Computer Does Not Shut Down and You Receive a "System Could Not Find the Environment Option That Was Entered" Error Message When You Schedule a Shutdown Task by Using the AT Command

When you schedule your computer to shut down by using the Shutdown.exe command-line utility with the at command, the computer does not shut down. When the scheduled shutdown task starts, you may receive the following error message:

This problem occurs in situations where Shutdown.exe cannot access the UserDomain environment variable. The shutdown task that is scheduled by using the at command runs under the System account. When the task is run under the System account, the UserDomain environment variable cannot be accessed because it does not exist.

Hotfix Information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart Requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix Replacement Information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File Information

The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

To work around this problem, create a "dummy" UserDomain environment variable for use when you schedule a shutdown task by using the at command. To do so:

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Environment Variables.
3. Under System variables, click New.
4. In the Variable name box, type UserDomain, type any value in the Variable value box, and then click OK.
   
   Note You can type any value that you want to use in the Variable value box.
5. Click OK, click OK, and then click OK.
6. Restart the computer.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

For more information about the shutdown command, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about the at command, visit the following Microsoft Web site: