'Turn off Computer'

[Puzzled001]

Using Windows xp home, When turning off my pc I click the turn off computer box and only some items on the task bar close, I then have to click on the turn off computer box a second time for the pc to shut down. This only started over the weekend. Can one of you 'wizards' give me some advice on this,please

[rojash]

When you click to turn off the computer, Windows sends a message to all running applications to tell them to close. In response, they should tidy up and close.
Some badly written applications don't respond correctly to the message, other srespond as though you had manually elected to close them, and attempt to show a message (such as "Are you sure?", or "Do you wish to save changes?"). Yet others need to do some tidying up which may take a few seconds.

As you haven't said which task bar icons remain open, it's difficult to diagnose your problem to any greater depth. Also, as you say that Windows closes without a problem the second time that you click close, it's possible that it would have closed anyway, given a few more seconds.

One way to diagnose the application that's causing your problem would be to close one of the system tray icons manually, then click "Turn off". If that makes no difference, work your way through each of the system tray icons one at a time, each time closing the icon, then attempting to close turn off. Eventually you should be able to locate the specific app that's preventing the normal shutdown.

[Puzzled001]

Thanks, rojash, the only icons left open are Skype ,Printkey 2000 and the avast symbol, Seagate and Networx clear immediately,that's all I have in the tray. I have followed your instructions with the first three but still have to 'click again' even after waiting a little longer each time. I'ts not a great problem but is annoying that it has only just started and I have not added anything new apart from Seagate Backup some weeks ago.

[rojash]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your reply, but have you done as I suggested - manually closed (for example) Printkey 2000, and then tried to shut down Windows?

[Puzzled001]

hello again ,rojash, I have clicked 'exit' on each app and clicked turn off but I still have to do it twice. Sorry for delay in answering but at the moment I only have electric for a short time each day whilst waiting for a 'mains' connection.

[rojash]

OK, well assuming that the rogue application preventing shutdown is not in the system tray, you can further diagnose the problem as follows:

Attempt to shutdown in the normal way
When it fails to shutdown, hold down Ctrl and Alt and hit Delete
Click the Task Manager Button
Check If ther are any programs running in the Applications Window, and if so, click the first one, and then click End Task.
Once the task has ended, if Windows now closes down, that was the cause of your problem.
If there is nothing listed on the Applications Page, go to the Processes page and click the User Name column header (to sort the processes by User).
Click on each process in tune that is listed as belonging to the currently logged in user, and click End Process. When the rogue process is closed, windows will shut down. DO NOT End the processes Local Service, Network Service or System processes.

[Puzzled001]

Thanks again, rojash, the gremlins are at work, I printed your reply for reference then went to Turn off and it did. I have since tried it ten times including 2 restarts and the pc is shutting down normally, so I am none the wiser as to what's caused it. I'll keep your reply handy in case it starts again. Help much appreciated