Slow Shutdown - Ideas?

[StevenB]

I have a relatively new Dell Latitude D610 at work. It's a nice machine, running XP Pro, with 1 GB of memory. I've recently defragged it, and run a registry cleaning utility, as well as multiple spyware and virus checks. Looks pretty clean, to my eyes.

But, the weird thing is, this machine takes FOREVER to shut down. It boots up very quickly. But when I go to the start menu and select shut down, it takes anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute just to bring up the "ShutDown/Restart" drop-down.

From there, once I select Shut Down, it can take up to 5 minutes to actually power off, while I sit at work twiddling my thumbs and wishing I'd powered down sooner.

Any suggestions for things to look at?

Thanks!

Steve

 

[TidyTrax]

Possible your machine is clearing its paging file on shutdown - open regedit and drill down to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management

And under ClearPageFileAtShutdown if the value is 1 change it to 0 and try that.

If not you might want to look at what process and services are running, use msconfig and play with the programs that start on startup and the services. Possible spyware, if you have a hijackthis report you could post that to see if there is anything obvious

 

[StevenB]

Well, the clearpagefile WAS set to 1. I switched it zero, I'll sit on it for a few days and see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[linney]

Resources to help troubleshoot shutdown problems in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308029&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

"Windows XP Restarts When You Try to Shut Down Your Computer (Q311806)"

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q311/8/06.asp

http://www.aumha.org/a/shtdwnxp.htm

 

[StevenB]

Just FYI, even with clearpagefile set to 0, the shutdown is still slow. It's impressive - takes about 5 minutes to shut down!

Will start to check out some of these other links everyone provided.

Thanks!

 

[linney]

See how the thing shuts down via Safe Mode.

Ditto, in Normal Mode with a different user.

Don't forget to check your Event Viewer.

 

[karlisi]

If shutdown is slow and you have event ids 1517 and 1524 in Application log, download UPHClean from Microsoft, it will help

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

===
Karlis
ECDL; MCSA

 

[StevenB]

I do have some 1517s in there, but no 1524. I'll try safe mode and different users in a bit. The message for 1517 sure makes it look suspicious...

 

[electronicsfreak]

These are some tips that will help shutdown faster.


WaitToKillAppTimeout ( original value = 20000) Lower to make faster

hungapptimeout = 500 (lower to make faster)


"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\verbosestatus"
Set this value to 1 (TRUE), it will then LOG any INFO to the EVENT VIEWER...

"HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\AutoEndTasks" set this to 1 (TRUE), this will kill TASKS quick...

"HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\" look for the Values "HungAppTimeout" and "WaitToKillAppTimeout", the first is for manually shutting down APPS (Exiting a Program) and the Second is for Shutdown

"HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\WaitToKillServiceTimeout"
Setting this to a value of 2 to 5, will kill the Services still running in the background faster during Shutdown...

"HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\ClearPageFileAtShutdown"
if this value is set to 1 (TRUE) then the PAGEFILE will get deleted everytime you shutdown, ergo slowing down the SHUTDOWN process, if it is set to 0 (or non existing) then leave it for a faster shutdown..

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[StevenB]

Stupid Human Tricks:

OK, so I used msconfig to boot into safe mode. Out of all the tremendously stupid things, I have managed to lock myself out of my computer entirely. My account is in the local admin group, but it's a domain account, and since this is a work PC, I don't have a local administrator account.

So, I cannot log into the machine, and and each time I reboot, it reboots into Safe Mode with no networking. I do have one local account, but it's not an administrator. So, I can get to the desktop, but I can't get into msconfig to change the safeboot setting.

I tried using the F8 menu and booting into normal mode, but it always goes into safe mode, probably because mconfig has been changed to boot into safe mode.

Apart from finding the magic tech with the local admin account, am I pretty much screwed?

By the way, it still takes forever to shut down in safe mode.

 

[StevenB]

OK, never mind that last post. All resolved.

Meanwhile, update on the problem. The shutdown is still slow in safe mode, and also when using a different user account.

Thanks all for your help!

 

[StevenB]

UPHClean did not resolve the slow shutdown...

 

[muthabored]

Sounds like a process or processes are lingering during the shutdown...OR perhaps a memory leak of some sort? Were you ever able to use msconfig to see what's loading during startup? If you're able to, I'd say it would be worthwhile to also have a check run on your system's memory.

 

[StevenB]

I've changed this setting:

"HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\WaitToKillServiceTimeout"
Setting this to a value of 2 to 5, will kill the Services still running in the background faster during Shutdown...

Will let you know what happens. I have this gut feeling a service is hanging, but we'll see.

 

[electronicsfreak]

You should also change the auto end task , that will make a big difference. It will auto kill task that are running when it goes to shutdown.

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[linney]

Does your Registry Cleaner have a restore function, or was there a shutdown problem apparent before you used it?

Some general things to try.

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer.


Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking.

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

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

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

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

Finally there is a backup of all your valuable data followed by a format and clean install.

 

[StevenB]

Latest update:

Chkdsk revealed no problems
WaitToKillServiceTimeout set to 100
AutoEndTasks set to 1

After these changes, no noticeable improvement in shutdown time.

Shutdown problems have existed since I received the PC, and pre-date my using the registry cleaning tool.

Going to try the rest of electronicfreak's registry suggestions...

 

[cdogg]

I know you probably glanced at this link linney posted earlier, but take another look at this section:

http://aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

There are some services that are known to cause slowness.

Also, I recommend you upgrade your video and sound card drivers, as well as applying any other hardware updates you can find. You might wind up stripping the PC down to its bare essentials - CPU, mobo, hard drive, video card and RAM. There might be a PCI or USB device causing the slowness.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[linney]

Shutdown problems have existed since I received the PC, and pre-date my using the registry cleaning tool".


Is there any option available under any Warranty? Have you been in contact with the manufacturer's Help and Support?