How to close applications during shut down or reset

[Guest]

I told my Vista computer to shut down.. But there was an application that
needed to ask if it should save a file before it shut down. For a brief
period of time I could get to that application. But I wasn't quick enough.
Then the screen turned black in the back and there was a list of open
applications. One was in its own spot and said it was preventing Windows
from shutting down. But I couldn't figure out a way to get to it.
<Alt><Tab> seemed to work except whichever app I choose it only flashed
briefly in the front and the screen went back to the list. The only thing I
could do was abort the shut down, close the apps and shut down again. Is
there any way to get to the apps to shut each down from this state?
Thanks,
Chas

 

[Chad Harris]

Hi chas gl--

Maybe I'm missing something. Usually in that situation you get a chance to
save docs or notepad. But didn't you shut down everything before clicking
shutdown so you didn't have to worry about it later and being "quick
enough?"

Why would you be in "this state" if you shut down all apps before clicking
to shut down?

CH

 

[Guest]

Case 1 : I remember to shut down all my apps before hitting shut down, log
off or reset or a program wants to reset. In that case everything is OK.

Case 2 : I didn't shut down all my apps first. In XP "they" finally got it
right, you can go to open apps and tell them to save or don't save et cetera.
But in Vista rather quickly it goes to this "state" where the background of
the screen is black and there is a list of applications but I couldn't get to
the applications to gracefully shut them down.
Thanks,
Chas