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Menu > Quit > Shut down
Right?

How to send "signal 15" (shutdown command) and, watch dvds on linux mint petra xfce: EASIEST

sudo shutdown -h requires password and there isn't a workaround. (that i know of)
Make "Action Buttons" for panel/deskbar for: lock screen/restart/shut down etc...

Step 1:
>do a search from menu for: power manager
>click it
>find dropdown beside: when the power button is pressed
>select [shutdown]
>Save your work and close any open programs as you are about to shut down your system!
>tap (dont hold) the power button on your pc
>screen will read briefly: caught signal 15, system shutting down
>pc is off
Step 2: (optional)
>purchase a simple economically priced (cheap) keyboard with a power button on it from your local retailer

be sure to run sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get upgrade after installing new hardware on your device!

DONE!

I Purchased a wireless logitech k400r from a very popular relailer (has a blue theme with a sunburst in the logo)
it has a pointing device built in! best of all, it has a power button! i plug my netbook into my 36" cathode-ray tube
tv and, use my keyboard like a big remote so, i can surf from my couch and, watch online streaming programs

Using vlc media player in mint xfce to play dvds on netbook with external usb powered cd/dvd-rw drive FROM A NOVICE!

WATCHING DVDs ON LM XFCE SHOULD NO LONGER BE A PROBLEM!
Step 1:
>do a search from menu for: removable drives and media
>click it
>make sure that you have an x in the box for:
mount removable media when inserted
>click multimedia tab
>enter the following in the command line for vcd/dvd:
>vlc %m
>click close
PROCEED TO STEP 2
Step 2:
>open vlc media player
>click tools
>click preferences
>show settings - click all
>click input/codecs
>scroll to: default devices
>under that you will find dvd device
>change text in field to:
/dev/sr0
>click save

DONE!

INSERT A DVD. WAIT FOR IT TO MOUNT. YOU WILL SEE THE DVD NAME ON YOUR DESKTOP
FOLLOWED BY "_" MOUNTED SUCCESFULLY. VLC WILL APPEAR AND, CUE/PLAY YOUR DVD.
MAKE SURE YOU EJECT THE MEDIA FROM THE RIGHT-CLICK CONTEXT MENU ON YOUR
"_" DVD ICON ON YOUR DESKTOP TO INFORM THE OS OF THE EJECTION! ENJOY YOUR NEW
SENSE OF WORRY-FREE SIMPLICITY! WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF LINUX!

THERE IS A QUITE A GATHERING HERE CONSISTING OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EAGER TO HELP
ONE-ANOTHER! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE ARE ALWAYS HERE TO ASSIST YOU WITH
MAKING THE TRANSITION OVER TO A GREAT OPERATING SYSTEM THAT DOES EVERYTHING
YOU WANT IT TO DO AND, NOTHING YOU DONT. THATS THE BEAUTY OF LINUX FREEDOM!

answer entered on 15 feb 2014 at 21:00 hrs cst

If you are shutting down you will finally be taking your hand off the mouse button, so why not just push the Power button on your keyboard instead? I kept doing that by mistake on mine and ended up pulling the key off to avoid in future, but might be just what you want and need.