text: automatic or one-button shutdown? i would really like to know how to prevent my computer from shutting itself down when i press the power button.  i sometimes forget that i have left it on, and have turned off the monitor, so when i come back to it, i try to turn it on, but end up having to wait twice as long. if you're running windows xp, this is how to do it (it might also work for some earlier versions of windows, but i'm not sure). 1.  click the start button, then go to control panel. 2.  if you're in category view, click performance and maintenance, then power options. if you're in classic view, simply click power options. 3.  on the box that pops up, click the tab that says advanced. 4.  under the power buttons section, where it says "when i press the power button on my computer" you can click the arrow to drop down a list of options.  it sounds like you would just want to choose the "do nothing" setting. 5.  click ok.  i hope that helps!  and i know how you feel by accidentally turning it off!  it can be frustrating.