shutdown taking about three minutes

This problem started happening about two weeks ago, the shutdown OR restart process of my computer takes about three minutes to complete. I have looked into Windows forums, webpages, all...I have done the clean boot as they suggested, I have looked into the event viewer as suggested, and nothing seems to be working for me. I have also looked into registry values, but the ones people suggest changing do not seem to exist, at least on Windows 7. Here is just one of the event viewer logs I recently got for the shutdown :

+ System

- Provider

[ Name] Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance

- EventData

ShutdownTsVersion 1
ShutdownStartTime 2010-02-03T17:12:30.920853700Z
ShutdownEndTime 2010-02-03T17:14:03.077520200Z
ShutdownTime 92156
ShutdownUserSessionTime 3512
ShutdownUserPolicyTime 74
ShutdownUserProfilesTime 625
ShutdownSystemSessionsTime 5293
ShutdownPreShutdownNotificationsTime 323
ShutdownServicesTime 4682
ShutdownKernelTime 83350
ShutdownRootCauseStepImprovementBits 0
ShutdownRootCauseGradualImprovementBits 0
ShutdownRootCauseStepDegradationBits 0
ShutdownRootCauseGradualDegradationBits 0
ShutdownIsDegradation false
ShutdownTimeChange 0

There seems to be no process involved in this problem. They are always Event ID 200. I also receive critical errors on Event Viewer when I boot up the computer, they are always Event ID 100:

EventData

BootTsVersion 2
BootStartTime 2010-02-03T17:16:14.765200500Z
BootEndTime 2010-02-03T17:18:34.209486400Z
SystemBootInstance 143
UserBootInstance 142
BootTime 74445
MainPathBootTime 45845
BootKernelInitTime 29
BootDriverInitTime 1407
BootDevicesInitTime 5587
BootPrefetchInitTime 75938
BootPrefetchBytes 401002496
BootAutoChkTime 0
BootSmssInitTime 15239
BootCriticalServicesInitTime 1149
BootUserProfileProcessingTime 1738
BootMachineProfileProcessingTime 175
BootExplorerInitTime 18514
BootNumStartupApps 1
BootPostBootTime 28600
BootIsRebootAfterInstall false
BootRootCauseStepImprovementBits 0
BootRootCauseGradualImprovementBits 0
BootRootCauseStepDegradationBits 64
BootRootCauseGradualDegradationBits 64
BootIsDegradation false
BootIsStepDegradation false
BootIsGradualDegradation false
BootImprovementDelta 0
BootDegradationDelta 0
BootIsRootCauseIdentified true
OSLoaderDuration 3054
BootPNPInitStartTimeMS 29
BootPNPInitDuration 5615
OtherKernelInitDuration 2441
SystemPNPInitStartTimeMS 7891
SystemPNPInitDuration 1380
SessionInitStartTimeMS 9437
Session0InitDuration 6454
Session1InitDuration 1211
SessionInitOtherDuration 7574
WinLogonStartTimeMS 24677
OtherLogonInitActivityDuration 740
UserLogonWaitDuration 4332

This is the thread someone else that had the same problem posted, it was never resolved by Microsoft:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com...e/thread/fb35a679-c9b8-4a97-95c4-39c60e218130

The booting up process is not really an issue...I do not know why there is a critical error on event viewer, but oh well. The shutdown/restart is really the issue, and I am just out of ideas here If anybody has any ideas/suggestions to fix this problem, I would really appreciate it!!!!! Thank you so much.

 

Perhaps checking the number of applications that Windows 7 start at each boot up and unticking the applications that are not required could probably
speed up the boot up time.

 

Steve, thanks for the warm welcome! I tried what you said and I timed the shutdown process, it took 3 minutes and 8 seconds so yes it still took a long time ugh....any other suggestions? Bobby, thanks for the suggestion but I have done that already, doesnt seem to make any difference.

Here is the event log through event viewer for the last shutdown process( shutting down pc after no activity for 5 minutes) :

EventData

ShutdownTsVersion 1
ShutdownStartTime 2010-02-03T21:00:06.631794300Z
ShutdownEndTime 2010-02-03T21:01:35.888999200Z
ShutdownTime 89257
ShutdownUserSessionTime 3174
ShutdownUserPolicyTime 0
ShutdownUserProfilesTime 446
ShutdownSystemSessionsTime 2971
ShutdownPreShutdownNotificationsTime 338
ShutdownServicesTime 2378
ShutdownKernelTime 83110
ShutdownRootCauseStepImprovementBits 0
ShutdownRootCauseGradualImprovementBits 2
ShutdownRootCauseStepDegradationBits 0
ShutdownRootCauseGradualDegradationBits 0
ShutdownIsDegradation false
ShutdownTimeChange 0

 

Does this also happen when using Windows Safe Mode?
If not, then it does sound like a driver (including Antivirus or personal firewall) is causing the issue

What startups are happening with your Windows?
Which Antivirus do you use?

Another thought is that you may have a task going on at shutdown, like remove all temp files or scan Windows or something. There are many programs that can create these tasks for you, but you would have originally needed to set it up. Does any come to mind that you have installed?

I'm leaning towards Antivirus though, uninstalling; running the removal tool (I can supply on request), and then testing

 

I went here : http://www.w7forums.com/turning-off-computer-t3916.html and read about someone elses problem with shutting down. I did what they suggested, going to the registry and changing ClearPageFileAtShutdown value to 0. I also did this : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\
Highlight the value WaitToKillServiceTimeout
Change this value to 1000.

Both seemed to have cured the problem!!! But I have another question, will these changes have any detrimental effects to my pc?? I read that changing the value of ClearPageFileAtShutdown may have an effect to the security of my pc, does anybody have any opinions on this?? Thank you so much!!

 

By default "ClearPageFileAtShutdown" is already at "0 "
Basically MS have preferred all things like PageFile; Temp Files; Logs etc. Just keep on building up.

So asking in relation to Security, well you have the default setting now, of which Windows is installed with.

Many users do clear the PageFile at shutdown, this is to clear out a large file (of which gets automatically created nice and fresh again on Restart) so as to remove information on what Windows has been doing since you logged on. Mind you, no one can normally read the PageFile anyway (and who would like to cipher through a gig or up to possibly even 4 gig of data? The only one I know would be forensics, and if the law are going through your computer, then you are likely already in trouble

In saying that, I do recommend that you run free CCleaner regularly.
This is because the build up of temp files can actually slow your computer down. CCleaner (by default) will not clear out your PageFile, as this process can be very lengthy, and generally not even required.

There are a number of resource articles on PageFile and how to set up properly. I will say that after years and years of looking into this one area, I have finally concluded (since some time ago now) that Windows should automatically adjust the PageFile to the right size. Which is default again by the way.
Many Users will mention to change your PageFile to a set Minimum and Maximum size, of which I don't feel is required, unless you are running 512 Meg of Ram or close to.
Basically the PageFile should be left alone to sort itself out. Of which it does optimally

 

My advice and only as advice, if you install and use CCleaner, be most carefull and only delete files if that you are absolutely sure are no longer in use by the said program or used by other current programs, failure can cause trouble, as I found out the hard way.
CCleaner registry check is very good, only if your are absolutely sure in what you are erasing.