Shut-down problems

davolente · Joined: Oct 04, 2003 Posts: 361 Location: Kent, UK

Greetings all. Suddenly having having a spot of bother with XP not shutting down properly on one of my PC`s. It quite often hangs at the "Windows is Shutting Down" screen and the PC doesn`t power down. I’m forced to manually press the power button for the requisite three seconds to turn the beast off.
I`m led to believe it may be something that`s running that Windows can`t kill. Any other suggestions for this?

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

Open task manager and write down what is running.
Start ending some of the processes shown and shut down the computer. If it doesn't hang, the problem process is one you just ended. If it still hangs, look at the list again and end ifferent processes than you did the first time. Eventually, by trial and error you will discover what is hanging your computer.

What might require less trial and error is remembering whatt what added or changed between the time the computer shut down perfectly and hangs. Those would be the programs to look at first.

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

Hi Davolente,

To combat this type of thing and just speed up the shutdown process in general there are two things I do to every XP PC that I work on.

I first run a script that installs this change to the registry:

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.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control.
Click the Control folder.
Right click "WaitToKillServiceTimeout" and click Modify.
Set the value to 1000 (One Second)
***************************************************
Automatically Ending Non-Responsive Tasks
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \
AutoEndTasks = Set the value to 1
HungAppTimeout = Set the value to 1000
WaitToKillAppTimeout = Set the value to 1000 (One Second)
***************************************************

Then having done that, I set up a Quick Shutdown icon on the desktop for the user to use when shutting down XP.
I usually put the shortcut right above the START button, for continuity.

Make a new shortcut on your desktop using this command line:

%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f

Copy and paste this line into a new Shortcut on your desktop.
Don't type it....because if you miss one of the spaces, the whole line is Kaput!

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

davolente · Joined: Oct 04, 2003 Posts: 361 Location: Kent, UK

Thanks for that doc. Already have the shut-down short-cut and I had changed the registry values previously, as I had seen that tip elsewhere but, for some reason, some seem to have reverted. Not sure why that should be - still everything is as per. instructions, so we`ll see what happens. Cheers, folks Very Happy

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

Sorry, my reply was kind of, for future reference.
To fix your original problem, you still have to find the program or driver that's not wanting to shut down. (as per zlim's post )

good luck,

The Doctor Cool

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 1059

One of the first things to look at is the "shutdown" sound. A corrupted audio file will do this. Also, are any new programs "updating" before the system is allowed to shut down? You could have a "baddie" calling home!

davolente · Joined: Oct 04, 2003 Posts: 361 Location: Kent, UK

Thanks micker 377 but I have it rigged for NO system sounds at all! Can`t stand all the plinks, plonks, tings, bongs and other assorted noises Windows normally makes as it goes about its business. Besides, I believe it`s all extra wasted recources. Am I right in saying that Windows has to find the sounds on the hard drive every time they`re needed? I also have the properties set for "best performance" and the speed gain is quite noticeable, even though I must admit the display looks as dull as ditch-water!. Am investigating all other suggestions, as even with the reg mods. the shut-down (when it behaves itself) is an age. Thanks all for help.

goretsky

Hello,

Does the problem occur if you login as a different user or start the computer in Safe Mode?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

davolente · Joined: Oct 04, 2003 Posts: 361 Location: Kent, UK

Sorry I haven`t got back, folks. Been a tad busy and away. The problem seems to have a mind of its own. Sometimes it does shut down after a long delay and, in answer to Aryeh Goretsky`s question, yes, it did hang in safe mode when I tried it, so would that point to a Windows problem?

goretsky

Hello,

In that case, I would suspect an application which is running in a common registry key or other autostart location, or perhaps as a service listed in the SafeBoot registry section used to start services in Safe Mode. It could be this is the result of something malicious, but it could also be from an application or service which just is not properly terminating when the computer shuts down.

What you might want to do is create a HijackThis log from your computer and post it in the HiJackThis Logs section of the forum and let one of the experts there review it to see if there is any malicious software on your computer. If that comes up negative, then you will want to try disabling the various programs that run on your computer at startup, and then see if that lets you isolate the one which does not properly exit during shut down.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

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

When I go to a new customer's house to 'fix' their computer problems, I have a set package of registry tweaks, services to stop, cleanup programs to run and of course Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware programs to install and scans to run.

Regardless of what problems the person is having, once I've completed the "tune-up" the problem is usually gone.

Every time I read a thread like this one, on any forum, I just wish I could sit down at that PC for a few hours.
From past experience, I know I could fix it because that's what I've done for a living for many years now.

You mentioned the sounds. Some folks just leave their speakers OFF because of all the weird sounds that Windows makes. I prefer to have the speakers ON so I can hear the responses from certain programs.

On my Utilities CD, I have a folder called "Media". In it are about ten standard sounds and a batch file to load them onto a PC.
Part of that batch file is one line to delete all the Windows Sounds before loading my standard package of WAV files.

This reduces the load on the HD and assures that there will be a short and pleasant sound when needed.

Cheers Mate!
The Doctor Cool

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 1059

"but I have it rigged for NO system sounds at all"
HOW do you "have it rigged"? With the speakers turned off, or every program set as "none" in Control Panel\Sounds? You are right, Windows accesses the hard drive (Windows\Media) to play a programed sound. BUT, other add-in programs also add their own sounds when you install the program. Word adds some, and Quicken adds a whole bunch. These are usually placed into the Media directory, but some programs (especially games), put them in their own (separate) directory! You might check for wave files to see if there are any sound files that you are unaware of.

davolente · Joined: Oct 04, 2003 Posts: 361 Location: Kent, UK

Thanks for reply. Set (almost) globally as "none" in Control Panel\Sounds except for Mailwasher, which I have set to check mail every hour, so that`s the only system sound I have.

showngrace · Joined: Aug 22, 2008 Posts: 1

I am having the same problem but it happens on restart, it stalls at the windows scroll window. It will just stop and I have to eventually hold in the tower power button. I have to remove the power cord from the back of tower and wait a few seconds and the plug it back in then hit the power button and it will start fine. It also starts fine when I use the shut down/turn off computer. It only gets hung up when I choose restart. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I've had this going on for quite awhile. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

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

That's a totally different problem than the one being discussed here.

But it's not an uncommon one. It appears to be a slight conflict between the OS and the motherboard. I've never found a solution to it, except "Don't let the PC do a 'Restart'. Always shut it down completely and do a COLD Boot. That pretty much eliminates the problem.

Cheers!
the Doctor Cool

garance12000 · Joined: Aug 26, 2007 Posts: 35

I had the same problem about 2-3 months ago, this is what I found:

I got 2 updated Drivers from MS: 1 was for my Sound Card ie: Sound Blaster and 1 was for my Gaming Keyboard ie: Z Board, this is when the shutdown prob started, Yes Mine also hung on Shutting down screen

Once I got rid of those updates, the problem was gone, I had this problem on both of my systems and it worked on both.

Good Luck and hope this helps,
Garance

garance12000 · Joined: Aug 26, 2007 Posts: 35

P.S. I did recreate this problem several times over by reimaging my HD and Downloading these Drivers again just to be shur that it was these Drivers. Evil or Very Mad

Thank God ie: Ghost, for Imaging Software. Cool

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

My first response is always, "Don't accept hardware driver updates from MS".
If you have any reason to upgrade your hardware drivers, get them from the maker of the hardware, not a third party like MS.

Ok, so you got something from MS that's screwed up your PC in one way or another.
Not to worry.....there are several ways to UNDO the damage.
First of all, every time you get an update from MS, an UNDO file is created in your C:\Windows\ folder.
It will start and stop with an $ so it's easy to find and it will be dated the day you received it.
Clicking on that undo file will cause it to be backed out of your system.
If you don't have your VIEW set to show all files, you'll never even see those undo files.

OH CRAP...now we're under a freakin' Tornado Watch....just what we needed, on top of 2' of rain! Twisted Evil

OK, there is option #2.....Open the System Restore App and restore a SystemRestore Point from a time before you got whatever it was that's causing you the problem.

I use that option at least once a week myself, to undo some glitch that either I created or that was created by some program I'm testing.

I rely on System Restore so much that I installed a little script in my Startup Folder, to force a new restore point on every Boot.

UNDO'ing updates and other problems is really easy, if you just keep a cool head and "Don't Panic" Wink

All the tools you need are already built into Windows. Just use them!

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor Cool

garance12000 · Joined: Aug 26, 2007 Posts: 35

P.S.
I also did try the updates from the 2 hardware sites too, so, I'm not shur "WTH" is up with those 2 updated drivers, but they don't play well Evil or Very Mad

from Manuf or MS, Rolling Eyes

Screw it, both work fine w/o the updates, but I was hopeing that "Davolente" maybe could look at this, "maybe" solution Question

davolente · Joined: Oct 04, 2003 Posts: 361 Location: Kent, UK

Just thought I`d add my thanks to all for the comments. As I have mentioned in another thread, I have been rather busy lately, precluding much activity here.
After a bit of extra electronic spring cleaning, the beast consistently shuts down now, although it is still a tad slow, but I can live with that. Better that than hanging totally, I reckon Smile