Computer newbies forum: Back Ground Program still Running

Try the "Processes" tab of the Task Manager. That should never be empty.

Refresh my memory please. I am using Windows 7 and I have seen this myself on occasion. The display darkens considerably and this message appears on the darkened background.

But doesn't Windows 7 say what program it is waiting to close? I thought it did but as it hasn't happened to me in a while I cannot remember.

Also, if you just wait, does the 'shut-down' process close this program anyway and then shut down continues?

Something you could try. The next time you intend to shutdown, make a note of the time, (hours and minutes). Then shut down. Then reboot Windows and head over to the Event Viewer and search for any software or system events that are taking a long time to close from that time you noted.

Event Viewer: Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer, then "Windows Logs" and Application and/or System.

I hope that helps.

Mark

As long as the shutdown progresses, you need not any further action on your part. It is already shutting down and will. If you've done any recent new h/w or s/w additions it maybe reflecting the new stuff and simply takes longer. Proving it doesn't actually hang or freeze for an excessive long time, leave it be. I found my own system will display at times such messages and continue to turn everything-OFF and allow the system to shutdown on its own, which it always does. Typical maint. should be applied like defragging, cleaning the temp. files., etc., to help reduce clutter, etc. as the process of shutting down is a basic general cleaning of sorts or placing itself in order before it truly shuts down.

tada -----Willy