Shutdown Scheduler

Repeatedly running tasks on your computer is not only a pain, but also a time-consuming process. In order to avoid this, various applications are available. Shutdown Scheduler is a tool that gives you access to schedule a computer action (such as shutdown or restart) once or on a regular basis.

The user interface is represented by a simple window in which you can view several tabs with intuitive titles. You can initiate a shutdown, restart, hibernate or standby action in a specific number of minutes, or schedule one for all week or on a particular day.

You can configure main settings (e.g. enable "Force Close" on unresponsive tasks, set a grace period), sound volume reduction, program launches (e.g. start selected programs at a scheduled action) and RAM usage control (e.g. enable Smart RAM control).

You can also use hotkeys and modify settings in the shortcuts activation center (e.g. enable system shortcuts), change CD tray settings (e.g. close driver's door on restart), including direct actions (e.g. unlock all trays) and control (e.g. enable contact menu).

You can create local or shared notes over a network (or just private notes), remotely shutdown or restart one or more computers on a network, delete saved logs, use external controls (e.g. launch MS Task Manager or Power Options), synchronize the clock with the one found on a server, enable automatic check on updates, password-protect the program, and more.

Overall, the application uses a moderate amount of system resources and is always open in the system tray. It comes with a thorough help file (that could have been better organized) and didn't cause us any problems during our tests. We recommend Shutdown Scheduler to all users.