If I try to shut down via Start/Turn Off Computer/Turn Off, all open
windows will terminate, as will certain programs in the system tray that
launch at startup. The only program that doesn't close is Windows
Explorer. If I minimize it, I see the desktop. If I try Start/Turn Off
Computer/Turn Off again, once in a rare while the computer shuts down.

But if I close Explorer before trying to shut down, even with other
windows open, a normal shutdown always takes place.

The problem just started within the last week or two.

Any ideas why an open instance of Explorer prevents shutdown?

SP3, plus dozens of updates.

Thanks,

R1

Try making sure this registry value is set ;

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1"

.....that is; either open the Registry Editor (Start > Run > "regedit.exe")
and navigate to the sub-key : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
then find the value under it named "AutoEndTasks". Make sure it has a
value assigned to it of "1" .

Possibly the "AutoEndTasks" value does not exist under this key, in which
case you should create it by right-clicking in the right-hand pane of the
Registry Editor, and select ; "New" > "String Value" then paste the name
into the new value ; "AutoEndTasks" then finally, assign it a value of
"1" .

Or, instead, copy and paste the following lines (all the text between the
"copy" lines below) into Notepad, then save the file, making sure that you
rename it, giving it a [*.reg] extension. Then simply double-click on
this file to import it.

Re-setting this registry value should make the system (as it says on the
tin) [Auto]matically [End] all [Tasks] on next shutdown and thereafter.

------------------- copy between lines -------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1"

------------------- copy between lines -------------------


*Note - Please exercise care when editing the registry, always create a
backup and / or create a 'System Restore' point first.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)



"Rebel1" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4df3c8eb$0$28685$(E-Mail Removed)...
> If I try to shut down via Start/Turn Off Computer/Turn Off, all open
> windows will terminate, as will certain programs in the system tray that
> launch at startup. The only program that doesn't close is Windows
> Explorer. If I minimize it, I see the desktop. If I try Start/Turn Off
> Computer/Turn Off again, once in a rare while the computer shuts down.
>
> But if I close Explorer before trying to shut down, even with other
> windows open, a normal shutdown always takes place.
>
> The problem just started within the last week or two.
>
> Any ideas why an open instance of Explorer prevents shutdown?
>
> SP3, plus dozens of updates.
>
> Thanks,
>
> R1
>
>

Hi Tim,

AutoEndTasks had been set to 0, but changing it to 1 did not solve the
problem. Thanks for the suggestion, anyway.

I now found that I can't even restart if Explorer is open.

R1

Tim Meddick wrote:
> Try making sure this registry value is set ;
>
> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
> "AutoEndTasks"="1"
>
> ....that is; either open the Registry Editor (Start > Run >
> "regedit.exe") and navigate to the sub-key : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control
> Panel\Desktop then find the value under it named "AutoEndTasks". Make
> sure it has a value assigned to it of "1" .
>
> Possibly the "AutoEndTasks" value does not exist under this key, in
> which case you should create it by right-clicking in the right-hand pane
> of the Registry Editor, and select ; "New" > "String Value" then paste
> the name into the new value ; "AutoEndTasks" then finally, assign it a
> value of "1" .
>
> Or, instead, copy and paste the following lines (all the text between
> the "copy" lines below) into Notepad, then save the file, making sure
> that you rename it, giving it a [*.reg] extension. Then simply
> double-click on this file to import it.
>
> Re-setting this registry value should make the system (as it says on the
> tin) [Auto]matically [End] all [Tasks] on next shutdown and thereafter.
>
> ------------------- copy between lines -------------------
>
> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
> "AutoEndTasks"="1"
>
> ------------------- copy between lines -------------------
>
>
> *Note - Please exercise care when editing the registry, always create a
> backup and / or create a 'System Restore' point first.
>
> ==
>
> Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
>
>
>
> "Rebel1" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:4df3c8eb$0$28685$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> If I try to shut down via Start/Turn Off Computer/Turn Off, all open
>> windows will terminate, as will certain programs in the system tray
>> that launch at startup. The only program that doesn't close is Windows
>> Explorer. If I minimize it, I see the desktop. If I try Start/Turn Off
>> Computer/Turn Off again, once in a rare while the computer shuts down.
>>
>> But if I close Explorer before trying to shut down, even with other
>> windows open, a normal shutdown always takes place.
>>
>> The problem just started within the last week or two.
>>
>> Any ideas why an open instance of Explorer prevents shutdown?
>>
>> SP3, plus dozens of updates.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> R1
>>
>>
>

Rebel1 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> If I try to shut down via Start/Turn Off Computer/Turn Off, all open
> windows will terminate, as will certain programs in the system tray that
> launch at startup. The only program that doesn't close is Windows
> Explorer. If I minimize it, I see the desktop. If I try Start/Turn Off
> Computer/Turn Off again, once in a rare while the computer shuts down.
>
> But if I close Explorer before trying to shut down, even with other
> windows open, a normal shutdown always takes place.
>
> The problem just started within the last week or two.
>
> Any ideas why an open instance of Explorer prevents shutdown?
>
> SP3, plus dozens of updates.
>
> Thanks,
>
> R1
System restore to when it was working properly .

jim wrote:
> Rebel1 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> If I try to shut down via Start/Turn Off Computer/Turn Off, all open
>> windows will terminate, as will certain programs in the system tray that
>> launch at startup. The only program that doesn't close is Windows
>> Explorer. If I minimize it, I see the desktop. If I try Start/Turn Off
>> Computer/Turn Off again, once in a rare while the computer shuts down.
>>
>> But if I close Explorer before trying to shut down, even with other
>> windows open, a normal shutdown always takes place.
>>
>> The problem just started within the last week or two.
>>
>> Any ideas why an open instance of Explorer prevents shutdown?
>>
>> SP3, plus dozens of updates.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> R1
> System restore to when it was working properly .

I should know better, but I don't do restores.

R1

Rebel1 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> jim wrote:
>> Rebel1 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>> If I try to shut down via Start/Turn Off Computer/Turn Off, all open
>>> windows will terminate, as will certain programs in the system tray that
>>> launch at startup. The only program that doesn't close is Windows
>>> Explorer. If I minimize it, I see the desktop. If I try Start/Turn Off
>>> Computer/Turn Off again, once in a rare while the computer shuts down.
>>>
>>> But if I close Explorer before trying to shut down, even with other
>>> windows open, a normal shutdown always takes place.
>>>
>>> The problem just started within the last week or two.
>>>
>>> Any ideas why an open instance of Explorer prevents shutdown?
>>>
>>> SP3, plus dozens of updates.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> R1
>> System restore to when it was working properly .
>
> I should know better, but I don't do restores.
>
> R1
Always the first and easiest way to do ease the problem .

jim wrote:
> Rebel1 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> jim wrote:
>>> Rebel1 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>> If I try to shut down via Start/Turn Off Computer/Turn Off, all open
>>>> windows will terminate, as will certain programs in the system tray that
>>>> launch at startup. The only program that doesn't close is Windows
>>>> Explorer. If I minimize it, I see the desktop. If I try Start/Turn Off
>>>> Computer/Turn Off again, once in a rare while the computer shuts down.
>>>>
>>>> But if I close Explorer before trying to shut down, even with other
>>>> windows open, a normal shutdown always takes place.
>>>>
>>>> The problem just started within the last week or two.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas why an open instance of Explorer prevents shutdown?
>>>>
>>>> SP3, plus dozens of updates.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> R1
>>> System restore to when it was working properly .
>> I should know better, but I don't do restores.
>>
>> R1
> Always the first and easiest way to do ease the problem .

If the issue was a registry hive that was still in usage, UPHClean
could fix that in WinXP. Some version of that approach, is
included in later OSes, so it doesn't have to be installed in
that case.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...displaylang=en

"You experience log off problems on a Windows XP-based... computer"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/837115

But that only handles a particular kind of "slow shutdown"
scenario. And probably won't fix your problem.

Paul

It could be that you have installed some piece of hardware recently, that
registers itself and with and appears in explorer - like a camera or
webcam - and that it is using an open thread to another application
associated with the device.

Try downloading Sysinternal's Process Explorer [free] to try and ascertain
how many instances of Explorer are running, and if any have open threads to
other applications.

You will see very plainly in Process Explorer's main window, any likely
suspects appearing as sub-processes to one or more instances of Explorer.

Process Explorer download :
http://download.sysinternals.com/Fil...ssExplorer.zip

It may be useful.

Otherwise I suggest you explore the use of the Event Viewer application
(either look for it on your Start Menu under "Administrative Tools" or
simply type "eventvwr.msc" into the "Run" box).

In the Event Viewer, look under "System" for any problems that are
time-coded at the point where you tried to perform a shutdown.

Also, have you tried using the command-line shutdown utility?

Open a Windows Command Prompt (either from the Start Menu or type "cmd.exe"
into the "Run" box) then, at the prompt type the following command :

shutdown /s /f

(the [/s] causes the PC to [s]hutdown and the [/f] [f]orces all running
apps to close).

Finally you could look at this :
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.php

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Rebel1" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4df4b768$0$23643$(E-Mail Removed)...
> jim wrote:
>> Rebel1 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>> If I try to shut down via Start/Turn Off Computer/Turn Off, all open
>>> windows will terminate, as will certain programs in the system tray
>>> that
>>> launch at startup. The only program that doesn't close is Windows
>>> Explorer. If I minimize it, I see the desktop. If I try Start/Turn Off
>>> Computer/Turn Off again, once in a rare while the computer shuts down.
>>>
>>> But if I close Explorer before trying to shut down, even with other
>>> windows open, a normal shutdown always takes place.
>>>
>>> The problem just started within the last week or two.
>>>
>>> Any ideas why an open instance of Explorer prevents shutdown?
>>>
>>> SP3, plus dozens of updates.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> R1
>> System restore to when it was working properly .
>
> I should know better, but I don't do restores.
>
> R1

Rebel1 wrote:
> jim wrote:
>>
>> System restore to when it was working properly .
>
> I should know better, but I don't do restores.
>
Unless someone turned it off, System Restore automatically
runs by default - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084

Tim Meddick wrote:
>
> It could be that you have installed some piece of hardware recently,
> that registers itself and with and appears in explorer - like a camera
> or webcam - and that it is using an open thread to another application
> associated with the device.
>
> Try downloading Sysinternal's Process Explorer [free] to try and
> ascertain how many instances of Explorer are running, and if any have
> open threads to other applications.
>
> You will see very plainly in Process Explorer's main window, any likely
> suspects appearing as sub-processes to one or more instances of Explorer.
>
> Process Explorer download :
> http://download.sysinternals.com/Fil...ssExplorer.zip
>
> It may be useful.

There was a single instance of Explorer. Under it were six processes:
my antiviral program, my mobo's audio mixer, my browser, my email
program, a print-screen program and a program for real time prices of
precious metals. (Actually there were two others, but I deleted them to
see if shutdown would work; it didn't.)

> Otherwise I suggest you explore the use of the Event Viewer application
> (either look for it on your Start Menu under "Administrative Tools" or
> simply type "eventvwr.msc" into the "Run" box).
>
> In the Event Viewer, look under "System" for any problems that are
> time-coded at the point where you tried to perform a shutdown.

With Explorer open, a second or two after I try Start/Turn Off, Event
Viewer shows a User32 warning, Event 1073, System, and this message when
I right-click and choose Properties: "The attempt to reboot CLONE
failed." (CLONE is my computer's name.)

When I try a restart with Explorer closed, Event Viewer shows a Dchp
error, Event 1002. The strange thing is that this error occurs about 43
seconds after I do the Restart, at which time Windows has already shut
down and is rebooting. The Dchp Properties message is: "The IP address
lease 192.168.251.197 for the Network Card with network address
00248CD7D4ED has been denied by the DHCP server 192.168.251.1 (The DHCP
Server sent a DHCPNACK message)."



> Also, have you tried using the command-line shutdown utility?
>
> Open a Windows Command Prompt (either from the Start Menu or type
> "cmd.exe" into the "Run" box) then, at the prompt type the following
> command :
>
> shutdown /s /f
>
> (the [/s] causes the PC to [s]hutdown and the [/f] [f]orces all running
> apps to close).

Yes, that did it. At first, I got a 30 second timer and a message to
save any work in progress. Then all the browser instances closed, and
about seven seconds later Explorer closed and the computer shut down.
>
> Finally you could look at this :
> http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.php

This page raised the possibility of a very slow shutdown. So I waited
over 2 minutes to see if Explorer would finally close and allow the
shutdown/restart to proceed. It didn't.

Bottom line: Explorer open, shutdown from the command line works. I
don't know what kind of clue that provides.

Thanks for the thoughtful suggestions.

R1

> "Rebel1" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:4df4b768$0$23643$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> jim wrote:
>>> Rebel1 <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>> If I try to shut down via Start/Turn Off Computer/Turn Off, all open
>>>> windows will terminate, as will certain programs in the system tray
>>>> that
>>>> launch at startup. The only program that doesn't close is Windows
>>>> Explorer. If I minimize it, I see the desktop. If I try Start/Turn Off
>>>> Computer/Turn Off again, once in a rare while the computer shuts down.
>>>>
>>>> But if I close Explorer before trying to shut down, even with other
>>>> windows open, a normal shutdown always takes place.
>>>>
>>>> The problem just started within the last week or two.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas why an open instance of Explorer prevents shutdown?
>>>>
>>>> SP3, plus dozens of updates.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> R1
>>> System restore to when it was working properly .
>>
>> I should know better, but I don't do restores.
>>
>> R1
>