Secret Easter Egg in Windows 2000

[Google Mike]

I discovered this last night by accident when I meant to press CTRL+V
and pressed ALT+V.

1. Rightclick My Computer and choose "Manage".
2. Rightclick the first icon and choose All Tasks, Send Console
Message.
3. Press ALT+V. A very interesting dialog box appears that says:

TITLEBAR: Advanced Options (NYI)
DIALOG TEXT:

[ ] Send an automated shutdown message.
Resource Name [ ]
Shutdown will occur in [ ] minute(s)
Re-send message every [ ] minute(s) until shutdown
Resource will back online [ ]

The OK button is disabled for some reason and I can't figure out the
magic keystroke to make it become enabled.

Looks to me to be a loophole used by the MS programmers, or perhaps an
easter egg. I also wonder if it's a security breach that can permit
non-authorized users to shutdown remote W2K systems when they are not
allowed to. I won't know unless I can enable that OK button.

[Joe Morris]

Post by Google Mike
I discovered this last night by accident when I meant to press CTRL+V
and pressed ALT+V. [snip]
TITLEBAR: Advanced Options (NYI)

[snip]

Post by Google Mike
The OK button is disabled for some reason and I can't figure out the
magic keystroke to make it become enabled.
Looks to me to be a loophole used by the MS programmers, or perhaps an
easter egg.

It doesn't meet the usual criterion for an Easter Egg since it's neither
humorous nor a game. My guess is that it's a stub for some type of
automation.

I find the same (nonworking) feature in WinXP. My first thought was that
it might work on a server, but after opening up a domain controller
(a testbed; I would never do this on a production machine!) I'm
getting the same problem with the disabled OK button.

The function, however, *is* something that would be appropriate
for use on a server. Cf. the _shutdown_ command in Unix. Its
presence in the "send message" window supports this idea.

Interesting item: did you notice that the spin controls on the
"Shutdown will occur in" and "Re-send message every" are inverted?
You have to click the lower control to increase the number.

Given this, the (NYI) might stand for "Not Yet Implemented". I don't
have a convenient Windows 2003 Server machine to check; can someone
else help out?

Joe Morris

[Stoneskin]

Post by Google Mike

Post by Google Mike
I discovered this last night by accident when I meant to press CTRL+V
and pressed ALT+V. [snip]
TITLEBAR: Advanced Options (NYI)

[snip]

Post by Google Mike
The OK button is disabled for some reason and I can't figure out the
magic keystroke to make it become enabled.
Looks to me to be a loophole used by the MS programmers, or perhaps an
easter egg.

It doesn't meet the usual criterion for an Easter Egg since it's neither
humorous nor a game. My guess is that it's a stub for some type of
automation.
I find the same (nonworking) feature in WinXP. My first thought was that
it might work on a server, but after opening up a domain controller
(a testbed; I would never do this on a production machine!) I'm
getting the same problem with the disabled OK button.

Did I miss the first message? I have a 2K Server here and pressing ALT-
V doesn't do anything - do I have to be in a certain window or
application?

[Joe Morris]

Post by Stoneskin

Post by Google Mike

Post by Google Mike
I discovered this last night by accident when I meant to press CTRL+V
and pressed ALT+V. [snip]
TITLEBAR: Advanced Options (NYI)

[snip]

Post by Google Mike
The OK button is disabled for some reason and I can't figure out the
magic keystroke to make it become enabled.

[snip]

Post by Stoneskin
Did I miss the first message? I have a 2K Server here and pressing ALT-
V doesn't do anything - do I have to be in a certain window or
application?

Right-click "My Computer", select MANAGE. Right-click "Computer
Management", select ALL TASKS, select " SEND CONSOLE MESSAGE..."
Now enter ALT+V to see the screen we're discussing.

Joe Morris

[c***@nospam.com]

On Wed, 1 Oct 2003 21:48:35 +0000 (UTC), Joe Morris

Post by Google Mike

Post by Google Mike
I discovered this last night by accident when I meant to press CTRL+V
and pressed ALT+V. [snip]
TITLEBAR: Advanced Options (NYI)

[snip]

Post by Google Mike
The OK button is disabled for some reason and I can't figure out the
magic keystroke to make it become enabled.
Looks to me to be a loophole used by the MS programmers, or perhaps an
easter egg.

It doesn't meet the usual criterion for an Easter Egg since it's neither
humorous nor a game. My guess is that it's a stub for some type of
automation.
I find the same (nonworking) feature in WinXP. My first thought was that
it might work on a server, but after opening up a domain controller
(a testbed; I would never do this on a production machine!) I'm
getting the same problem with the disabled OK button.
The function, however, *is* something that would be appropriate
for use on a server. Cf. the _shutdown_ command in Unix. Its
presence in the "send message" window supports this idea.
Interesting item: did you notice that the spin controls on the
"Shutdown will occur in" and "Re-send message every" are inverted?
You have to click the lower control to increase the number.
Given this, the (NYI) might stand for "Not Yet Implemented". I don't
have a convenient Windows 2003 Server machine to check; can someone
else help out?
Joe Morris

Did you notice the arrows on the timers work backwards? Press down
and the time goes up and vice versa?

-Chris

[Google Mike]

Post by Joe Morris
Given this, the (NYI) might stand for "Not Yet Implemented".

Yeah, check acronymdictionary.co.uk and NYI is Not Yet Implemented.

There might be a way to flip some binary assembler bits in a
particular EXE or DLL or MSC file so that the button is enabled, then
see what happens. I imagine resource name is either a UNC name or
perhaps an IP address will do.

BTW, if switching a small set of binary bits in a single DLL enables a
feature that could potential expose an exploit vulnerability in MS
software, where someone might suddenly have the power to shutdown a
remote system even if unauthorized, which, by the way, we have not
ruled out, then this could be a *SERIOUS* problem for Microsoft. With
all the hacking these days, I wouldn't consider it beyond their reach.

BTW. Ah. So it's not an easter egg. Okay.

[r***@gmail.com]

Post by Google Mike
I discovered this last night by accident when I meant to press CTRL+V
and pressed ALT+V.
1. Rightclick My Computer and choose "Manage".
2. Rightclick the first icon and choose All Tasks, Send Console
Message.
TITLEBAR: Advanced Options (NYI)
[ ] Send an automated shutdown message.
Resource Name [ ]
Shutdown will occur in [ ] minute(s)
Re-send message every [ ] minute(s) until shutdown
Resource will back online [ ]
The OK button is disabled for some reason and I can't figure out the
magic keystroke to make it become enabled.
Looks to me to be a loophole used by the MS programmers, or perhaps an
easter egg. I also wonder if it's a security breach that can permit
non-authorized users to shutdown remote W2K systems when they are not
allowed to. I won't know unless I can enable that OK button.

Similar to shutdown /i in CMD?

[Les Cargill]

Post by r***@gmail.com

Post by Google Mike
I discovered this last night by accident when I meant to press CTRL+V
and pressed ALT+V.
1. Rightclick My Computer and choose "Manage".
2. Rightclick the first icon and choose All Tasks, Send Console
Message.
TITLEBAR: Advanced Options (NYI)
[ ] Send an automated shutdown message.
Resource Name [ ]
Shutdown will occur in [ ] minute(s)
Re-send message every [ ] minute(s) until shutdown
Resource will back online [ ]
The OK button is disabled for some reason and I can't figure out the
magic keystroke to make it become enabled.
Looks to me to be a loophole used by the MS programmers, or perhaps an
easter egg. I also wonder if it's a security breach that can permit
non-authorized users to shutdown remote W2K systems when they are not
allowed to. I won't know unless I can enable that OK button.

Similar to shutdown /i in CMD?

Message is from 2003...