window is shutting down -when?

Hi Guys,
I don't know if this is a powerdown or shutdown problem! When I turn off computer it goes thru the whole thing until I get to the screen-windows is shutting down,everything is off but the message stays on the screen then nothing.I've left it there for up to 4 hrs before switching off manually.
Xp Pro,gigabyte m/board 693A-596-W977,BIOS Award software international 4.51 PG,Creative soundblaster 16 plug and play,S3 Inc.Trio 3DX2X Display if that helps any.
Any ideas?I,ve looked at m/soft knwledge base and windows help sites and shutdown problems but nothing that I can find re this.
many thanks

 

The usual culprits for causing this problem are device drivers, anti-virus programs and Zone Alarm...in that order.

If you turn the machine off manually after it hangs at the "Windows is shutting down" screen, does it insist on performing scandisk when you reboot? If not, that means Windows was shut down, it just didn't know it. It queries the various drivers, programs, etc. to see if they are finished, one (or more) never answers to Windows' satisfaction, so it's happy to sit there, waiting forever.

There is all sorts of information
here on troubleshooting the problem.

 

From the System Icon in Control panel the in Hardware tab then Device Manager, click on View and then Show Hidden Devices. You may then find a Power Management component with a red cross through it. It most likely needs to be enabled.

Also is there a network card in the machine?
If there is and it's not being used Disable it (again in the Device Manager)
Hope this helps

 

Cleanup... cleanup... cleanup. First!

1. Cleanup temps both windows & internet = Run Disk Cleanup select all.

2. Remove spyware = D/L install and run the below

Spyware and adware removal
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/downloads.html

3. D/L install Startup control Panel

Startup control panel
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Use it to uncheck all items in all startup locations. Reboot without any!

If it shuts down now put back your entries 1 at a time untill you find the culprit .

These are the obvious. If this does not fix it get back and we will move to Registry cleaning then H/W trouble shooting.

Mike

 

Thanks Guys!
Mike I have d/loaded the Start up control panel as you suggested and will experiment with it later,I have (and use regularly) both Spy Bot and Ad Aware,but I like Spy Bot better!
I think I've told you once before that I'm a clean up freak like you (no offence meant) and this shutdown thing is so frustrating!
As I said I will try what you have suggested a little later and get back to you.
Once again many thanks

 

tric171 If you exhaust all possibilities, don't let it get you down. When mine does that trick, I do my trick, I hit the OFF switch and go to bed smiling, knowing I had the last word. It has never caused any harm to my System in any way. I think most times Windows has actually closed everything down but just didn't get the word.

 

OK Tric

Of course no offence.

But do remember Adware does in fact find some things SpyBot don't and the reverse is also true. But don't forget to keep them up to date.

Two other things you might want to do also.
1. Clear the prefetch
2. Clear your Pagefile.

Merry Chrismas to you and yours!
Mike

 

Hi Mike and Zephyr,
Zephyr that's what I've been doing too,just wait till there is nothing then just switching off,but there must be a reason it doesn't do it itself?
Mike I do run both Ad Aware & Spy Bot,noticed that they pick up different things.Could you please tell me how to clean the other two? I'm not sure about them and don't want to muck it up.

 

Prefetch

My Computer

1. Navigate to Windows\Prefetch folder.

2. Delete all files with a *.pf extension.

3. Reboot the system.

Here is some more fun stuff for you:

http://winsupportcenter.com/a/shtdwnxp.htm

To clear pagefile
go to system properties advanced

make a note of the size of the page file

set it to zero

reboot (you will get a warning about page file)

set it back to the correct amount

Mike

 

There's alot of shut-down info at:
www.windows-help.info

or do a google search, theres tons.......later.