Cant get remote shutdown to work

[Dallas2009913]

Ive got two networked computers, i can netsend to them both, but when i try and remote shutdown by using shutdown -i and typing the name of the computer it will not work. If i click browse it says the directory service is currently unavailable. It will not work if i enter shutdown -m \\ and typing the name of the computer either. Any ideas on how I can get this to work?

[Bear]

I'm not 100 % sure but I think you will need to start the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service on both computers for this to work. Start, Run type services.msc & click OK, scroll to and start the service and set it to Automatic. Keep in mind enabling this service can leave you open to attacks. HTH

[Dallas2009913]

That service is already enabled, i also tried starting RPC locater, but nothing helped, still have the problem. Any other ideas? :)

[ChrisAy]

You can shutdown a XP Home machine remotely. The solution lies in granting the Guest account the privilege to access the shutdown. Here are the details:

To do this you need to use the NtRights.exe file found in the XP Resource Kit, here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9D467A69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en

Download the kit from Microsoft.
Copy the NtRights.exe program to %windir%\system32.
Next log-in as an administrator on the box to be shutdown remotely
Perform the following commands from a command window:

NtRights –u Guest +r SeRemoteShutdownPrivilege
NtRights –u Guest +r SeShutdownPrivilege

Be careful about the spelling – note there is no ‘t’ in the priv name where you would expect it to read SetRemoteShutdownPrivilege

See here for a full description of the NtRights.exe program http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279664

Now you should be able to use the shutdown.exe programs from a remote computer. When you do the shutdown message on your XP Home machine will read ‘Shutdown initiated by \\<pcName>\Guest’