New & Start?

Hello Everyone,

I have had a pc since early '05 and, being well past my "sell-by" date, find the learning curve a tad precipitous!
(XP Prof: + SP3. I have I.E. 7 installed, but mostly use Firefox.)

I've made the obvious beginner's mistakes and more, by searching for many things on line and picking up all sorts of infections etc.

The last one was very costly and apart from one problem, all is now about correct.

The problem is that when I click on Start/Turn Off the monitor presents an 'hour glass' to indicate that it is 'working' but the whole monitor is frozen and I have to press the re-start button to obtain the use back again.

The last time I did this, I got a white texted message on a blue background informing me that windows had been shut down to protect the computer - etc, etc. When I finally got back into the pc, it automatically did a three-part disc check .

The only way that I can shut down the pc now, is to use the Task Manager and choose "shut down" from the text at the top, and "Turn Off" from the drop down list.

Do you know why?: and also what I should do to be able to regain the ability to shut down using the Start button at bottom left of bottom task bar.

Thanks, in advance,

Colinito.

 

Thanks,

Sorry!

Colinito.