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Why does my PC take so long to shut down? How to fix it?
Hi, I was hoping you could help me. My home computer running
Windows XP is having a really hard time shutting down. The
little hourglass just keeps displaying and the message that
Windows is shutting down is displayed. I used to be able to
click the turn off button and it would shut down in maybe 10
seconds. Now it can takes a long, long time for Windows to
shut down. Why is this happening? And is there any way I can
help my system speed up the shutdown time? Thank you.
--Submitted by Victoria W.
Here are some featured member answers to get you started, but
please do read up on all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this member's question.
?Shutdown Problems? --Submitted by Ankit B.
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=305686&messageID=2842679#2842679
?Why does my computer take so long to shut down.? --Submitted by Ancient-One
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=305686&messageID=2840174#2840174
?Why Shutdown is slow? --Submitted by Ancient-One
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=305686&messageID=2840872#2840872
?Long shutdown times.? --Submitted by Alain Martel1
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=305686&messageID=2842063#2842063
If you have an additional advice for Victoria, please click on the reply link and submit it. Please be as detailed as possible in your advice. Thanks!
Discussion is locked
31 - 60 of 262 Posts
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Hi Victoria, I did this for a friend of mine on her computer and it straightened things up and made her computer boot much faster. Her computer was freezing on the "saving settings". It is something that, if it doesn't work, you can easily change back.
Remove the Welcome Screen
If you dont want to use "Fast User Switching", you may want to disable the Welcome Screen. You must be logged in as an Administrator to do this. Note:To do this follow the directions below:
1) Click on Start
2) Click on Control Panel
3) Double-click on User Accounts
4) Click on "Change the way users log on or off"
5) Uncheck "Use the Welcome Screen" (note: this will also disable "Fast User Switching")
6) Click on Apply Options
7) Close the User Accounts window and the Control Panel
The next time you reboot your computer, the classic login prompt will be used
What if I dont want the Welcome Screen OR the classic prompt? Can I disable both?
To Login automatically to a user account, follow the instructions below:
1) Click on Run
2) Type in the following command and click OK
control userpasswords2
3) Highlight the user you want to log into automatically, then uncheck the box for
"Users must enter a username and password to use this computer"
4) Click on Apply and you'll be asked to verify the username and password to log in automatically
5) Click OK and the next time you restart your computer, you'll automatically be logged in without having the classic prompt or Welcome Screen.
I've also heard that Roxio 5 creates problems. There is a patch on the Roxio site but I haven't had any experience with it.
Hope this helps.
Nanny
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All superusers can skip this post. This is the 'dumb' version of how to fix your machine for people like me who don't know a thing about comptuers, except how to use the applications. Below are three programs that I have used that have fixed and maintained my system so that it runs smoothly. Once again, these are for people like me who don't know (and don't care to know) how to repair and tweak the operating system.
The first utility is called Crap Cleaner (CC). It is TRULY free and will clean up your registry and hard drive. The same folks also have come out with an easy to use and free defragmenter called Defraggler.
It is a very nice program, but the weakest of the three in terms of overall repair/fixing.
http://www.ccleaner.com/
The second, and more thorough, is made by IoBit and is called Advanced Windows Care personal edition. It is free for personal use. There are no features to turn on or off here but it is a better registry cleaner and error corrector than CC. This company also makes a free for personal use defragmenter--I haven't tried it yet. Anyway, this one seems to work nearly as well as the last option below and is free for personal use. This is the one I would start with as it is free and does an excellent job of fixing these kinds of problems in Windows.
http://www.iobit.com/advancedwindowscareper.html?Str=download
The final contender is Tune Up Utilities 2008. It has many features including a defragmenter and system optimizer. It has a fully functional demo version that will both diagnose and make repairs. The full version is $39.95 (the 'listed' price is always $49.95, but the program seems to be on a perennial discount....)
http://www.tune-up.com/products/tuneup-utilities
In my hands, the IoBit product seems to work every bit as well as the Tune Up product, but has fewer features and runs all of its checks and fixes automatically. If you want to pick and choose, the Tune Up Utilities works the best. Although these may not be the 'ultimate' programs to fix your computer they do prevent the need of loading and running many separate programs, do not require a large knowledge of the underpinnings of Windows, and most importantly fix Windows settings without destroying your machine. The last point is important when tweaking some of the 'hidden' Windows settings--you want to fix things without crashing your computer.
Hope this works.
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There could be several answeres to this, however, I highly suspect this one. At least try this one first, I'm relatively certain it will solve the majority of your problems. In shutting down, you computer must first close all running programs, Then, if your computer is loaded with many hundreds of junk files, it must go through them all also. The more junk you have on it, the longer it takes to shut down.
What is considered junk? It is hundreds and hundreds of files you problably have left on your computer that have built up so large, your computer must go through ALL of them before shutting down so that is what is taking so long.
Junk files are:
1. Temp Files,
2. Internet files,
3. Cookies, etc.
To give you an example. In checking my junk files nightly (and cleaning) just before shutting down, in just one day of surfing the net, you could have as many as 10 MB - in JUST ONE DAY!. I once found I had 59 MB in just one day. Multiply this by say -- 30 days - and you can see why a computer would slow to a crawl to shut down.
I too had this problem before a close friend told me about the two FREE programs that solved my problem. First, let me say my computer was taking as much as a full minute and a half then. The program that I was mentioning that solved my problem completely (And FREE) is "CCCleaner" - Now, I run it every evening before shutting down and my computer now regularly shuts down in 7 seconds. Just make certain you ONLY check the boxes on the left side to delete "Cookies" - "Temp files" and Internet "files", Nothing more.
The other thing that could cause your problem is having your registry files all screwed up. The OTHER FREE program I have been useing for that is "Advanced WindwsCare2 Personal" It will keep your Regisrty clean AND optimized perfectly. very simple and easy to use. BOTH of these programs I have been running for over a year now, and I swear by both of them. By the way, both of these programs are rated highly.
You can find more info on them by Googling them. OH! Almost forgot, I'm running XP Pro. I believe both of these programs are also "Vista" compatible.
Hope this helps.
Good luck,
Ancient-One
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I looked at both of the "FREE" software mentioned - neither one are free - so that negates everything else that was said.
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Hi Free my poor tired rearend. The ancient one was correct and gave good simple advice. It depends which version you downloaded but there is a personal FREE edition of both ccleaner and Advanced windows care both of which are excellent and do as said.
Cheers
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I get concerned about deleting cookies.. The huge majority are worthless.. but when I run something (AdAware specifically) I lose all of my automatic sign ins to a lot of web sites and frankly I have no way of remembering all of them at this point. Is there anything within these programs that allow me to specify what kind of cookies to delete or is it all or nothing?
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Hello jschneiter. Open up CCleaner and click on options on the left hand side, then click on cookies. You'll get two boxes, "Cookies to Delete" and "Cookies to Save". Just click on the cookie you want to highlight it and then use the arrow keys to move them from one box to another.
HTH
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If you have automatic sign-ins, there are ways that someone could get those. By far better is to have a nifty little program that I have on my PC, SmartPhone, and a thumb drive that "remembers" ALL my data: passwords, info for filling out forms (address, pone, etc.), credit card numbers, bank account. The info is AES encrypted (up to 256 bits, depending on the length of your Master Password) and without the Master Password, nobody can get into it, I don't care what any smart-aleck will tell you. Using the USB drive I can walk up to anyone's computer, plug it in and I can log-in everywhere and fill out forms. Using my phone I can check my bank account, or any other protected site. I couldn't live without it. There is a FREE version, but I bought the Pro for the extra features. The best money I ever spent. The PC version works with Internet Explorer, AOL/MSN, Firefox. Not Opera or Safari. The mobile (RoboForm2Go) version works with Windows Mobile and Palm OSs. http://www.roboform.com/
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This program is good for the first 10 Log-ins, afer that you have to pay. But it is worth every penny. It can also save all the Log-In info to a file and you can back it up to a CD.
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The ancient one is correct. I have both free editions and use them regularly.
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I downloaded both programs suggusted. After running the scan , the programs let you do nothing unless you want to pay for them. Secondly, I had to completely take the programs back off my computer just to get the internet to work correctly.
At least that was the experience I got about 20 minutes ago.
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I have been using the totally free version of CCleaner for several years now (at least 3 or 4 point releases). It does NOT ask you to pay a thing and it works fine. I downloaded it & its updates from FileHippo.
Yes there is a 'pay' version. I've never tried it, but that version may have a trial period and then hound you.
The free version is just that ... Free & functional.
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While there is a free version of RegCure available, the free version appears to me not to provide much registry cleaning, with regards to the total amount of problems it claims that it finds during a scan. I found (and have been using) Eusing Free Registry Cleaner. They do encourage a donation but it's not required. It appears you have the full version if you donate or not.
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I bought "REGCURE" a couple of years ago and dumped it because it created more problems than it cured. Every time I used it, some of my programs wouldn't work and I'd have to uninstall and reinstall them. If you mess with your registry, you're asking for trouble!!! I also have programs that need certain cookies to operate properly. So now I delete my cookies but do it manually to save the ones I know I need. No big deal.
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Stahu,
You are right, some register cleaners don't properly look for the folders and applications installed on the hard drive so they think that the path or link on the register is dead causing regcure to delete a live entry and destroying the launch of your application.
CCleaner is Free and well design, I have use it for 3 years and never had a problem.
You can donate anything you want to the application writer but is not forcefully.
In addition, Ccleaner has a section specific to tell it what cookies you want to keep and which one you don't.
In reality the control of cookies, is already within your hands.
IE has a section, under security Tab, right there you can choose which sites you want to allow for cookies, so if a pc cleaner cleans all of your cookies IE already has permission to recreate them when you visit that site again.
The reason why some sites absolutely request cookies to be on is because they want to track you.
I understand that if you purchase online or access a site where you need to log on, it needs to temporarily deposit the cookie.
By you spefying which sites are allowed, you will never have the problem that a cookies is not availabe.
The cookie setting could be set to
Accept - first party cookies
Accept - Third party cookies
Always accept temporari cookies.
Turn all these to Block
And then add the sites you need to the list, that way you are protecting yourself from Tracking cookies, and really from sites that are just forcing it on you.
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Can someone send me the link for the free version??? When I google it, I get a page that offers it for sale. The free version is only free if I try other products like FTD, Citibank, etc. Did you get that too?
Please send me the link to the free version.
Would be grateful.
Thanks
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go to www.iobit.com and look under products if their front webpage is not advertising the free version.
Or Cnet download and seart the name in the download area only.
Word of Warning,
While Advance W Care is simple to use and scans all areas that could potentially be diminishing the speed of your pc.
It tends to be very poor in explaining why it wants to make changes to your pc. In one instance for example, it wanted to delete one of my network settings because there was no entry in it, however when I allowed it, it diminish the speed of my internet connection.
At the end of the scan, you have the option to look at what it will change.
If you decide to proceed with the changes, it makes a backup, this is erroneous, it just makes a restore point.
You have to go into settings to change how many points you would like the applications to save.
But to use this kind of restore points did not work for me.
I am waiting for Ver. 3 which is also free.
My recommendations would be
Ccleaner - to clean and maintan the register
Revo Uninstaller - to unstall applications properly.
and to select or deselect applications that run at startup
Glary's Utilities, also to clean and maintain the register.
Sometimes, not very often Glary will find something Ccleaner missed.
I stope using Adv. W. Care for many problems that cause to my laoptop.
Good luk.
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Try going to Piriform.com that is the HOME site for CCleaner and Defraggler (pretty good defragmenter). It may redirect you to either CNET or FileHIPPO.com to download both are safe.
I am not familiar with the other program mentioned but I use GLARY utilities which has internet tracks eraser, regisrty cleaner, spyware remover(not the best), shortcut fixer, and a TEMP FILES CLEANER. They offer free updates as they come available. The maintenance program runs as a single operation under a tab called surprisingly "1-CLICK Maintenance". It's a scan that runs through multiple steps fast I mean like 5 to 8 minutes tops. Cleans all those areas that can get bogged down while surfing the WEB. I have tried many other programs and none have preformed as well as Glary for the price.
Another way to limit the clutter you pick up while surfing is to limit who gets to put cookies on your computer. Go to internet explorer / tools /options/ select privacy tab / select advanced / check the box that says "override automatic cookie handling" and click (to fill) boxes that say "Prompt"/ click ok your done. To allow particular sites youtrust and visit regularly follow above instructions until you reach "advanced" and select "sites" instead. Here you can decide which sites you allow to place cookies on your system. You will seem to get prompted often at first unitl you filter out the blocked and allowed sites. This also servers to show you just how much junk is out there.
Hope some of this helps!!
Jestferfun
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Hello!
I don't know where you downloaded CCleaner, because I can assure you that it IS free!
I've been using it for years, from when it was called "Crap Cleaner" and it does work, and work very well. If I recall correctly, there is a version payable, but I've never used it, the version I use is FREE with a request for "Donations".
So far as a slow shutdown is concerned, I had a similar problem many years ago, and I found out, by accident more than design, that I had an unauthorised entry in my "User Accounts".
I ran AVG Free Rootkits detector (you can Google it) and the problem was solved.
There are also various "startup" programmes, also free, which allow you to switch off, or delay startup of, programmes which would normally start up with your PC, which you probably never use, or only use rarely, and these programmes (like printer - word and others) have to be closed before the PC can shut down. Try the Anti root kit, and download a free delay starter (from R2 Studios for example). Use your "disk cleanup" programme regularly, and try deleting "all but the last backup points" (if your PC is working OK apart from the shutdown problem) - after doing all this, analyze your disk, using "defragmenter" programme, and defragment, if necessary, although it doesn't harm to defrag anyway!
Once it's all done, reboot, and run your AV scan, together with an Spyware detection programme (such as AVG Free which now does both at the same time - and for free.)
After all that - check your C disk for volume/space gained, and - if you've NEVER done this before, be prepared for a wonderful agreeable surprise at the amount of space you've regained....!
I'm anything but a "geek" or "guru" but even I was able to do all of these things with no particular problem!
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All you have to do to get CCleaner installed is to go to Google.com and in the search bar type in "Free CCleaner Download" and it will take you to several search results and choose the BEST website or what I call a very Well Known site and download the free version of CCleaner! There you have it.
Phil
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The CCleaner program is FREE, use the link below and when the website is open click on top right hand conner where it says "Download Latest Version" 2.79MB. It will open another page and "File Download window should pop-up". Then click on save and save it to one of your folders and then open that folder to execute the install program. Or you can just click Run and it will install from the website.
THIS PROGRAM IS 100% FREE AND NO SPAMS.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
Good Luck
Russ
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I have been using both programs for a few years and they both have Free versions. They also will update Free! A program called CleanUp is also Free and can probably be found on Download.com!
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Go to Iobit.com to download the free programs I also swear by these free programs, keeps everything running smoothly.
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You must have downloaded the wrong ones because I've been using them for a few years and never had to pay anything!!!!!!!!
here are the links:
http://www.iobit.com/spreadtheword.html for Advanced Windows Care
----------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.ccleaner.com/download/
Although this software is free please donate to help support the software and site costs.
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Look again, cc cleaner and advanced windows care 2 personal are both free.
I've used cc cleaner on two computers one with XP the newer one with Vista.
I just downloaded advanced and ran it, it does a nice job of cleaning everything up.
I then rebooted the system to make sure everything worked before responding to your post
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I have been using crap cleaner longer than I can remember and on more computers than I can count FREE my friend rearend. If you cant navigate it I put the address here for you.
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I've been using CCleaner for years, and completely agree with the posting. It is indeed freely available from www.ccleaner.com/ and various free download sites. Why do you think it is not free?
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