Computer freezes at "Windows is Shutting Down" screen

[Jenny]

About 75% of the time when I am trying to shutdown my
laptop, it just freezes at the "Windows is shutting down"
screen. So almost everytime I want to turn off my
computer, I have to flip it over and take out the
battery. The other 25% of the time, the computer shuts
down, but very slowly.

Computer specs:
Windows XP
512 RAM
60 Gig hard drive
pentium 4 processor 2.66 ghz

 

[Malke]

About 75% of the time when I am trying to shutdown my
laptop, it just freezes at the "Windows is shutting down"
screen. So almost everytime I want to turn off my
computer, I have to flip it over and take out the
battery. The other 25% of the time, the computer shuts
down, but very slowly.

Computer specs:
Windows XP
512 RAM
60 Gig hard drive
pentium 4 processor 2.66 ghz

Something is refusing to exit gracefully. Here's a shutdown
troubleshooter to try:

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

Malke