XP will not shut down

[Bern]

I recently, installed XP over Windows 98. Now it will not
shutdown and I have to mannually shut off computer. All
the appropriate screens come up, but it doesn't shut down
or restart when asked to. I have to manually shut off
tower.

When started up again, scan disk's list found "problems"
is getting scary to look at.

 

[Ted Zieglar aka \Rocky\]

If XP's Disk Error Checking (aka chkdsk, which replaces scandisk) is
continuously finding problems, that is a sign that your hard disk may be
about to fail.

First, make a complete backup.

Then, go to the web site of the disk's manufacturer and obtain their disk
diagnostics program. (You will likely have to create this on a floppy disk.)
Run the diagnostics and follow the advice provided.