Windows XP forum: Slow Windows Shutdown

Hibernate for fast shutdown.
Start - Turn off Computer - Hold on Shift Key and
Stand By will change to Hibernate - Click it for fast turn off.
cg

This problem can be caused by slow-running programs not shutting down in proper order. It can also be caused by background processes from spyware or keyloggers.

The first solution to try is to shut down using the Windows Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL). Select the Shutdown Menu.

If you have no other computer issues, this may solve the problem. Use the Task Manager for a day or two to shut down your computer. It will "re-teach" your system the proper way and order in which to shut down its programs.

If not, update all of your cleaning and protection software, then run them all and restart your system. But if all else fails, you can always just keep using the Task Manager to shut down.

Bill

Open REGEDIT. Click on Start/ Run and type ''regedit'' without quotes and click ''OK''... Navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\'
Highlight the 'WaitToKillAppTimeout' value.
Set it to '1000' (the default should be 20000).
Now highlight the 'HungAppTimeout' value
Set it to '1000' also.

The second part of this tip changes the same settings, this time for all users on the system.

Navigate to 'HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop'
Highlight the 'WaitToKillAppTimeout' value.
Set it to '1000' (the default should be 20000).
Now highlight the 'HungAppTimeout' value.
Set it to '1000' also.

In the third part of this tip, we will alter a second registry setting to decrease the amount of time Windows XP will wait before shutting down active services after receiving a shut down command.

Open REGEDIT and navigate to 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\'

Highlight the value 'WaitToKillServiceTimeout'

Change this value to '1000.'

This should help to considerably speed up the time windows XP takes to shut itself down

Auto kill tasks on shutdown

To allow Windows XP to close non-responsive applications automatically upon shutdown:

Open REGEDIT and navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop'

Highlight the value 'AutoEndTasks.'
Change the value to '1'

Also 'HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop'

Highlight the value 'AutoEndTasks.'
Change the value to '1'

XP will now be able to close hung applications without user input during the shutdown process.

Now you should be able to shutdown Windows in less than 15 seconds... I hope this help

I'm on Windows Xp Professional too, all registry keys I have posted are there. Make sure to double check or use the search option in the registry to get to them... EVERY SINGLE ONE IS THERE. If you need future help we can chat with yahoo. I'm online right now and I can take you to the registry step by step
My nickname is ralphy5002@yahoo.com IM there and I'll help you buddy

Hope this help

I said CHAT not e-mail sir. Also What makes you think that the e-mail adress I have posted there could bother me at al, lol. NO SIR IS NOT A MISTAKE, IT IS AN E_MAIL ADRESS!! Thank you. Please read before posting

Thanks again

I don't know what made you think I was treating you with actitude. I think you just missunderstod what I wrote. i was trying to help you out by spending some time with you and taking you to the right place. I guess you didn't find any key and I thought I could be helpful. Anyways, I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable with my post. I didn't mean to be rude...

I hope you understand me now. I mean well buddy...

I've been having a slow shutdown problem myself - it's a problem that's happened since I built the machine. Anyway, I tried the registry fix, and the first two shutdowns became fast - I was happy! Then virtually everyone after that has gone back to being slow, to the point I give up and restart. Always when nothing has been running, the shutdown is now fast (it was slow everywhere before), so somethings been fixed, but when I do any light gaming, or spend a few hours on the machine, it shutsdown slow again. I've tried all the standard fixes, and nothing really works. It's even odd how the hard disk activity just stops after "Windows is Shutting Down..." is reached, and then only activates again just before it finally powers off, some few minutes later.
It's really annoying me to have to restart all the time, so are the any further answers please?!!

Thanks @ yoni5002. It gives me big help but what i had notice in the first time is it does not shutdown qucikly for less than 15sec. After I did what you mentioned, my laptop still slow in shutting down. I tried to plug my HP-ipaqhw6965 in the craddle and MS Activesync activates. When I shut it down it is very quick. And when i unplug my ipaq it goes back again to slow shutdown. So i noticed that the Activesync ver4.2 is the one who is holding up the shutdown process for a long time. I uninstalled it and installed the latest ver.4.5 beta version. After that even i didn't plug my Ipaq, the PC shuts down in less than 15secs.

However, I noticed that when I worked in one program say in Word or Excel and I did not save then I shutdown the PC, Windows XP does not prompt me to stop and save my work instead it goes directly to shutdown process. It shows a window "Do you want to save this file?" but it vanish quickly and shutdown the Windows.
Should I restore the setting in the registry on the 3rd Part you had mentioned? Pls. adivise on how to rectify. Thank you

After following all of your instructions my computer still takes about 75 seconds to shut down.
No other problems with this system.
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Win XP
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It's not the issue on slow shutdown now. It is onhow to hold the shutdown process when I worked a file or group of files that needs to be saved. It should prompt hold so that I can save it.

I had that problem on one of my computers. If you check the windows error messages and it says something about trying to close a hive but the system is using it then you need to install this Hive Clean Up Utility from Microsoft. Here is the link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1b286e6d-8912-4e18-b570-42470e2f3582&DisplayLang=en