Using WinXP Pro....

When I try to ShutDown my PC hangs. I get the "Windows is shutting down
dialog box." Then I get a blank blue screen and the PC hangs. There are no
error messages or anything. I'm forced to manually turn off the PC. This
happens when I try to shutdown or restart.

I've reviewed many of the suggestions in this forum:

- Have scanned for virus (using multiple AV software). None found
- I have not added any new hardware
- I used System Restore to restore my PC to two weeks earlier (when I
__think__ I last used a restart successfully), but am still having problems.

Tx

-R

"ricks99" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> When I try to ShutDown my PC hangs. I get the "Windows is shutting down
> dialog box." Then I get a blank blue screen and the PC hangs. There are no
> error messages or anything. I'm forced to manually turn off the PC. This
> happens when I try to shutdown or restart.

"Windows stops responding during Windows XP shut down"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307274/en-us

"Advanced troubleshooting for shutdown problems in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308029/en-us

"WINDOWS XP SHUTDOWN & RESTART TROUBLESHOOTING"
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.php

--
d-d

"Detlev Dreyer" wrote:

> "ricks99" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > When I try to ShutDown my PC hangs. I get the "Windows is shutting down
> > dialog box." Then I get a blank blue screen and the PC hangs. There are no
> > error messages or anything. I'm forced to manually turn off the PC. This
> > happens when I try to shutdown or restart.
>
> "Windows stops responding during Windows XP shut down"
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307274/en-us

I already have the latest Service Pack installed. When I go to Windows
Update, there are no remaining updates to be installed.

>
> "Advanced troubleshooting for shutdown problems in Windows XP"
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308029/en-us
>

There are no error messages displayed.

When I start in Safe Mode, I have the same problems. I still cannot complete
a restart or system shutdown.

I have completed additional system restores to known good locations, but I
still cannot complete a restart or system shutdown.





> "WINDOWS XP SHUTDOWN & RESTART TROUBLESHOOTING"
> http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.php


None of these issues seem to apply. I have not installed any new hardware.
>
> --
> d-d
>

>Using WinXP Pro....
>
>When I try to ShutDown my PC hangs. I get the "Windows is shutting down
>dialog box." Then I get a blank blue screen and the PC hangs. There are no
>error messages or anything. I'm forced to manually turn off the PC. This
>happens when I try to shutdown or restart.
>
>I've reviewed many of the suggestions in this forum:
>
>- Have scanned for virus (using multiple AV software). None found
>- I have not added any new hardware
>- I used System Restore to restore my PC to two weeks earlier (when I
>__think__ I last used a restart successfully), but am still having problems.

If this is a laptop, do you happen to have a PCMCIA card installed? I
had this problem as well but after installing the patch from this KB
article (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/842827) it more or less went
away.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

>
> If this is a laptop, do you happen to have a PCMCIA card installed? I
> had this problem as well but after installing the patch from this KB
> article (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/842827) it more or less went
> away.
>


No, this is a desktop tower PC.

Tx,

-R

ricks99 wrote:
>
> "Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:
>
>> If this is a laptop, do you happen to have a PCMCIA card installed? I
>> had this problem as well but after installing the patch from this KB
>> article (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/842827) it more or less went
>> away.
>>
>
>
> No, this is a desktop tower PC.

Well, something is running in the background preventing shutdown/restart
and only you can find out what it is. I understand that you've scanned
for viruses but there is a lot of non-viral malware out there. Please
look at the following general shutdown troubleshooting steps. Obviously
you can skip the ones you've done but I wouldn't ignore the possibility
that this is non-viral malware if you have only scanned with antivirus
programs. I know you have XP and not Vista, but you should also consider
whether you updated drivers or not so I'm leaving in that bit below just
to be thorough.

*****
Shutdown issues are generally caused by a program and/or process that is
refusing to exit gracefully. The program and/or process can be from
malware or can be legitimate (such as an invasive antivirus like Norton
or McAfee). If you are using a Norton or McAfee product, uninstall it
and replace with a better program such as NOD32, Kasperksy, or Avast
(free). The Windows Firewall is adequate for most people. With Vista,
shutdown issues can also be caused by old/poorly written drivers so make
sure all drivers are updated. See Step B. below for general driver
directions.

A.The first step is always to make sure your computer is virus/malware free.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

B. Drivers - The First Law of Driver Updates is "if it ain't broke,
don't fix it". Normally if everything is working you want to leave
things as they are. The exception is that heavy-duty gamers will usually
want to update their video and sound drivers to squeeze every last bit
of performance out of the hardware to get the fastest frame rates. If
you're not one of those people, you don't need to update your drivers if
there are no problems you are trying to solve.

Never get drivers from Windows Update. Get them from:

1. The device mftr.'s website; OR
2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR
3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM
computer (HP, Dell, Sony, etc.).

Read the installation instructions on the website where you get the drivers.

To find out what hardware is in your computer:

1. Read any documentation you got when you bought the computer.
2. If the computer is OEM, go to the OEM's website for your specific
model machine and look at the specs (you'll be there to get the drivers
anyway)
3. Download, install and run a free system inventory program like Belarc
Advisor or System Information for Windows.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor
http://www.gtopala.com/ - System Information for Windows

C. If the computer is virus/malware-free, drivers are current, and no
Norton or McAfee programs are installed, then do clean-boot
troubleshooting to see which program/process is the culprit:

How to perform a clean boot in Vista and XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796

D. If you need more information, here is an excellent shutdown
troubleshooter:

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

Standard caveat: If troubleshooting the issue is too difficult - and
there is absolutely no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea -
take the machine to a computer repair shop. This will not be your local
BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place. Get recommendations from
family, friends, colleagues.
*****

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

>
> Well, something is running in the background preventing shutdown/restart
> and only you can find out what it is.


Is there any way to have the task manager enabled throughout the shutdown
process? Is there any way to tell one-by-one as each process ends? Otherwise,
how can I determine which process is causing the problem?

Tx

-R

ricks99 wrote:
>> Well, something is running in the background preventing shutdown/restart
>> and only you can find out what it is.
>
>
> Is there any way to have the task manager enabled throughout the shutdown
> process? Is there any way to tell one-by-one as each process ends? Otherwise,
> how can I determine which process is causing the problem?

You can stop programs one-at-a-time and see which hangs.

--
Joe =o)

ricks99 wrote:
> Using WinXP Pro....
>
> When I try to ShutDown my PC hangs. I get the "Windows is shutting down
> dialog box." Then I get a blank blue screen and the PC hangs. There are no
> error messages or anything. I'm forced to manually turn off the PC. This
> happens when I try to shutdown or restart.
>
> I've reviewed many of the suggestions in this forum:
>
> - Have scanned for virus (using multiple AV software). None found
> - I have not added any new hardware
> - I used System Restore to restore my PC to two weeks earlier (when I
> __think__ I last used a restart successfully), but am still having problems.
>
> Tx
>
> -R

How do you "manually turn off the PC"?

Alias

>No, this is a desktop tower PC.

Ok. If there's an app that's hanging up the following will kill it
dead at shutdown and should fix your woes.

Try the following:

Go to Start > Run and enter REGEDIT and press OK. This fires up the
registry editor.

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. Edit the
following keys:

1) AutoEndTasks: Default is 0, make it 1

You can also try the following settings under the same branch:

2) ForegroundLockTimeout: Default is 20000, make it 0

3) HungAppTimeoutefault is 5000, try 1000, if it's still slow, try
500. I don't suggest going anything lower than 250 though as it could
really make programs / services that need a momentd or two to end
act...funny.

4) WaitToKillAppTimeout: Default is 20000, try 1000, if it's still
slow, try 500. I don't suggest going anything lower than 250 though as
it could really make programs / services that need a moment or two to
end act...funny.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control

1) WaitToKillServiceTimeout: Default is 20000, try 2000. I don't use
this setting personally and it's questionable whether XP supports it
or not.

When you finish, reboot. Log into XP and then do a shutdown and see
how long it take.

If some of the keys above don't exists, just create them using the
right mouse button.

#1 is a String Value
#2 is DWORD value
#3 is a String value
#4 is a String value

Good luck.

- Thee Chicago Wolf