ExitWindowsEx fails when Windows desktop Locked?

Question

Create a form (I'm using .NET 2.0) with a button click event:

{ Thread.Sleep(3000); ExitWindowsEx(0,0); // shutdown }

Hit the button, press Left-WindowsKey + L to lock the desktop. The shutdown fails.

ExitWindowsEx returns 1 (Success).

I would like to know why this API fails and what else might fail when the desktop is locked?

Answer 1

use http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa376873%28VS.85%29.aspx. (InitiateSystemShutdown). ExitWindowsEx is 'interactive' logout.

Answer 2

The API fails because you're on a different desktop, and are therefore no longer the interactive user. From MSDN:

Therefore, if you are not the interactive user, the function can succeed without actually shutting down the computer. If you are not the interactive user, use the InitiateSystemShutdown or InitiateSystemShutdownEx function.