HOWTO: Ending the Windows Session from an Application

 Last reviewed: July 23, 1997
Article ID: Q75629

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows versions 3.0, 3.1

SUMMARY

The ExitWindows() function permits an application to terminate Windows. ExitWindows() restarts Windows by using the EW_RESTARTWINDOWS flag, and exits Windows and reboots the system by using the EW_REBOOTSYSTEM flag. These constants are consistent for the Win16 application programming interface (API), the Win32 API under Windows NT and Win32s.

All applications are sent the WM_QUERYENDSESSION message notifying them that a request has been made to restart or terminate Windows. If all applications "agree" to terminate, Windows will then send the WM_ENDSESSION message to all applications before terminating.

In addition, you can use the ExitWindowsExec() function to terminate Windows. It runs a specified MS-DOS-based application and then restarts Windows. It takes two parameters:

  • A null-terminated string that specifies the path and filename of the executable MS-DOS file to run after terminating Windows.
  • A null-terminated string that specifies any parameters for the MS-DOS executable file. This value can be NULL.

The ExitWindowsExec() function is typically used by installation programs to replace Windows components (device drivers, system DLL's, and so on) that are active when Windows is running.

MORE INFORMATION

In previous versions of Windows, an application sent the WM_ENDSESSION message to all windows to close the Windows session. Starting with version 3.0, ExitWindows() puts Windows into a special state so that Windows can perform housekeeping and unhook system interrupts to cleanly exit to MS-DOS. Because an application cannot simulate this Windows special state,

the application must call the ExitWindows() function to close Windows.

Keywords : kb16bitonly kbprg UsrWndw
Version : 3.0 3.1
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: July 23, 1997
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