Shutting down problems

The_Magus · Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Marmaris, Turkey

Hi:

I have bought a Toshiba laptop computer from a friend who has now moved away meaning I cannot contact him. In any case as we are in Turkey the user manual would have been provided in Turkish.

When I attempt to close it I am offered only "Turn off" and "Restart" with the other two choice shaded.

Could this be something involving the original installation of Windows XP or is a problem with the computer design (doubtfull in my view).

Any suggests or hints will be appreciated.

Cheers

Jack

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

If you don't have.....and can't get,,,,the original Factory Restore DVD, then I'd just leave it alone.

Turn off or Reset should be the only options that you're using anyway.
For the fastest Shutdown,,,, there is a Turbo Charged Quick Shutdown shortcut that you can use for a really fast shutdown.

We covered all this in an earlier thread, dealing with slow shutdowns.
Read it................

It's further down the page here in "Problem Solvers".

Cheers Mate!
The Doctor Cool

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Assuming XP SP2

Off the START button you should have two options; LOG OFF - TURN OFF COMPUTER
Under the LOG OFF should be; SWITCH USER** - LOG OFF
Under the TURN OFF COMPUTER should be: *** - TURN OFF - RESTART

** this depends on if this setting is allowed or not - I believe it IS by default.

*** can be STANDBY, or some form of hibernate or sleep & these are controlled be settings in the OS. I'll have to do some looking to remember what & where. So unless someone beats me to it I'll get back to you on that ASAP.

The_Magus · Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Marmaris, Turkey

Hello Doctor:

I don't have the original of anything other then the laptop however I note your remark that Shut down and restart are the only setting I should be using.

Why should I not use Hibernate or Standby when leaving the machine for a short period?

Thanks in advance

Jack

d03boy · Joined: Sep 20, 2008 Posts: 1

Windows wants you to restart because it probably installed a windows update while you weren't looking. Reboot and the option should come back.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Hibernate, standby, sleep or whatever. If you don't shut down, it will cause your system to screw up & it won't come out of it, in most cases, which can lead to corruption of files & data loss. It IS getting a lot better than it was in its beginning but is still has a long way to go to be safe to trust.

Hope this helps to clarify...

The_Magus · Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Marmaris, Turkey

Hi
I tried the suggestion about log off and restart etc by Baby Tux but still have only the option of close or restart.

All my other machine gives the option of hibernating or standing by.

There seems to be a suggestion that I should not be using these faciltities but I don't understand why not. I have not noticed any problems in the past.

Cheers

Jack

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

First off, is this home or pro?

If pro, have a look in the group policy & see if it isn't disabled. (not available on home by default so doubt it is used here if OS is HOME)
Either way you can try what is in this link; (this is to disable - but it ought to make sense on how to enable)
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/MICROSOF/7509594/750959422.shtml

BTW: there are some registry hacks that can change this, so let me know how it goes.

Another thing that showed up frequently in my googling was the possibility of the video driver - as in proper one missing or just problems with the one installed. Or bios setting for power management.

The_Magus · Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Marmaris, Turkey

Good Morning:

Just checked and discovered that the computer has XP Home installed so it is possible that Hibernate and Standby are not included in this program. All my other computer has had XP Professional installed.

I will assume that this is correct and just learn to live with it.

Thanks for you assistance.

Cheers

Jack

kenmabmcc

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

Jack,
If you'll just read the internet forums like I do, you'll find hundreds of complaints about a computer that was put into standby or just went to sleep and never came back. Those functions are iffy at best and very unstable at worse.

For maximum stability and safety, there should be just two states at which you run your computer.....one is ON, when you're using it....the other is OFF when you're not using it. To do anything else is flirting with disaster.

Neither Windows XP Home or Windows XP Pro were ever designed to run continuously. By their very nature, they need to be shut down periodically.

MS has written special software called "Server" for computers that need to run continuously. So do yourself a favor and protect your data and shut down Windows when you're thru using it for the day.

Laptops run at a very low efficiency level anyway by their physical nature.
Doing HD maintenance at least once a week will keep them running much better than if you do nothing.

For all my hundreds of customers, I've given them written instructions on how to perform Weekly (not weakly) Maintenance on their computers. Wink

That maintenance should include, at a bare minimum, Windows own "Disk Cleanup" and "Defrag".

Good Luck with your new computer!

Cheers Mate!
The Doctor Cool

The_Magus · Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Marmaris, Turkey

Hi:

There is something strange going on here as my Power Options Properties does not show the same tabs as the one on the link shown above - it has Power Schemes, Advanced, Hibernate and UPS.

Mine has Power Schemes, Alarms, Power Meter and Advanced tabs - nothing about Hibernation.

My system is MS Windows XP, Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 3.

I wonder if the Version 2002 has something to do with the problem but I also wonder how in heck Version 2002 came to be installed in a machine that was purchased new a couple of years ago.

Still wondering

Jack

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Check your BIOS settings - power management (or equivalent)

Also, it looks like we are headed for a registry hack, how comfortable are you with working in the registry? Ever don't it before?

The_Magus · Joined: Oct 22, 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Marmaris, Turkey

Hi:

I have messed with the registry before but I think I am properly nervous about touching it.

I think the best answer might be to pass the problem to a local lad who does house calls and see if he knows anything about the problem.

If he doesn't I will ask him to install a copy of XP Professional which I suspect will resolve the problem.

Just having lost another computer which needs a new motherboard and replacing the keyboard in another I would not be very happy to be stuck without a working computer so think I will just learn to live with this problem.

Thanks for you assistance even if we did not solve the problem but at least I have an idea of where the answer lies.

Jack

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Well, I can pretty much GUARANTEE (about 90%) you that it is a setting issue, either in the OS or the BIOS. I've ran into this a good while back but as you can see, there are a lot of things that can cause it. So, I don't really know which needs to be done in your case. I tried to avoid the reg hack but it may take that to get it. & since no-one can tell what the previous owner may have done with it, it is a shot in the dark even to guess.

Installing the XP PRO will only get it if you have an issue in the OS & it defaults to the hibernation as active. I am assuming your computer supports this as I have yet to see a NB that doesn't but if it doesn't, that could be your problem as well.

As time permits, I'll look for more info. You have it pretty narrowed down as it is.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

See what this give you & let me know...

"You can set additional hibernation options on these computers by using the Power Schemes and Advanced tabs in the Power Options tool in Control Panel."

Quote is from M$'s site, so in all likelihood it is worthless. It refers to computers that support hibernation. As some don't or the manufacture does something else to have this function thus the OS doesn't.

At this point, I'd check everything & anything on there that even remotely has anything to do with power. Just be careful what you change & note it so you can put it back. Change one or two things at a time.

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

NOTE!

Toshiba replaces Windows power management with their own version.
They've been doing that for quite a while now. It really threw me the first time I saw it, because I always adjust power management on every computer I work on.

Check for the Toshiba Power Management Applet.

In short....they really don't want you messing with it !!! Wink

Doc

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Personally, I'd say the **** with it --- I tried that "sleep" mode thingy & screwed up the computer big time. (back when it first came out) & swore I'd NEVER use it again. Also had this happen where I worked (early 90's when this occurred) Although they have made vast strides in its functionality, I still don't trust it & refuse to use it. But since you seem to want to, I'm willing to help if nothing else than the learning / teaching end of it.

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

The best way to learn,,,, is to learn from other's mistakes, not your own.

If you'll just read the internet forums, like I do, even this one
(there are YEARS of problems and solutions stored away in our archives)
you'll find out just about every problem that a computer can have and hopefully, someones solution to that problem.

I've learned a lot from the forums, even this one, and I've avoided making some really terrible mistakes.
And hopefully, I've helped others to fix their problems and avoid making mistakes in the process.

Google can be your best friend when trying to find a solution to a problem.
It's very likely that someone has already written about it somewhere and Google can find it.

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor Cool