Start>Turn Off>Turn Off does nothing

[Robbie]

My sister is having this problem on a laptop and desktop computer. Both are
running windows XP home. The problem recently started and I don't know
really what has changed. I help them out on tech support when they need it
and they don't have any spyware or viruses.

When they try to turn off the computer, either using Start>Turn Off>Turn Off
or
by pressing the power button nothing happens. If I remember correctly you
cannot log off either BUT you can switch users OR press Win+L

Once you are at the login screen you can press the Turn Off button on that
screen and it will actually shut down but of course prompts saying that
users are currently logged in.

What is causing these computers to
A not turn off
B not log off

I tried looking up this problem on the web and it seems like this has been a
result of many culprits but never always one that you can count on. So I don't
actually care about that cause so much as finding out how to fix it.

Thanks

 

[David B.]

How did you determine no viri or malware was present?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

My sister is having this problem on a laptop and desktop computer. Both
are running windows XP home. The problem recently started and I don't know
really what has changed. I help them out on tech support when they need it
and they don't have any spyware or viruses.

When they try to turn off the computer, either using Start>Turn Off>Turn
Off or
by pressing the power button nothing happens. If I remember correctly you
cannot log off either BUT you can switch users OR press Win+L

Once you are at the login screen you can press the Turn Off button on that
screen and it will actually shut down but of course prompts saying that
users are currently logged in.

What is causing these computers to
A not turn off
B not log off

I tried looking up this problem on the web and it seems like this has been
a result of many culprits but never always one that you can count on. So I
don't actually care about that cause so much as finding out how to fix it.

Thanks

If this is a recent problem then System Restore will probably cure it.

 

[Robbie]

They don't remember when it started because they were just ignoring it and
manually powering down for a while. They just happened to mention it to me
when I came over the other day.

 

[Tim Meddick]

Hi Robbie,
Does your friend have administrator access to her machine,
or is she using a user account?

 

[Twayne]

My sister is having this problem on a laptop and desktop computer.
Both are running windows XP home. The problem recently started and I
don't know really what has changed. I help them out on tech support
when they
need it and they don't have any spyware or viruses.

When they try to turn off the computer, either using Start>Turn
Off>Turn Off or
by pressing the power button nothing happens. If I remember correctly
you cannot log off either BUT you can switch users OR press Win+L

Once you are at the login screen you can press the Turn Off button on
that screen and it will actually shut down but of course prompts
saying that users are currently logged in.

What is causing these computers to
A not turn off
B not log off

I tried looking up this problem on the web and it seems like this has
been a result of many culprits but never always one that you can
count on. So I don't actually care about that cause so much as
finding out how to fix it.
Thanks

You haven't mentioned going to the Display Appearance tab and checking
to see if somehow it got set that way? Or how about an accessibility
feature turned on?

Just a thought.

 

[Robbie]

This was caused by an HP all in one copy/scanner/printer. The software HP
uses has some problems. Removing it fixed the issue, but now of course our
multifunction doesn't function for crap except printing. :/

 

[Bob I]

FWIW I consider MFP to stand for Mal-Functioning Printer.