Unable to restart or shutdown

[Herbert Eppel]

I'm having the same problem as described by Shodobe a few weeks ago,
although the discussion at the time didn't appear to lead anywhere...

This is a relatively new PC running XP SP3.

I installed SP3 very recently, but I don't think the problem is directly
related to SP3 because it started happening before I upgraded from SP2
to SP3.

This is what happens:

Sometimes, apparently for no reason or without any discernible pattern,
the computer refuses to restart or shutdown, i.e. absolutely nothing
appears to happen when I click Restart or Shutdown.

When this happens the only option I seem to have is switch off the power
supply, after which the computer (understandably) takes quite some time
to sort itself out again, but eventually it returns to normal
operation/performance.

Clearly the situation is not sustainable, and I wonder whether anyone
has any ideas for where I could start looking in order to diagnose and
rectify the problem?

Thank you.

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk

 

[Gerry]

Herbert

Any error reports in the System log of Event Viewer?

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

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

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Herbert Eppel]

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for your helpful reply.

There is indeed a relevant warning in the Event Viewer.

Here are the details:

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: USER32
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1073
Date: 04.12.2008
Time: 10:00:42
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: DAC14228
Description:
The attempt to power off DAC14228 failed

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 00 00 00 00 ....

When I click on the above link from the Event Viewer the information
shown below comes up, although I'm not sure how helpful it is.

It seems to offer 3 options, which I interpret as follows:

1. Try again (I did at the time, but it didn't work)
2. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then while pressing CTRL, click Shut Down
to force a shutdown (I didn't try this, but should/will next time it
happens).
3. Disconnect the power (which I did at the time but want to avoid in
future).

Any further comments at this stage?

Thank you.

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk

********************************************************


Details
Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 1073
Source: USER32
Version: 5.2
Symbolic Name: WARNING_EW_SHUTDOWN_CANCELLED
Message: The attempt by user %2 to restart/shutdown computer %1 failed

Explanation
This event is written when a user or application attempts, but fails, to
restart or shut down the computer by using either the graphical user
interface (GUI) or the shutdown command.


User Action
If you still want to restart or shut down the computer, save any open
files, close any applications that are running, and then you can:

Use either the graphical user interface (GUI) or the shutdown command again.
Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then while pressing CTRL, click Shut Down to
force a shutdown.
Press the reset or power button on the computer.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Currently there are no Microsoft Knowledge Base articles available for
this specific error or event message. For information about other
support options you can use to find answers online, see
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx.

 

[Gerry]

Herbert

Some things to consider in this link:
http://www.eventid.net/display.asp?eventid=1073&eventno=1960&source=USER32&phase=1

Has the Windows XP SP3 update been installed?

If the SP3 update has not been installed this suggestion may help.
Download and install the User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
Download details: User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
http://snipurl.com/5b61

UPHClean v1.5e readme.txt
http://snipurl.com/ko8m


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Herbert Eppel]

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for your further reply and the links, and sorry about the delay
in acknowledging it.

In my case the problem appears to have been temporary (touch wood!),
although I have no idea what might have caused it.

I don't recognise any familiar parameters in the eventid.net link you
provide, but if it happens again I'll certainly try and taken an even
closer look.

Regarding SP3, here is what I said in my original message:
"I installed SP3 very recently, but I don't think the problem is
directly related to SP3 because it started happening before I upgraded
from SP2 to SP3."

Nevertheless, I dare say it is certainly useful to be aware of UPHClean,
so thanks for mentioning it, although I have a feeling that my problem
wasn't actually related to my user profile (this is just a hunch and I
may well be wrong, of course), because when the problem occurred the
shutdown process seemed to get stuck well before the profile saving stage.

Regards

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk

 

[Gerry]

Herbert

UPHClean was included in the SP3 update so it is now installed on your
computer.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Herbert Eppel]

Thanks for the clarification.

Am I right in assuming that, with SP3, UPHClean runs automatically on
shutdown and the user no longer has to worry about this kind of profile
issues?

BR,
Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk

 

[Gerry]

Yes Herbert


--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Anna]

Yes Herbert
Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute

Gerry:
You're certain about this, i.e., that MS's User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
utility was incorporated in SP3? That's interesting. I was unaware of this.
Anna

 

[Anna]

SP3 and I had to install it to get rid of the few errors I got.
KenW

Ken:
It's good SP3 took care of your problem. It's just that I wasn't aware that
the UPHC Service utility was included in SP3.
Anna

 

[Anna]

SP3 and I had to install it to get rid of the few errors I got.
KenW


It is not included with sp3

KenW

Ken:
That was my impression, i.e., that is was *not* included in SP3, however,
Gerry had indicated that "UPHClean was included in the SP3 update so it is
now installed on
your computer." (I realize now Gerry's comment was directed to "Herbert",
the OP, and not you). Since Gerry is a very knowledgeable fellow I thought
I'd inquire of him to confirm.
Anna

 

[Gerry]

Anna

It was my impression that it was. However, I spent some time last trying
to track down where I read it. I had no joy so I fear I may be mistaken.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~