Why Won't Vista Shut Down?

[Morton]

Hi,

I'm running Vista Home Premium for about 10 months, and a new problem
has just started a few days ago.After shutting down my cable broadband
internet connection, and closing down all programs, I click on properly
to shut down the computer. In the past, it shut down after 1 or 2
minutes. Now, about half the time, it says shutting down, the little
central screen location goes around, but it does not shut down, up to
half an hour. I have to turn off the A.C. power and battery (laptop) to
shut it down. When I next start, the PC works well. I'm using Norton
360, Ad-Aware, and SpyHunter, and have no other signs that a problem has
occurred. Also, there is no indication on-screen that a program or
update is downloading then.

I have no idea how to proceed from here. Any suggestions will be
appreciated.

Thanks.

Morton Linder

 

[Malke]

Hi,

I'm running Vista Home Premium for about 10 months, and a new problem
has just started a few days ago.After shutting down my cable broadband
internet connection, and closing down all programs, I click on properly
to shut down the computer. In the past, it shut down after 1 or 2
minutes. Now, about half the time, it says shutting down, the little
central screen location goes around, but it does not shut down, up to
half an hour. I have to turn off the A.C. power and battery (laptop) to
shut it down. When I next start, the PC works well. I'm using Norton
360, Ad-Aware, and SpyHunter, and have no other signs that a problem has
occurred. Also, there is no indication on-screen that a program or
update is downloading then.

Shutdown issues are generally caused by a program and/or process that is
refusing to exit gracefully. The program and/or process can be from malware
or can be legitimate (such as an invasive antivirus like Norton or McAfee).
If you are using a Norton or McAfee product, uninstall it and replace with
a better program such as NOD32, Kasperksy, or Avast (free). The Windows
Firewall is adequate for most people. With Vista, shutdown issues can also
be caused by old/poorly written drivers so make sure all drivers are
updated. See Step B. below for general driver directions.

A.The first step is always to make sure your computer is virus/malware free.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

B. Drivers - The First Law of Driver Updates is "if it ain't broke, don't
fix it". Normally if everything is working you want to leave things as they
are. The exception is that heavy-duty gamers will usually want to update
their video and sound drivers to squeeze every last bit of performance out
of the hardware to get the fastest frame rates. If you're not one of those
people, you don't need to update your drivers if there are no problems you
are trying to solve.

Never get drivers from Windows Update. Get them from:

1. The device mftr.'s website; OR
2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR
3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM computer
(HP, Dell, Sony, etc.).

Read the installation instructions on the website where you get the drivers.

To find out what hardware is in your computer:

1. Read any documentation you got when you bought the computer.
2. If the computer is OEM, go to the OEM's website for your specific model
machine and look at the specs (you'll be there to get the drivers anyway)
3. Download, install and run a free system inventory program like Belarc
Advisor or System Information for Windows.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor
http://www.gtopala.com/ - System Information for Windows

C. If the computer is virus/malware-free, drivers are current, and no Norton
or McAfee programs are installed, then do clean-boot troubleshooting to see
which program/process is the culprit:

How to perform a clean boot in Vista and XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796

D. If you need more information, here is an excellent shutdown
troubleshooter:

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

Standard caveat: If troubleshooting the issue is too difficult - and there
is absolutely no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea - take the
machine to a computer repair shop. This will not be your local
BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place. Get recommendations from family,
friends, colleagues.

Malke

 

[mikeyhsd]

first thing I would do or suggest you do is to download the uninstaller from norton.

boot into safe mode and run the uninstaller to get rid of norton.



then install either avg or avast.





(e-mail address removed)



Hi,

I'm running Vista Home Premium for about 10 months, and a new problem
has just started a few days ago.After shutting down my cable broadband
internet connection, and closing down all programs, I click on properly
to shut down the computer. In the past, it shut down after 1 or 2
minutes. Now, about half the time, it says shutting down, the little
central screen location goes around, but it does not shut down, up to
half an hour. I have to turn off the A.C. power and battery (laptop) to
shut it down. When I next start, the PC works well. I'm using Norton
360, Ad-Aware, and SpyHunter, and have no other signs that a problem has
occurred. Also, there is no indication on-screen that a program or
update is downloading then.

I have no idea how to proceed from here. Any suggestions will be
appreciated.

Thanks.

Morton Linder

 

[Dean]

Hi,

I'm running Vista Home Premium for about 10 months, and a new problem
has just started a few days ago.After shutting down my cable broadband
internet connection, and closing down all programs, I click on properly
to shut down the computer. In the past, it shut down after 1 or 2
minutes. Now, about half the time, it says shutting down, the little
central screen location goes around, but it does not shut down, up to
half an hour. I have to turn off the A.C. power and battery (laptop) to
shut it down. When I next start, the PC works well. I'm using Norton
360, Ad-Aware, and SpyHunter, and have no other signs that a problem has
occurred. Also, there is no indication on-screen that a program or
update is downloading then.

I have no idea how to proceed from here. Any suggestions will be
appreciated.

Thanks.

Morton Linder

This is my first day on the group and my Vista Machine hasn't arrived
yet, BUT if I were to guess, I would suspect Norton (Home Virus
Simulator).

In 20+ years using PCs, I have found if you see the words "Norton" and
"problem" in a query, there IS a connection.

dean

 

[weewillie]

Shutdown issues are generally caused by a program and/or process that is
refusing to exit gracefully. The program and/or process can be from malware
or can be legitimate (such as an invasive antivirus like Norton or McAfee).
If you are using a Norton or McAfee product, uninstall it and replace with
a better program such as NOD32, Kasperksy, or Avast (free). The Windows
Firewall is adequate for most people. With Vista, shutdown issues can also
be caused by old/poorly written drivers so make sure all drivers are
updated. See Step B. below for general driver directions.

A.The first step is always to make sure your computer is virus/malware free.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

B. Drivers - The First Law of Driver Updates is "if it ain't broke, don't
fix it". Normally if everything is working you want to leave things as they
are. The exception is that heavy-duty gamers will usually want to update
their video and sound drivers to squeeze every last bit of performance out
of the hardware to get the fastest frame rates. If you're not one of those
people, you don't need to update your drivers if there are no problems you
are trying to solve.

Never get drivers from Windows Update. Get them from:

1. The device mftr.'s website; OR
2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR
3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM computer
(HP, Dell, Sony, etc.).

Read the installation instructions on the website where you get the drivers.

To find out what hardware is in your computer:

1. Read any documentation you got when you bought the computer.
2. If the computer is OEM, go to the OEM's website for your specific model
machine and look at the specs (you'll be there to get the drivers anyway)
3. Download, install and run a free system inventory program like Belarc
Advisor or System Information for Windows.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor
http://www.gtopala.com/ - System Information for Windows

C. If the computer is virus/malware-free, drivers are current, and no Norton
or McAfee programs are installed, then do clean-boot troubleshooting to see
which program/process is the culprit:

How to perform a clean boot in Vista and XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796

D. If you need more information, here is an excellent shutdown
troubleshooter:

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

Standard caveat: If troubleshooting the issue is too difficult - and there
is absolutely no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea - take the
machine to a computer repair shop. This will not be your local
BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place. Get recommendations from family,
friends, colleagues.

Malke

Malke

The link above is for XP
do you have the relevent link for Vista?

 

[Malke]

Malke

The link above is for XP
do you have the relevent link for Vista?

All of the concepts are the same for Vista as they are for XP.

Malke