Problem Exiting XP

When exiting Windows XP from my Desktop I go to "Start" and then to "Turn Off Computer."

Occasionally I will be able to see the next screen which give me the options to either "Restart" or "Turn Off" the computer. Mostly it just hangs up with the hourglass overlaying on top of my desktop screen, forcing me to press in the Turn on Button on the Computer untill the computer shuts down.

I recently re-installed Windows XP using the Vendor Disk for Reinstall. All else works very well however the problem of the computer "hanging" on the command "Turn Off Computer" persists.

I had the problem before I reinstalled Windows and I'm still having the same problem.

Some of my computer data is as follow

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer Compaq Presario 05
System Model DA204A-ABA 6350US NA850
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2391 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Award Software, Inc. 3.03, 10/8/2002
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Total Physical Memory 512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 255.36 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.22 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

 

Problem with Windows XP Shutdown

I had alreade been to the site suggested and looked at the content dealing with shut down. Followed all but No results.......

What next?

Thank you again,

WinFan

 

Hi WinFan,

This may not solve your problem, but I always shutdown from a shortcut which bypasses the "Turn Off Computer" screen completely.

If you want to try it, create a new shortcut. (For some reason, new shortcuts on my computer don't have Properties sheets. If this also happens to you, after giving the new shortcut a name like SHUTDOWN, create a shortcut TO the shortcut and delete the original shortcut. I know this sounds dumb, but it works.)

Right-click on the second shortcut and select Properties. In the Target: window, type C:\WINDOWS\system32\shutdown.exe -s -t 0 and, in the Start in: window, type C:\WINDOWS\system32.

If this works for you, you also might want to create REBOOT and LOG OFF shortcuts. The target windows should read:

for REBOOT: C:\WINDOWS\system32\shutdown.exe -r -t 0

for LOG OFF: C:\WINDOWS\system32\shutdown.exe -l -t 0​

The -t entry in the command line allows you to set a delay (if you choose) before the command goes into effect. -t 30 means a 30 second delay ... -t 0 means no delay.

 

Hello WinFan,

If you bootup in safe mode - tap the F8 or F5 key at bootup - and then shut down, does the same thing happen? Safe Mode only loads the basic OS. If Ok, then at least that tells you that its not the OS itself that is hanging.

The next thing to try is disable the background programs one by one and go thru shutdown and see what happens at each program subtraction. You can either do that thru Task Manager or thru a program itself or thru msconfig to keep them from starting.

Regards - Charles

 

Had a similar problem not too long ago, upgraded the BIOS & problem solved - do a google search for your motherboard BIOS update & see if that helps. Also might check Compaq for upgraded bios as well.
Keep us posted