A method is disclosed for reversing operating system shutdown, including: detecting, by a monitoring program, an attempt by a user to log off, shut down, or restart a computer containing an operating system capable of running a plurality of program windows; determining if any program window is still open in the operating system; automatically cancelling, by the monitoring program, the logoff, shutdown, or restart request if it is determined that a program window is still open; and attempting to close any open program window by the monitoring program.