Why does my PC keep taking longer and longer to shut down?

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  • AmateurFlix
    Confirmed User
    • Jul 2004
    • 7762

    #1

    Why does my PC keep taking longer and longer to shut down?

    It's running Windows XP, I had to do a complete OS reinstall a couple months ago and it was pretty quick at first, but for the past week or so it seems like it's taking longer to turn off each time.

    It did this with my prior installation as well, until it got the point where I would wait 2-3 minutes for it to shut down.

    It seems to be booting up quickly enough though.
  • wdsguy
    Ryde or Die
    • Dec 2002
    • 19568

    #2
    check for spyware.

    Comment

    • GatorB
      The Demon & 12clicks
      • Oct 2001
      • 18208

      #3
      defrag. Do you ever get rid of your temp files?

      Comment

      • sweetgirl2006
        Confirmed User
        • May 2006
        • 1194

        #4
        Have you done and disk defragmation, check for spyware and get rid of temp files that might be in your computer.



        Comment

        • rowan
          Too lazy to set a custom title
          • Mar 2002
          • 17393

          #5
          How many plugins and gadgets do you have running? Does it ever complain that a program isn't responding when you try to shut down?

          My SATA monitoring app sometimes goes AWOL, at shutdown XP gives me 10 seconds to click on "end now" and then just waits anyway if I don't. Not sure what the point of that is, sometimes I come back 6 hours later to find the PC still powered on with the close program dialog box up.

          Comment

          • rowan
            Too lazy to set a custom title
            • Mar 2002
            • 17393

            #6
            Also is there a lot of HD activity while it's shutting down or is it like it is waiting for something?

            Comment

            • AmateurFlix
              Confirmed User
              • Jul 2004
              • 7762

              #7
              Hmm, ok I always thought that setting the 'history' in IE to only one day would delete all the temp files after one day, but now that I'm doing that manually and listening to the HD grind away, I guess it doesn't...

              Shouldn't be any spyware on here, I have Norton Antivirus running and let it update automatically & scan frequently. Not to say that something couldn't have slipped past it that it doesn't detect.

              I do have a copy of disckeeper I could install for defrag, which I haven't been using either.

              Thanks for the tips.

              Comment

              • AmateurFlix
                Confirmed User
                • Jul 2004
                • 7762

                #8
                Originally posted by rowan
                How many plugins and gadgets do you have running?
                not many. two external HD and two printers. nothing out of the ordinary.

                Does it ever complain that a program isn't responding when you try to shut down?

                My SATA monitoring app sometimes goes AWOL, at shutdown XP gives me 10 seconds to click on "end now" and then just waits anyway if I don't. Not sure what the point of that is, sometimes I come back 6 hours later to find the PC still powered on with the close program dialog box up.
                I used to get that all the time prior to doing the OS reinstall a couple months ago. It hasn't been doing it since then though.

                Comment

                • AmateurFlix
                  Confirmed User
                  • Jul 2004
                  • 7762

                  #9
                  Originally posted by rowan
                  Also is there a lot of HD activity while it's shutting down or is it like it is waiting for something?
                  well it usually seems like it's just waiting for something. once in a while there will be a very short burst of activity but not for very long.

                  Comment

                  • madawgz
                    8.8.8.8
                    • Mar 2006
                    • 30509

                    #10
                    yeah scan your computer man!
                    TAEMDLRMSKRJIXMRLSMRJ.

                    Comment

                    • rowan
                      Too lazy to set a custom title
                      • Mar 2002
                      • 17393

                      #11
                      Originally posted by AmateurFlix
                      well it usually seems like it's just waiting for something. once in a while there will be a very short burst of activity but not for very long.
                      You could always try loading Windows Task Manager (ctrl-alt-del on XP) and try to figure out which process is causing the delay at shutdown - if you're lucky it may stick out and show a high CPU load...

                      Comment

                      • GatorB
                        The Demon & 12clicks
                        • Oct 2001
                        • 18208

                        #12
                        Originally posted by AmateurFlix
                        Hmm, ok I always thought that setting the 'history' in IE to only one day would delete all the temp files after one day, but now that I'm doing that manually and listening to the HD grind away, I guess it doesn't...
                        No deleteing history doesn't do that.

                        Shouldn't be any spyware on here, I have Norton Antivirus running and let it update automatically & scan frequently. Not to say that something couldn't have slipped past it that it doesn't detect.
                        Porbally not an issue. But never assume ONE anti-spyware program is enough. Nothing ctaches everything. Download the free version of Ad-Aware. And run that about once a week.

                        I do have a copy of disckeeper I could install for defrag, which I haven't been using either.

                        Thanks for the tips.
                        You could defrag right from windows.

                        Control Pannel-Performance & Maintenence-Rearrange items on your hard disk

                        Seems like you haven't defragged yet and I bet this is the main problem.

                        Also how much shit do you have in your start-up? Everything you start-up has to be shut down. Also instead of shutting down completely try using "stand by". Sometimes you have to shut down completely in certain circumstances, but if your just getting off the computer for awhile just use the "stand by" mode.
                        Last edited by GatorB; 06-15-2006, 12:57 PM.

                        Comment

                        • rowan
                          Too lazy to set a custom title
                          • Mar 2002
                          • 17393

                          #13
                          Originally posted by GatorB
                          You could defrag right from windows.

                          Control Pannel-Performance & Maintenence-Rearrange items on your hard disk
                          You can also do it like this...

                          Start->My Computer->Right click on HD->Properties->Tools->Defragmentation

                          If the HD isn't thrashing at shutdown then I doubt it's a fragmentation issue anyway.

                          Comment

                          • edgeprod
                            Permanently Gone
                            • Mar 2004
                            • 10019

                            #14
                            I think I know where we can lay the blame:

                            George W. Bush

                            No lie.

                            Comment

                            • wjxxx
                              So Fucking Banned
                              • Feb 2005
                              • 4448

                              #15
                              because Windows sucks

                              Comment

                              • directfiesta
                                Too lazy to set a custom title
                                • Oct 2002
                                • 30242

                                #16
                                Originally posted by rowan
                                How many plugins and gadgets do you have running?
                                Originally posted by AmateurFlix
                                not many. two external HD and two printers. nothing out of the ordinary.
                                LOL

                                That was funny ....

                                A liile help:

                                Fast Shut Down Icon in XP

                                Buried deep inside Windows XP lurks a little-known program called shutdown that shuts down your system in a very fast ? but orderly ? way.

                                Here's how to put an icon on your desktop that'll shut down your machine quickly:

                                1. Right-click any empty location on your desktop.

                                2. Click New, Shortcut.

                                The Create Shortcut Wizard appears.

                                3. In the Type the Location of the Item box, type shutdown -s -t 0.

                                It's important that you put spaces before each hyphen, that you have no spaces after each hyphen, and that you use a zero at the end.
                                I know that Asspimple is stoopid ... As he says, it is a FACT !

                                But I can't figure out how he can breathe or type , at the same time ....

                                Comment

                                • Bro Media - BANNED FOR LIFE
                                  MOBILE PORN: IMOBILEPORN
                                  • Jan 2004
                                  • 16502

                                  #17
                                  who shuts their computer down anyway? i only restart mine when installing/uninstalling shit... other then that, its on 24/7/365

                                  Comment

                                  • AmateurFlix
                                    Confirmed User
                                    • Jul 2004
                                    • 7762

                                    #18
                                    Originally posted by directfiesta
                                    LOL

                                    That was funny ....
                                    heh, well I guess I'm comparing it to when I had twin external CD burners, an external DVD burner and an extrenal HD hooked up. with 3 printers. I didn't always just do affiliate sales you know

                                    thanks for the info, that's the first I've heard of it

                                    Comment

                                    • edgeprod
                                      Permanently Gone
                                      • Mar 2004
                                      • 10019

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by LOL :D
                                      who shuts their computer down anyway? i only restart mine when installing/uninstalling shit... other then that, its on 24/7/365
                                      Eh, I run OS X on my Mac, and Linux on my PC -- I only boot Windows to play games.

                                      So, in that case, I don't reboot/shut down much myself.

                                      Comment

                                      • Kre8t0r
                                        Confirmed User
                                        • Jan 2003
                                        • 1304

                                        #20
                                        Originally posted by LOL :D
                                        who shuts their computer down anyway? i only restart mine when installing/uninstalling shit... other then that, its on 24/7/365
                                        I'm using your computer to send out my damcash spam.. I really wish you would take this advise as it's quite annoying when you shut down.

                                        Comment

                                        • Spunky
                                          I need a beer
                                          • Jun 2002
                                          • 133978

                                          #21
                                          I always shut down after use..you probably have many programs running in the background and takes awhile to shut them down

                                          Comment

                                          • AmateurFlix
                                            Confirmed User
                                            • Jul 2004
                                            • 7762

                                            #22
                                            I think it's ok now. just had a shitload of temp files I didn't realize were there, drives needed defragged, no spyware though.

                                            Comment

                                            • johnnyhey
                                              Confirmed User
                                              • Jan 2004
                                              • 1172

                                              #23
                                              there's a program running that won't shut down. you should download a program to see what EXACTLY is running on your machine at all times. or use ctrl+alt+del to see what's running.
                                              CandyDreams.com



                                              shooter for hire

                                              info[at]candydreams.com
                                              ICQ:96563638
                                              AIM: johnnyhey

                                              Comment

                                              • CaptainWolfy
                                                Playa
                                                • Dec 2005
                                                • 8439

                                                #24
                                                spyware!

                                                Comment

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