Unable to shut down PC when particular user is logged in

[tuned]

We've been having an issue where-by a VP can't shutdown/restart/logoff his
computer. As soon as he hits either of those choices all his icons disappear
and the screen just goes to a light blue desktop and stays there for minutes
until you power down the machine using the on/off switch. With someone else
logged in all 3 options work fine. We've narrowed it down to his profile,
but he needs his IE history which we've been unable to move successfully,
except if we move his entire profile. We don't see anything in the event log
that seems out of the ordinary, but just leaving the computer on with him
logged in indefinitely is not an option. Is there anything I should check or
try to narrow down possibilities?

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)]

We've been having an issue where-by a VP can't shutdown/restart/logoff his

computer. As soon as he hits either of those choices all his icons disappear
and the screen just goes to a light blue desktop and stays there for minutes
until you power down the machine using the on/off switch. With someone else
logged in all 3 options work fine. We've narrowed it down to his profile,
but he needs his IE history which we've been unable to move successfully,
except if we move his entire profile. We don't see anything in the event log
that seems out of the ordinary, but just leaving the computer on with him
logged in indefinitely is not an option. Is there anything I should check or
try to narrow down possibilities?

Try the following on his profile:

Go to Start > Run and enter REGEDIT and press OK. This fires up the
registry editor.

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. Edit the
following keys:

1) AutoEndTasks: Default is 0, make it 1

You can also try the following settings under the same branch:

2) ForegroundLockTimeout: Default is 20000, make it 0

3) HungAppTimeoutefault is 5000, try 1000, if it's still slow, try
500. I don't suggest going anything lower than 250 though as it could
really make programs / services that need a momentd or two to end
act...funny.

4) WaitToKillAppTimeout: Default is 20000, try 1000, if it's still
slow, try 500. I don't suggest going anything lower than 250 though as
it could really make programs / services that need a moment or two to
end act...funny.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control

1) WaitToKillServiceTimeout: Default is 20000, try 2000. I don't use
this setting personally and it's questionable whether XP supports it
or not.

When you finish, reboot. Log into XP and then do a shutdown and see
how long it take.

If some of the keys above don't exists, just create them using the
right mouse button.

#1 is a String Value
#2 is DWORD value
#3 is a String value
#4 is a String value

- Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)

 

[JS]

Check to see if "Fast User Switching" is enabled
or disabled. If it's enabled see if the problem occurs
when switch to another user.

 

[JS]

Almost forgot:

Two useful tools:
1) Autoruns
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

AutoRuns will show/list all apps/etc. that load/run when you first boot ...
(the 'Boot Execute' tab), when you logon (the 'Logon' tab)
and other programs that load (grouped by labeled tabs) for easy viewing.

Use this tool to see if it's something unique that this user load during
startup that the other user's don't.

It also provides the ability to selectively allows you to stop
(use with care) any program that you don't want to load.
You can undo any changes you have made.

2) Process Explorer:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

Shows a complete and detailed list of processes. Click on any
+ sign to expand and show subprocess details.

 

[Rey Santos]

An old article which might still apply:
Why can't I log off, restart, or shut down my Windows XP machine?
http://windowsitpro.com/article/art...start-or-shut-down-my-windows-xp-machine.html

How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/811151

 

[tuned]

Thanks for the information. We're using the computers in 2003 AD domain so
fast switching is disabled.

I did try deselecting things from startup using msconfig, but I'll give
these two a shot as well. Thanks.

 

[tuned]

Rey,

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the 2nd article also includes the
ability to move IE browser history? I ask because the VP needs to be able to
have his browsing his from the last few weeks, not just the last day as we've
been able to get.

 

[Rey Santos]

What's get copied to the new profile is the last browsing day of browsing
history under the folder "Today". There are no options to export the browsing
history but there's a workaround. Since the Favorites has an option to Export
and Import, then you can go to some important links in the browsing history
and add them to Favorites perhaps on a separate folder. Then you can import
them to the new account. To do that:
In IE > File menu > Import and Export... > In the Import/EXport Wizard click
Next > Follow the prompts, be sure choose Export Favorites, save the file in
a location that you'll remember. In the new account repeat the procedures
but this time choose Import Favorites and browse to the location of the file
bookmark.htm

Note this part of the article:
Note: The method that is described in this article may not transfer the
Outlook Express e-mail messages and address user data that are associated
with the user profile where you are transferring data from. When you delete
the old profile, you may delete that data if it you do not first transfer it
by using other methods. For more information about transferring Outlook
Express user data, click the following article number to view the article in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
313055 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313055/ ) Mail folders, address
book, and e-mail messages are missing after you upgrade to Microsoft Windows
XP

Therefore, it's safe not to delete the old profile until you are sure
everything important got transfered to the new profile.

 

[tuned]

Rey -

Thanks. We're able to get the favorites without issue. We've suggested
adding the links to the users favorites but this didn't work as he needed to
know roughly when he went to the site, not just have the option to go again.
The last time he was given a new profile to correct the issue he was having
we had to revert to the problematic one so he could access his history.

Thanks,
David