Start/Turn off locks up computer

When I cl'ick on Start/Turn off computer, I get my "waiting" icon that locks everything up. This is a new Dell Dimension E520. I am able to shut down by answering the Start with "logoff ". Then I can choose choose switch user or logoff. Then the only thing I can do is press the panel button after a short time. I wait to be sure that all the files for that user (ME !) to be saved (I Hope).

I am the only user. Have I configure it to bypass the normal shutdown? Should I try to configure myself as administrator and no other user or can I ever do that.

As with every computer hardware and software company, help is almost impossible to get and when you do, the tech is in India!!

 

There are many, many software programs that interfer with shutdown.

As a first test, lets be sure that ACPI BIOS settings are not at issue:

Start, Run, devmgmt.msc
Expand the 'Computer' Selection near the top.
Whatever is said under that entry, it should have ACPI in the title.

If that test is passed, use the ACPI BIOS to shutdown the computer. Copy/paste the below in bold:

Start, Run, shutdown -s -f t0

Does the computer immediately shutdown? If so, your HAL and ACPI BIOS services are confired correctly.

Now, you have to play detective:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/shutdown_issues_in_xp.htm
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308029

I warn you that the list of application programs that can prevent shutdown changes/grows larger with time. Current problem issues: Web Root Spysweeper; Zone Alarm 6.5

If using a wireless keyboard and/or mouse:

1. Ehtray.exe.
2. DVDLauncher.exe
3. Power DVD <<--- check in Services for a unneeded RC service.
4. PCM service.
5. Dell Media software

Finally, while not a cure of you have an interfering program, install the User Profile Hive Cleanup service: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en

 

WOW !! OK will go thru all of that. Thanks I'll let you know what works

 

Did all that and the shutdown command did NOT work.

checked the line to be sure no typo

shutdown -s -f t0 I assume the t0 is to make it work immediately.

 

Try, although I do not think it matters:

shutdown -s -f t=0

If that does not shutdown the computer, there is a disconnect between what XP believes to by your appropriate HAL and what it recognized during installation.

See the discussion of the issue in the link I provided earlier from the ElderGeeks site.

 

Ty Bill

Hello Bill Castner,
I would like to thank you to tell us about the UPHClean tool.
I was looking for such thing for a long time, for my users and my personal computers as well.
I will tell you if it fixes my problems.

 

yep it did it pretty well

So yeah, it worked really fine.
I kept having the same WinXP error, in the event viewer (I should back it up...) and it was pretty slow to close my session.
Now I retrieve the original speed so thank you a lot.

 

That is nice to know.
Thank you for the feedback.