Hello all,

I am operating a PIII 550 with XP SP2.

All programs run fine, but when I want to shut down the system....the computer hangs up and will not shut down by itself.

I hear the hard drive spin down, but then nothing happens. I have to press re-start to continue.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Lee

Hi there Lee and WELCOME to the forums.

First question.
How long do you leave it to see if it will close?

Second question
If you have just installed SP2 have you checked to see how UPDATES are confugured?
SP2 security centre has three settings and one of them is to download the updates and install them when you close the computer down. Depepnding on the number and size of the total updated this could take a while.

To check and see exactly how it is set go to CONTROL PANEL and selelct SECURITY CENTRE. Next select AUTO UPDATES to see how it is set.

I have sounds set for the "Open Program" [beep] & "Close Program" [whoosh] events.

I'm using Win98.
Normally when closing down I hear the whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of closing programs [I can count how many if I'm interested, and keep the volume low so it's not annoying.]
Sometimes [seldom] when I try to close down, my PC sits at the Windows splash screen doing nothing.
If I blip "Ctrl+Alt+Del", sometimes I hear the "whoosh" of a program closing and then shut-down proceeds normally. [I assume that some program was "not responding" so Windows couldn't close it and shut-down had therefore halted.]
Other times when I use "Ctrl+Alt+Del" once and nothing happens, so I do it again and a screen comes up saying that a program is not responding, so I "end task" and shut down then proceeds.

Perhaps, before you try to shut down you should use "Ctrl+Alt+Del" [twice] to see if any program is "not responding" and close that down BEFORE attempting to shut down.
If this is happening you should investigate the troublesome program. Perhaps uninstall & reinstall it.