My new PC won't turn off in the "usual" way!

[SurreyGuy]

In the last few days, my PC (running Windows XP) has been doing something odd -

When I try to switch my PC off by the route, "Start", "Turn Off Computer" route, it just "hangs" and doesn't complete the operation.

I then have no option but to turn it off at the wall.

Any ideas as to why it has started to do this? I have recently downloaded "Java" and "Windows Defender" - could they be causing the problem?

T.I.A.

[mikeyp]

A friend of mine was suffering from this problem. It can occur when windows requests all programs terminate, then shuts down. If a program hangs, windows can be left waiting for it to finish, and then we're stuck. It's difficult to work out what program is causing the trouble, in the case of my friend it turned out to be the aol software.

First of all I would try shutting down the computer by forcing all applications to terminate without warning. Click start -> run. Then type "shutdown -s -f -t 10" without quotes. This will hopefully simply end all programs and shutdown as normal. If this works then we know the problem is a program crashing while ending.

If this problem started when installing these two programs then uninstall them and see if it fixes itself. If it does, the best I can suggest is reinstall and hopefully the problem will have gone away. Else use an alternative program.

If the shutdown method above doesn't work, then i'm afraid i'm stuck. It's still likely to be a program crashing on close, but i'm not sure how you would find out which one. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[puzzlesRus]

When the shutdown stalls, press CTRL+ALT+DEL together and you should be presented with 6 options. Choose the Task manager option, then click on the applications tab. The screen that follows should show you the application that is refusing to terminate. Highlight the application then click on END TASK. You may then be presented with another screen which might indicate that there is a problem with that application. Select END NOW.
The computer shut then shut down normally.

Whichever application has caused the problem, needs to be uninstalled (and reinstalled if you really need it)

[knobbynonuts]

Hi there surryguy I have had the same problem in the past and I now use a free dowloadable proggrame called quick shutdown but for the life of me cannot remember where I got it from but if you go to google and type in quick shutdown I am sure it will come up with it.
Also you do not need to turn the computer of at plug to shut it down if you just keep your finger down on the start button for a seconds then it will shut of.
Hope this helps out.....

[knobbynonuts]

Just one thing I forgot to ad the quick shutdown icon just sits in your taskbar and when you want to shut down you just right click on it and you will se a series of options one of them will be quick shutdown.....

[SurreyGuy]

Thanks for all that guys - I will try out those various solutions.

Mikeyp - funny you should mention AOL! My machine already had it loaded when I removed it, the shut-down problem went..............................till the next day when I wanted to turn the PC off again and I couldn't! ARGHHHHH! :o)

nobbynonuts - sorry if i appear stoopid, but what do you mean by "keep your finger on the start button"? Is that button on my keyboard? If it is I can't see it.

[SurreyGuy]

puzzlesRus - I did the "CTRL+ALT+DELETE" earlier when my PC "hung". The "Task Manager" window came up and showed no programmes as still being active.

[knobbynonuts]

The button you push to switch on the computer just keep it pressed in for a few secs and the comp will switch of

[SurreyGuy]

Aha! Now me understandy! :o)

Thanks

[knobbynonuts]

sorry should have said the power button

[SurreyGuy]

No probs :o)