Method of powering on and off a computer using a standard keyboard

A power control feature in a computer system. The power control feature includes a host having a motherboard with a first connector that allows motherboard signals to be shared internal to the host. The motherboard also has a second connector separate from the first connector that supports communications with the host. An extension transmitter card is included within the host and is electrically coupled to the motherboard of the host via at least the first connector and the second connector. The extension transmitter card includes an extension transmitter device that has circuitry configured to recognize specific programmable key code combinations from a keyboard. One function of the key code combinations is to indicate powering on or off the host. An extension receiver is also included in the computer system and is connected to a plurality of user interface devices including the keyboard. The extension receiver is extensibly connected to the extension transmitter card.