my computer won't shut down????

Hello,
I don't have much experience with my computer yet and really need some help. My computer keeps not shutting down all the way. It acts like it is going to but then it turns to a blue screan with hp on it , so several times now I push control,alt, delete and there is always one or more programs listed as running ( usually rundll32) then it freezes up so I hit the power switch ( which probably isn't a smart thing to do) . Does anyone out there know how to fix this? I am not sure why it started doing this- maybe my kids got into somewhere they should not have been ---maybe I did. Counldn't tell ya for sure.
Any help is very much appreciated and I am glad I have found this site.

Reva

 

Hi Reva
Welcome to the boards.
Let's sort a few things out first. Have you done all your critical windows updates?
Perhaps go into msconfig, and under the start up tab, uncheck any unneccessary things from running at start up.
(start...run...type in: msconfig click ok...and check under the start up tab)
Here are two links to tell you what those items are:

Msconfig entries
and
More of the same

If you're unsure of any of them.....please post back.

Recent and updated virus scan?
If not....Maybe start with one of the free online virus scanners then?
Maybe:

Housecall


Checked for Spyware ?

Daizy