Remotely shutting / restarting Windows

Need to restart/shutdown/sleep a windows machine remotely?

Scenario 1 - Home

My main PC has a comprehensive collection of software and tools installed. To access them from various parts of the house, I frequently remote desktop in using a laptop. At the end of the day, if you wish to restart/shutdown/log off/ or place your PC in sleep mode, the typical menu options from windows "start" button are not available. Although there are various ways to do similar tasks, here is an easy one to remember:

1. Minimize all applications
2. Click ALT + F4 (Function Key 4)
3. Choose your option from the drop down as shown below.

Alt + F4

Scenario 2 - Professional - Domain environment

ZoomIt - Standard part of Presentation tools

If you do presentations and have had people squinting or walk in closer to see the details (Programming code and spreadsheets are equally guilty), then ZoomIt should be part and parcel of your presentation laptop.  Windows 7 already comes in with a magnifying utility called "Magnify". You may want to play with it as well for your specific needs.

Magnify (Part of Windows 7)

ZoomIt adds on several other neat features that allows much better presentations. It works from keyboard