XPSP3 can't shutdown but seems not hanged

[zaccaz]

hi pals, for this particular xpsp3 machine (rather new, just a few months old) recently after displayed the message " windows is shutting down" and closed this message box, then it went into normal blue screen without any icon or message, only with mouse pointer, and the mouse pointer is smoothly movable and just keep in this stage "forever" (my longest patience is about 1hr), at this moment pressing num lock can turn on/off the num light, the hd light is flashing slowly & lightly (the light not as sharp as normal flashing)

can shutdown the machine by keep pressing the power button for a few seconds, after forced shutdown when restarting, it didn't prompt any message regarding not properly shutdown, it just start xp normally...

if booted into safe mode, then can shutdown the machine.

checked that no virus/spyware/etc, the user is not i.t. guru, & his account only with local power user & network configuration & backup operator groups, probably the user can't do too much harm to the os?

also tested that login as domain administrator or local administrator, both got the same shutdown problem

what else to check? how to fix? many thx!

 

[goombawaho]

Look at what is running on the machine before you shut it down using Process Explorer.

Then try killing off some of those processes (with Process Explorer) and then trying to shut down. If you kill off the "offending" process, the machine will shut down properly and you'll know what item needs to be addressed/updated/removed.

You'll have to do this multiple times to figure out which process is causing the hang.

Just to be sure it's not malware, have the computer scanned with MalwareByte's Anti-Malware. Should actually be the first thing you do. Humor us by scanning for malware.

 

[2ffat]

I've run into this with MS's new help program. In Task Manager it is named PExplorer. Manually stopping that process does the trick for me. You will find it under the Processes tab. If you order the processes by name it helps to find it.

The odd thing it doesn't always happen. Only under certain conditions.


James P. Cottingham
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[aich69]

Good advice above, worth a look at this too...

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

User Profile Hive Cleanup Service - I won't copy in here what you can read on the page itself but it has worked for me when seeing a similar issue.

I used to have a handle on life... but it broke. Cpt. Red Bull

 

[linney]

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Try it first by not checking either box (this will run it in a Read-only mode) to see if it flags any hard drive or file problems. If it does, restart it by ticking both boxes, and rerun it to allow it to attempt to fix any found problems.


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/kb/310560

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.


WINDOWS XP SHUTDOWN & RESTART TROUBLESHOOTING

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

 

[cmeagan656]

You could also check your event logs to see if anything is happening at shutdown.

Hope this helps.

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[zaccaz]

thx all buddies for the suggestion!

1. no pexplorer on that machine
2. installed user profile hive cleanup service but didn't help
3. chkdsk got no error
4. malwarebyte antimalware didn't report anything (as checked with spybot search & report before, sorry i didn't mention about this)
5. task manager list those process which looks normal to me

anyway i'll find the time to test with the computer for manually killing some tasks 1 by 1 to find the offending tasks

thx

 

[cmeagan656]

Did you check your event logs? Both the Application and System logs?

Hope this helps.

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Canadian members check out Tek-Tips in Canada for socializing, networking, and anything non-technical.

 

[linney]

As it it will shutdown correctly from Safe Mode, proceed with the isolation of troublesome applications via the MsConfig tool.

You should make the time to fix the problem, otherwise forcing the shutdown via continually powering off will only make matters worse.

Have you also tested with another user in Normal Mode?

 

[BadBigBen]

Troubleshooting Windows XP Shutdown Issues

http://www.theeldergeek.com/shutdown_issues_in_xp.htm

How to Speed Up Windows Shutdown

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/11/12/how-to-speed-up-windows-shutdown/

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"

 

[zaccaz]

for the interests of those who followed the case, eventually there is no fix for wxp, however after upgraded the machine to win7pro then no more shutdown issue ... WTF

 

[linney]

Thanks for the feedback, as far as that machine is concerned it was obviously time to confine XP to the history books.