How to Restart Windows via Remote Desktop?

If you've ever used the Remote Desktop Protocol to login to a remote Windows computer, you've probably noticed that the Start, Shutdown options you're used to seeing on a local Windows session aren't there. Instead, you'll typically see an option to "disconnect," in effect saving your session for the next time you login, or to "log off," essentially logging off of your remote session without saving the state.

So what do you do if you actually want to restart the remote machine? I did some digging tonight and found the answer kind of ambiguously buried in some disorganized information about Remote Desktop:

The Shutdown command is not available on the Start menu to shut down and restart, when you are using Remote Desktop. To shut down a remote computer when you are using Remote Desktop, press CTRL+ALT+END, and then click Shutdown. Or, use the shutdown command at a command prompt.

So to restart the remote machine, all you need to do is hit CTRL-ALT-END, then Shutdown, and then choose the Restart option you're used to seeing on a local Windows session (rather than the Shutdown option, which is also in the list).


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