If you're like me, you get annoyed every time you try to shut down or restart Windows Server 2003. It displays a dialog box that requires input before you can actually shut down or restart.

The purpose of this dialog is to create events in the Event Log so that you can track why your server has gone offline. However, for most developers, we couldn't care less, and our comments turn out to be something like "asdf". If you want to get rid of this dialog box, just follow these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Management Console (I just press the WindowsKey+R to get the run dialog box and type in "MMC")
   
   
2. The MMC will open, but with no add-ins loaded. You need to load the Group Policy Editor by selecting "Add/Remove Snap-In" from the File menu
   
   
3. Find the "Group Policy Editor" in the list and press Add, followed by Finish on the subsequent dialog box, and finally OK on the Add/Remove Snap-Ins dialog
   
   
4. Navigate down to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System, and double-click the "Display Shutdown Event Tracker" setting in the right pane
   
   
5. Select the "Disabled" option and press OK
   

That's it! Now you can shut down or restart your server without having to put a reason in.