Windows XP won't shut down

[Ron Hirsch]

I hvae a friend with a machine running Windows XP Home, and the machine has
developed a strange characteristic. When going through the usual steps to
shut down, the desktop just sits there. After a few minutes, the screen
reaches the next Windows screen, showing the logo, and which reads "Shutting
Down".

That's it. It stays that way indefinitely. He's logged on as the owner.

Any ideas on this?

Is it possible that there's some spyware, malware, or other stuff that's
involved here?

I'm not sure that he has SP2 installed, but I could check on that if needed.

Thanks for any help.

Ron Hirsch

[Malke]

Ron Hirsch wrote:

> I hvae a friend with a machine running Windows XP Home, and the
> machine has developed a strange characteristic. When going through the
> usual steps to shut down, the desktop just sits there. After a few
> minutes, the screen reaches the next Windows screen, showing the logo,
> and which reads "Shutting Down".
>
> That's it. It stays that way indefinitely. He's logged on as the
> owner.
>
> Any ideas on this?
>
> Is it possible that there's some spyware, malware, or other stuff
> that's involved here?
>
> I'm not sure that he has SP2 installed, but I could check on that if
> needed.

Here is a link to an excellent shutdown troubleshooter:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

Most definitely malware can cause these problems. With shutdown
problems, usually some program and/or process is refusing to exit
gracefully. Quite often the culprit is malware. As a matter of course
your friend should scan with a current version (not earlier than 2004)
antivirus using updated definitions. S/He should do the scan in Safe
Mode. S/He should also be scanning with antispyware tools such as
Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy regularly. Get those free tools
from www.majorgeeks.com, install them, update them, and scan in Safe
Mode.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
www.elephantboycomputers.com
In Memoriam - MVP Alex Nichol
The world is diminished without him.