The default action for the Power button on the start menu in Windows Vista is Sleep, which is incredibly annoying if you don't use the Sleep function. It's a bit confusing since the icon Microsoft have used is a power icon. Let's change this shall we.

 

You can configure this setting easily by using the advanced power settings panel, which is a little tricky to get to normally, but we'll take the shortcut.

Open a command prompt (type cmd into the start menu search bar), and then type in the following:

powercfg.cpl,1

Which will take you to the Change Advanced Power Settings window.

You could also take the long route

Classic view: (Control Panel \ Power Options \ Change Plan Settings \ Change Advanced Power Settings)

Normal view: (Control Panel \  Hardware and Sound \ Power Options \ Change Plan Settings \ Change Advanced Power Settings)

Once you get to this dialog, browse down to "Power buttons and lid"

From here, you can change the options:

• Power button action - Changes the hardware power button action
• Start menu power button - Changes the power button on the Start Menu

You can change the power button to either Sleep, Hibernate or Shut Down, or even nothing for the hardware power button.