Stupid question about shutdown
 

As there appears to be no shutdown option in kde then how do you do it. I found that the command '/sbin/halt' will shut down but stops at the prompt 'Power down'. Is this the same as windows 'It is now safe to turn off your computer', don't want to corrupt any data by switching off when I shouldn't. Thanks

That's right, it's like the "it's now safe to power down" screen. If you want it to power down also, try as root shutdown -h now

The shutdown/reboot options are added to the kde logout screen when you run in init level 4.

There is also /sbin/shutdown.

Yup "Power Down" is indeed the equivalent of "It is now safe..." If you want your computer to automatically shut off at that point, edit /etc/rc.d/rc.modules and uncomment the line #/sbin/modprobe apm.

Though it maybe so. "shutdown -h now" doesn't always work for some reason

odevans already said what i did...i need to read these better...

And pljvaldez half beat me to it too. I gotta stop replying to threads while trying to eat ;)

I'm wondering what you mean captain chaos, when you say shutdown -h now doesn't always work?

I added an option to my kmenu for "shutdown -h now" with run as root in the setup and type in my passwd to shutdown.

Possibly this will help: Shutdown As a Normal User With KDE.

You either do not have power management (APM/ACPI) installed and enabled or your power supply/mobo does not support power management. I have an older box with a mobo supporting APM but the P/S does not and I see that same message on that box all the time when I shut down.

If using a stock kernel then edit rc.modules as instructed above to enable APM.

Yes.

Power button shutdown (only in acpi computers)
 

If you have a new computer (maybe after 2000) it will have acpi capabilities. (I see that you have). I have been with P2 and acpi was present..

so, you can simply logout from the kde and then press the power button. Try it also in Windows (save your work first!)

Attention! If you *hold* the button 5 secs the computer will not shutdown properly, it will POWEROFF! >(no electricity)< Only a simple pressing is enough.

also you can modify as root in /etc/inittab to speficy what the ctrl+alt+del can do.

#What to do at the "Three Finger Salute".
ca::ctrlaltdel:/sbin/shutdown -t5 -r now

so, instead of shutdown -t -r now you can write shutdown -h now

that was my practice, till i discovered acpi :-)

I though it was just me or my Averatec laptop.

I do sudo shutdown -h now and had the laptop hang for a bit before starting the shutdown, or not turning off at all.