Windows Explorer won't shut down in XP Home 2

[judgehopkins]

I have XP Home and when I shut it down, Windows Explorer will not close and I have to unplug the computer.

Recently, I unchecked a bunch of stuff that was loading at startup using Autoruns. I did not, however, uncheck anything I didn't recognize. But the problem started after I did this.

At the end of the shutdown, all icons disappear and all that is left is my desktop minus icons. I get the notification that windows explorer won't shut down. I click the END NOW button. It won't end and everything just stops.

The only way to get my computer off is to unplug it. The three fingered salute doesn't work. Everything apparently except explorer has already shut down.

I run PCTAV and MalwareBytes. There is nothing infecting my system.

1. Do you have a firewalled router?
No.


2. What software firewall, if any, are you using?

The firewall that came with the OS.



3. What AV software are you using?

PCATV



4. Any other details you can provide - backup software, general system maintenance/managmenet software... etc..

No backup software; I am unclear what else you're asking here.


5. Tell us if anything else changed just before this - for instance, what nudged you to disable the items from startup?


It was taking forever to load up so I disabled only programs that I knew from loading up.


6. Do you begin hearing any funny/different sounds coming from your PC that you normally do not hear?

No.


If you need more info, let me know.

Thank you for your time and help.



There are two guaranteed rules of success: First, never tell everything you know.

 

[linney]

If you put back all those things you unchecked in MsConfig how does it shutdown then?

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

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560

You can always uncheck them again but not too many at once allowing you to check the outcome before selecting a few more.

What is Shutdown like from Safe Mode? What about Normal Mode but with a different user?

Some general things to try.

I see lots of recommendations here for programs like -

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

SuperAntispyware

http://superantispyware.com/

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. Select both boxes.

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/kb/315341/en-us

WINDOWS XP SHUTDOWN & RESTART TROUBLESHOOTING

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

 

[BadBigBen]

To add to Linney's post:

Windows stops responding during Windows XP shut down

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307274

Auto End Tasks to Enable a Proper Shutdown

copy the following to the editor (notepad), then save it out as: AutoEnd.reg

make sure that the file has the ending REG (and not REG.TXT)...

double click it and have it merged into your Registry...

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"

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[kjv1611]

The questions listed in the judge's original post were from my itchy to post finger in the original thread in the Office forum... which has since been moved to this forum, which is great.

Anyway, judgehopkins, in case you've never done what Ben's talking about - making sure a text file gets saved to a particular extention, here's how I've done it for the past 12 or 13 years, at least:

1. Paste the text to a new Notepad/text document, as BBB mentioned.
2. When you save the file, first make sure that the "files of type" is set to "all files" - that usually helps.
3. In the filename box, put the same file name, but put it in quotes....

So, your filename box should look like this:

"AutoEnd.reg"

With the quotes, as I put in the box above.

Post back once you've given it a try, and let us know of any further questions/issues.

 

[judgehopkins]

I appreciate everyone's time and information. I'm working on it and will post a report when something happens.

There are two guaranteed rules of success: First, never tell everything you know.

 

[judgehopkins]

I tried the autoend patch but it does not work.

Any other suggestions?

Thank you.

There are two guaranteed rules of success: First, never tell everything you know.

 

[linney]

To get further information about any error look in your Event viewer.

Look in the System or Application folder. You can get to the Event Viewer via right click My Computer icon and select Manage.

Any errors logged in the Event Viewer can be expanded by double clicking on the error line.

Take any event error I.D. number (and Source) and search for it on these sites.

http://www.eventid.net/events.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/support/ee/search.aspx

Which of the other suggestions mentioned in the thread have you tried?

If you have gone as far as a repair install, the only thing after that is a Format and Clean install after saving your valuable data.

 

[judgehopkins]

Linney, I tried all the suggestions above (except the event viewer one...I'll look at that). Thank you for your reply.

There are two guaranteed rules of success: First, never tell everything you know.

 

[judgehopkins]

I did a chkdsk /r and found file record segments 8620 through 8623 are unreadable. Does this mean my HD bit the dust? Or can it be repaired?

There are two guaranteed rules of success: First, never tell everything you know.

 

[linney]

It might mean that it is starting to fail, so make sure that your valuable data is saved elsewhere.

ChkDsk will itself attempt what repairs are possible and also tell Windows to avoid any bad sectors and not to store data in them.

The hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software to thoroughly check the condition of the hard drive.

Error on the hard drive could be caused by forcible shutdowns (causing corruption of data), or it (bad sectors) could be actually causing the shutdown problem itself?

 

[kjv1611]

judgehopkins,

I'd suggest going for

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com

if you want to use a separate tool to back your data up and to run diagnostics. It's got LOADS of free software tied into a bootable menu-driven disk. (including the mfg's diagnostics that linney mentioned).

 

[judgehopkins]

kjv1611, I must be dense; I couldn't read the instructions on the ultimate boot program I downloaded. It was written in Geek but I'll keep trying to translate it although I don't really want to spend that much time on it.

linney you and kjv1611 spent a lot of time on this problem.

My solution: I'm buying a new computer.

There are two guaranteed rules of success: First, never tell everything you know.

 

[kjv1611]

On running the program, here's what I'd do, short and sweet:

1. Download the CD image/ISO file from one of the mirrors (not P2P unless you're doing P2P):

http://ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

2. If you don't have a good/decent cd/dvd burning app, or just not sure how to use what you've got, then download Img Burn, and install it.

3. Once Img Burn is installed, you can right-click on your downloaded Image/ISO file, and select "Burn with ImgBurn" from the top of the context menu.

Well, sorry to hear about your having to get a new one, but I suppose you won't be sad, really. Windows 7, which will likely be on any "new" computer you find, is the best OS in my opinion. More things just "work" with it than I've experienced with any other to date.

 

[judgehopkins]

Thanks. I'm sticking with XP Pro. 7 has too many problems.

There are two guaranteed rules of success: First, never tell everything you know.

 

[kjv1611]

You're getting a new computer, but sticking with XP? So I take it you're reinstalling XP yourself? I doubt there are many manufacturers putting out new systems with XP.

You say Win7 has too many problems? Such as?

I've isntalled Win7 on hardware that has some age on it (about 4 years) as well as some brand new hardware, without one major issue.

Or are you speaking of some specific software compatibility issue with an application you're using? That's a whole different situation altogether.

 

[judgehopkins]

Thanks, kjv...



Q: You're getting a new computer, but sticking with XP?

A: Yes.




Q: So I take it you're reinstalling XP yourself?

A: No; it's coming from the factory pre-installed.




Q: You say Win7 has too many problems? Such as?

A: My research included Google, computer magazines, and several of my friends who have Windows 7.




There are two guaranteed rules of success: First, never tell everything you know.

 

[kjv1611]

Of course, the choice is yours. Sure there are some bad reviews out there, but most of the "press" is good, rather than bad. Are you sure you didn't get confused with Vista?

I'm sure you can get some opinions from other folks 'round here if you want, but I'll tell you strait away - (my opinion) - with a brand new computer, you'd JUST ABOUT have to be crazy to go with XP over Windows 7. Over Vista, I can maybe see it, but not Windows 7. I say JUST ABOUT, b/c there are a few reasons to go with XP - but those will be specialized reasons.

Windows 7 is better on these (at least) in my experience and reading - here in these forums, as well as other tech sources:
1. Installation - if you ever have to reinstall Windows, you'll appreciate the differences there.

2. New hardware support - you'll be hard pressed within just another year or two to find XP drivers for new hardware, b/c Windows 7 has been such a hit - sure some will still support XP, but within a couple years, it'll finally go the way of Win98 for instance.

3. Security - out of the box, Windows 7 is more secure than Windows XP based on what is included, as well as the very architecture it's built on. Not saying you're secure just by having Windows 7, mind you, just better than XP.

4. Better usage of modern hardware - if you got a system with an SSD for the operating system instead of standard hard drive, you'd FAR be better off with Windows 7. Also, along those lines, b/c of some changes coming down the pipe with modern hardware, you could actually cause damage to your system, or at least not get the most out of your hardware if you load XP on it... I don't know that there is any hardware available to date (other than SSDs) that cause such, but from what I read, that is VERY soon coming - not all of course, but some.


Here's another thing you could do if you wanted to (sounds like it doesn't matter, you've made up your mind) - you can try Windows 7 for free from their website. Then if you don't like it, stick to XP by all means. Eventually, however, you're gonna have to change - to a more modern Windows OS, or else to Linux or Mac (for the most part).

I remember the same thing people saying about Windows 98 vs Windows XP. A relative of mine, whom I greatly respect when it comes to technology, did not ever want to upgrade from Windows 98 to Windows XP. He said that XP took too much control out of your hands, and he just couldn't get used to the new menus and such. Well, his system crashed eventually, and he bit the bullet, got XP. And suprise, he was very happy with it. Since that time, he's replaced that system with an out of the box Vista system, and he's been happy there.

Anyway, let us know whatever works out. I just don't want you making a decision now that a year or two from now you wish you never made, and end up dropping an additional $500 to $1,000 on a new system again.

 

[judgehopkins]

I would love to use Linux.


The first person who figures out how to deGeekify it for the huddled masses will become a gazillionaire.

There are two guaranteed rules of success: First, never tell everything you know.

 

[kjv1611]

Well, Linux, I found, is actually just fine for non-Geeks IF they don't have any specific needs.

So, for the person who only surfs the web, reads email, types up basic documents, spreadsheets, etc, then it's not a big difference. There isn't much available there as far as security goes, but it doesn't generally need as much as Windows-based machines either.. for now.

I once had a lady running Linux on an older machine who is somewhat elderly - I think around 70 - and she was just slightly more technically adept than a rock. Anyway, she did fine with it, other than the interface being slightly different than she was used to. But in the end, that machine got fried by a thunderstorm or something, and we put together another with Windows instead. I think the only reason we went back to Windows for her was that we ran into issues with the all-in-one driver for her HP printer. However, I think that's got a lot better in just the past year or so (from what I've read online).

Anyway, we hope your decision works out for your best, regardless of what you go with.

 

[BadBigBen]

KJV,

There isn't much available there as far as security goes,

it already comes with it from the onset... it has build in Firewall that is way better then the one from MS and even some commercial apps... you always use a non-admin account, to install stuff you always need the roots password, etc....

Judge,

like KJV says, the choice is yours, but I've been running W7 (64bit) now for more than 1/2 year, and the only problem I encountered was one Game did not behave properly (it crashed at odd moments) but is now functioning flawless (online update)...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"