Unable to Restart or Shutdown

[judyblueyes]

I select Shut Down from either the Start menu or the Ctl-Alt-Del window. I pick Restart - nothing happens at all. Computer does not hang, I can continue normally. Same thing if I pick Shutdown - nothing happens.

I've tried typing shutdown -r from the Command line - nothing happens.

I've tried setting the option for what happens when the power button on my computer is pressed (in Power Options/ Advanced) to Shut Down. I press the button - nothing happens.

The only things that work are Standby and Hibernate.

It's been working fine until the last couple of days. I ran McAfee Virus Scan - it found nothing.

I am running XP SP-1 - have not been brave enough to go to SP-2 yet - maybe I should???

Any ideas on what I can look for or any way to try and fix this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Judy

 

[huevin]

It seems a program is taken more time that it really needs to close. Did you check the Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del, Task Manager). Befores this, did you install a program or something like that?

 

[LloydSev]

To see if huevin's theory is correct, when you select shutdown or restart, go ahead and goto Task Manager -> Processes and end task everything except Explore.exe, then at the end if it doesn't automatically end, end task Explore.exe and see if it reboots.

Computer/Network Technician
CCNA

 

[garebo]

You can attempt a shutdown thru start menu, then do ctrl-alt-del and go to applications and processes and see what is there that you can turn off, especially in applications.
Also, make sure you dont havent something in startup that is causing this problem. You can try the regular startup section in the start menu, but a much better one is obtained by going to the run command and typing "msconfig".
then go to startup, and, if you havent been there at all or for a while, you will be surprised to see a ton of stuff that starts up with your computer and stays on. Un-check or unmark what you know you can certainly do without. Some stuff you want, a lot you dont. Mine is filled with un-marked stuff that i dont need starting up.
When you reboot a notice will come up, just check off the bottom left and it wont come back again.
Hopefully that will take care of the prob.
If not, there might be another way.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[aquias]

One thing to do is to run Spybot and MS antispyware. Ensure that you don't have a hidden malware program that is refusing to shut down (following the above advice will prove that as well).

 

[judyblueyes]

Thank you all for your responses.

Lloyd's suggestion is the one that worked. I ended everything in Processes except the System Tasks which it would not let me end, and I was then able to Restart.

Thanks again. :-D

Judy

 

[micker377]

I normally don't turn off my system, I just use standby. About once every two months I have the problem you are posting. I have to use reset to reboot, then it's OK for another month or so. Apparently, as great as XP is, it has to be shut down occasionally!

 

[garebo]

I, for one, wouldnt mind seeing a well-written tutorial on the issues around the various ways, standby, shutdown, hibernate, etc.
I know microsoft has one but its a bit difficult to understand, and there prolly is one available thru google as well, but one done by bcastner, micker377, cdogg and others, sorry if i missed your name, or someone of their abilities, written in a language we can all understand, would be great!
Hope i dont get into trouble saying this.

Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[linney]

garebo,

Try this site.

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

 

[garebo]

See, i forgot to add linney to the above list. There are a few more too, perhaps quite a few.

thanks for the info, linney.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips