Laptop won't turn off
 

Anyone know what to do with a laptop that won't turn off? It's a Dell Inspiron running XP home version. I have adaware running.

Something won't let the machine won't turn off or restart after it's been on for 30 min. or more.

Have you recently updated Windows? Sounds like an ACPI or other power system driver issue.

I have it set to automatically do the windows updates. Is there something else to do?

I'm not clear on "won't shut off" means.

You go to start > shutdown > shut off or whatnot, and then what happens?

What happens when you open a console (run CMD), and type in
It should reboot the machine.

Also try this one to shut down the machine, it's a different program:

I'm not having problems, but hey, thanks for that! Now for some evil batch fun with siblings :-P

MikeSty, when I do that it just ignores it, as if there is some evil genie inside saying oh no you don't.

Something in the registry?
Do you have full rights?

press and hold the power button for 5 seconds. Let us know if that works.

Pressing and holding the power button works to shut it off. It just won't allow me to shut down the proper way through the start menu.

Is the computer getting anywhere in the shutdown process? Is it actually logging the user off and displaying the "shutdown" message, or is the computer still logged into the desktop? If it's the latter, I would say you have a bum program in memory and to take a look in that direction.

^ What Trache said. something's stopping your system from shutting down. Close stuff one at a time until you can shut down. Then you've found your culprit.

Does it shut down after a safe boot? (f8 repeatedly until menu appears, select "safe" and continue) If it works then something non-Microsoft is likely messing with you.

Are you confident in your virus status? What do you use?

With the system idle how busy is your processor as viewed from task manager?

What version of XP? Early XP (pre sp1) had issues with windows\system32\winlogon losing its mind.

Do you recall changing ACPI or other power related settings in the BIOS around the time this began?

Trache, the log off, shut down process doesn't go anywhere. It's got to be a program. I'll try to shut down some of the processes in the windows task manager and see what happens.

I hope it's not the registry I haven't done anything with that. I'm pretty sure I don't have any virus problems. It is running windows XP home, and the machine was purchased new in 05.

It shuts down fine if it's only been on 10-15 minutes, if that gives anyone any clues.

You may want to get a program called Process Explorer from SysInternals.com . It's a first rate program that will tell you everything that is loaded, including "hidden" programs as well as any DLLs or other files that is attached to the running processes.

You can even have it replace your Windows Task Manager, as it's superior to its Microsoft counter-part.