security Software

• Ensure the firewall on the target computer is not blocking remote shutdown requests.
• On the target computer:

1. Open Windows Defender Firewall:
   • Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
2. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
3. Ensure Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is allowed for both private and public networks.
4. If you’re using third-party security software, check its settings to ensure it’s not blocking remote shutdown.

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5. Use the Correct Shutdown Command

• Ensure you’re using the correct syntax for the shutdown command. For example:

  shutdown /m \\NOS069 /r /f /t 00

• /m \\NOS069: Specifies the target computer.
• /r: Restarts the computer.
• /f: Forces running applications to close.
• /t 00: Sets the timeout to 0 seconds.

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6. Test with a Different Computer

• Try running the shutdown command on a different computer to see if the issue is specific to the target computer or your local machine.

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7. Check Group Policy Settings

• On the target computer:

1. Open the Group Policy Editor:
   • Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options
3. Ensure the policy Network access: Remotely accessible registry paths includes the following:
   System\CurrentControlSet\Control\ProductOptions System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Server Applications Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

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8. Use PowerShell for Remote Shutdown

• If the shutdown command doesn’t work, try using PowerShell:

  Restart-Computer -ComputerName NOS069 -Force

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Summary of Commands

• Ping the target computer:

  ping NOS069

• Shutdown command:

  shutdown /m \\NOS069 /r /f /t 00

• PowerShell command:

  Restart-Computer -ComputerName NOS069 -Force

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