Long Time to Shut Down

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Hi Folks,
Here I am with another stupid problem. Embarassed

This just started yesterday.
For some reason, my computer is now taking a LONG time to shut down.
Here's what's happening:
click: start
click: shut down computer
Now, it takes a full 2 minutes for the shut down window to appear. Shocked

When that window comes up, I click on "shut down computer"
Then the "saving your settings" screen appears.
Then the "shutting down windows" screen appears.
Then, it takes 2 minutes - 15 seconds for the computer to shut off! Shocked

I have run my AVG scan, Ad Aware & Spybot S&D checking for any baddies, nothing, all clean. Confused

In the registry, I have the "Wait To Kill Service Timeout" set at 1000, as I have always done.
Anybody have any ideas? Idea

Thanks, Bucky

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 1059

Yesterday was the 2nd Tuesday - Microsoft Updates! A couple of Office 7, and one XP "security" update. Can you do a "System Restore" to see if it helps?

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

...and other than a lot of services, programs & such for the system to "kill", or one hanging. Nope! not at this time...

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

micker377

Tried that already... nada. Crying or Very sad

Bucky

pcrattail · Joined: Jun 11, 2004 Posts: 406

1 Adam 12,
1 Adam 12
............... we have an emergency.

OK....... Here we go.
Try turning OFF some of the "running" programs.

Goto RUN, Type in .... msconfig ....... hit Enter

Now use the "Diagnostic Startup".

After it Re-starts, Try to shut down again.
IF it shuts down faster, they you have a "hanging" program or service associated with a "non-essential" program.

You can then go back to "Normal startup" and figure out WHO is doing the DEED.

rovingcowboy · Joined: Jan 26, 2003 Posts: 1515

if you checked clean page file on reboots then you were told your system will take longer to shut down when you did that tweak or should have been told.

other thing to do.

find a program with a tweak for ending hung programs.

i found that tweak in several programs. one is in regscrubvistaxp program on its tweak tab. it will close the hung programs for you.

i have had that tweak for years in other programs and this one is the only one that shows a gui when closing the hung program. its there fast and gone but it shows you its doing it.

and you complain about a short 2 minutes? gee it takes this one up to 10 miuntes on update tuesdays and about 7 minutes the other days. then it take about the same to reboot.
mostly cause of all the stuff i have it running this computer has tons of things it runs most of which are things windows does i have no idea what they are for only if they don't run this messes up. so i let them run.

so 2 minutes is a fast time for this computer. now the other xp pros here get started and stopped in about 3 minutes both ways of course they don't get used like this work horse does now. i use to run the win98 like this heavy duty useage computer that 98 took up to 10 minutes to load and 5 to shut down. so your faster then it.
Razz

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

I may be wrong, as I seldom do updates on M$ but I think they install when there is IDOL TIME, so they try to install before the machine shuts down, thus the delay. I think there is even a message to that affect when you go to shut down after an update is issued.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2238 Location: Central FL, USA

Tweaks?

I've been sharing my windows enhancement tweaks with all my customers and internet users for years. One set of tweaks addresses the fast shutdown issue. Here they are:
*************************************************
Decrease Shutdown Time
Cut the amount of time it takes your computer to shut down to only a few seconds.
Click Start, click Run, and type regedit. Navigate down to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control

Click the Control folder.
Right click "WaitToKillServiceTimeout" and click Modify.
Set the value to 1000 (One Second) (nothing less will work)
***************************************************
Automatically Ending Non-Responsive Tasks:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \

AutoEndTasks = Set the value to 1
HungAppTimeout = Set the value to 1000 (nothing less)
WaitToKillAppTimeout = Set the value to 1000 (One Second)
***************************************************
Create a Quick Shutdown Icon for your Desktop
This method of shutting down your PC will be much quicker than starting the process with the START button. It also forces stubborn programs to close. Create a New Shortcut on your desktop and put this line in the path box.

%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f
Save the shortcut and you now have yourself a quick way to shutdown Windows.
On my own PC, using “Quick Shutdown”….Shutdown only takes five to eight seconds.
***************************************************

I also have shared my FAST Shutdown Icon right here in this forum.
Some are willing to use it and some are just too bull headed to even try it. Twisted Evil

(it's no wonder so many good techs have completely left this forum)

Regardless of how many programs I leave open, my system will shut down in about eight seconds.

NO program has ever, in umpteen years, suffered any ill effects by being Forced to close. After all, it's all done by Windows XP, not some weird after market program, that may or may not be well written and tested.

The routines written by MS are always the safest.
Likewise, "System Restore", "Defrag" , etc.

What I do, I don't do on one or two PC's, like some, ..... I do it on hundreds of PC's of all brands, models, shapes, sizes and ages.

I do the same things to Every computer I have to work on, so all my routines have to work everywhere.

Cheers mates! (what few are left on this dying forum) Crying or Very sad

The Doctor Cool

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Thanks Doctor Very Happy

Your tweaks did the job. Wink

My computer is shutting down now at about 8 or 10 seconds.
Thanks to all for your inputs. Smile

Bucky

rovingcowboy · Joined: Jan 26, 2003 Posts: 1515

hey doc i keep forgetting where those tweaks came from so i have to say the ones i remember. not so good at remembering tweaks and things for some reason, sorry about that.

Sad

i'll try harder to remember where they came from next time. Cool

ranco58 · Joined: Feb 23, 2003 Posts: 12

If you run McAffe Anti-Virus the latest up dates are not compatable with Spy Bot Search and Destroy if both programs are installed it will take a long time (several Mins) to shut down !!

kenmabmcc

Thanks Doc.

After you posting this shutdown shortcut umpteen times
I've gone and done it..

Works as advertised

rovingcowboy · Joined: Jan 26, 2003 Posts: 1515

thanks ranco58 that another good reason not to use that av program.

glad i stoped using it 8 years ago now. sure was tiresome trying to remove all the hidden files that av company puts in but i got them all found and removed after some time.

Smile

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2238 Location: Central FL, USA

Since the original problem that prompted this thread has been dealt with, let me take a swipe at McAfee, if there's no objection.......

Hearing none,,,, When I set up a new PC I usually find the free trial of either Norton AV or McAfee AV, pre-installed.
On one store-bought PC, I even found both of them! Cheeeech!

Well, right at the top of my "To Do" list, when installing a new PC, is to get rid of those AV trials and any other trials and demos factory installed.

I often have to use the Removal Tools from Norton or McAfee to completely get rid of the programs.
I keep the removal tools updated and take them with me on every call, on my Utilities CD.

One day a friend/customer asked me to take McAfee AV off of his Gateway laptop. (this was before I found the McAfee removal tool)
After trying for almost an hour to remove McAfee, he finally asked me to just re-format the little PC and use the factory restore CD to restore the OS. That worked!

What a shame, having to reformat a HD to get rid of an Anti-Virus program. Crying or Very sad

That just flies in the face of all reason. Rolling Eyes

I see people perusing the retail software racks at the local stores and I just cringe.
It's all I can do to refrain from shouting, "Get away from there!!!!! "

Public ignorance (lack of knowledge) is the only reason those two companies are still in business.

I know the regulars here have heard me say this many times, but let me say it just one more time for the on-lookers,,,,
"The worlds best computer security software is 100% FREE! "

If you don't know how to find it.....ASK ME!

Thanks for letting me bend your ear! Wink

The Doctor Cool

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Hi all...

I'm by no means anywhere near the caliber of most of you "experts". Rolling Eyes

But... one thing I did learn over the years... STAY AWAY FROM NORTON AND McAFEE!! Crying or Very sad

I had both of them... INTRUSIVE, MEMORY HOGS, FINDS VIRUSES THAT AREN'T VIRUSES AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMPUTER! Mad

In other words, they take over your computer! Question

In both cases, I also had to reformat my computer. Evil or Very Mad

And the sad part was... I PAID TO HAVE ALL THAT FUN. Embarassed

For almost 2 years now I have been using a virus program that I downloaded for free, and I have not had a problem with it yet, and only 1 virus, which the program got rid of. Very Happy

Doctor, if the virus program that you are talking about is the same one you suggested to me 2 years ago, THANK YOU! Wink

And if it is, everyone here should be contacting you for it. LMAO! Laughing

There... my 2 cents worth, Cool

Bucky

louis-the-cat · Joined: May 13, 2006 Posts: 307

do you mean you've got a McAfee removal tool......... Exclamation

any chance you might share this??

I know it's your business an' all...and it's a big ask.....

but....

please

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

The only tool I used was... format the computer and reload everything. Laughing

Bucky

kenmabmcc

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2238 Location: Central FL, USA

At first glance, I'd have to say, "Yup,,,,thasssss it!"

Of course I can't prove it, but I've always suspected that both Norton and McAfee were ordered by "Federal Court order", to release a removal tool that would totally remove their software from a customer's PC.

A lot can be accomplished with a few threats of lawsuits in Federal Court. Wink

Both companies are keeping their removal tools up to date, so if you need one, get the latest update to it.

WE don't need to post the URL for them here, because a Google search will bring them up in a heartbeat. Norton has changed their url several times over the past few years.

If memory serves.....neither removal tool will remove the Folder in the Program Files folder. You have to do that manually after the removal tool runs. No biggie though. Rolling Eyes

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?
The Doctor Cool