irregular shutdown problem.

[J741]

Approximately 15% to 20% of the time when I try to shut-down the Windows XP based computer, I am presented whith a dialogue box titled "MCI command handling window" and indicating "this program is not responding and will be shut down" with a timer in the form of a graphical bar. When the timer runs out, the program is not shut down, but instead the dialogue box is replaced with another, similar dialogue box with no countdown timer and a "shutdown now" button. This requires me to manually monitor the shutdown process and click the button if the afforementioned dialogue box is displayed.

I have run normal system checks like an up-to-date virus scan, adware/spyware scan, scandisk, defrag, etc. I began to try isolating my running programs one at a time, but because this issue is an irregular occurance and I have a LOT of programs running which I use regularily, I do not have the time or patience to perform complete program isolation tests.

This raises the following questions:
- What is this "MCI command handling window"?
- How can I identify with which program it is associated?
- How can I get Windows XP to automatically shutdown an unresponsive program during the computer shutdown process?
- Why would this not be a regular occurance?

 

[linney]

Have you been here?

http://groups.google.com/groups?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q="MCI+command+handling+window"

 

[J741]

Thanks linney, but yes I did try a google search, and just like the search results you provided, I found little more than a LOT of other people having a similar issue, but no definite solutions.

However, while looking through the more than 90 results from yor search, I found a link that I followed through a few different pages that got me the following information:

The following registry entries (cut & paste to a file with a .REG extention and double click it to use it) force Windows XP to automatically 'end task' an unresponsive program, so now I can just walk away after selecting shutdown, without having to worry about the 'MCI command handling window'.


---------------------------------------------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
"ClearPageFileAtShutdown"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="1000"

---------------------------------------------------------


I also observed that a LOT of people experiencing this issue are using McAfee AntiVirus. I have it installed, but it's currently disabled (in favor of Norton AntiVirus) so it shouldn't be a problem, but these days you just never know.

- James.

 

[bcastner]

The registry changes you suggested above can help, there are additional ones to deal with timeouts for stuck applications.

But as this will do no harm, and could possibly help, Microsoft introduced a new Service entry to repair Hive issues, and the unintended consequence is that it resolves often intractible shutdown issues.

Give this a try, as it has helped in many cases since its introduction:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en

Read the .txt file details on the site as well as to why it could possibly help. It essentially monitors reluctant to close applications and intervenes.

Best,
Bill Castner

 

[J741]

Well, it seems the registry entries that I detailed above do not work. I still have to click "end now" to end the task. (only took about 8 re-boots for the problem to repeat).

Thanks for the additional info bcastner, but the link you provided details resolutions for specific system log entries which do not occur on my PC. I may still try it though.

Any other thoughts?

 

[bcastner]

It has been several people's experience that have tried this "fix" that it works irregardless of any specific thrown errors appearing the the Event logs.

It is worth a try.

 

[linney]

You may just have to go back to basics to solve the problem (even if it is time consuming and boring), see if you have the Shutdown problem in Safe Mode.

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.





Reboot or shut down PC quickly
Written By: Tony | Authors Website: Visit | Views: 23458 | Print Tweak | 12/13/2001


For a one-click method to quickly shut down or reboot your system without the fuss of going through the Start menu, make use of the Shutdown command, a command line utility in XP.

Here's how you can set up a restart button on your desktop:

1. Create a shortcut (Right-click on desktop, select New > Shortcut).

2. For location, type the following:

shutdown -r -t 0

3. Click Next, enter a name for the shortcut ("Restart" is appropriate), and click Finish.

When you click your Restart shortcut, Windows XP will reboot *automagically*!

The "-r" switch tells XP to reboot. If you'd like the shortcut to shut off your PC instead, change it to "-s"; to simply log off, change it to "-l". The "-t 0" sets the timeout (in seconds), so up this value if you find the need for it. To force running applications to close, add "-f" -- be careful with this one!

For more information on Shutdown, type "shutdown" in a command prompt window (Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt), or search for Shutdown in Windows XP's Help and Support Center.