Takes too long to turn off........................

Ray Anderson · Post by **Ray Anderson** » 11 May 2012 11:34 am

Help please! For about a year now, when I turn my computer off....it takes about 10 minutes to do so. I have a Dell Inspiron 8600 laptop, running Windows XP Pro. When I click my browser off... as soon as I click it off, it starts loading something(the little hourglass appears) and will do this for 5 to 8 minutes and then the "turn off" window appears, after I click on that the Windows is shutting down appears (saving your settings) and will do this for about the same length of time. This is very annoying and bothersome. I don't know if this something I've done inadvertinly or if I have another issue. Everything works fine but this is driving me "nuts". Can someone help me figure this out, Please.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 11 May 2012 12:12 pm

My Dell Inspiron with Vista takes a long time too. At least 5 minutes, maybe 10 - I don't know. Never timed it. Very frustrating, especially if I have to restart. I can click restart, go on vacation and be back just in time to see it finally finish re-booting (also takes forever to boot up, maybe 3 - 4 minutes).

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 11 May 2012 2:55 pm

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del), click on the Processes tab, and watch to see the processes disappear during the shutoff phase. The last ones lingering in the list will probably pertain to whatever is going on during these extended shutdowns.

It could even be your onboard security program running a scan during shutdown. Investigate the settings to see if this is so.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 11 May 2012 3:52 pm

Well, mine only took about 3 minutes to shut down today (used a stopwatch), but it seems longer at other times. Booting up is a bigger problem for me.

Jim Priebe · Post by **Jim Priebe** » 13 May 2012 9:16 pm

This is a common problem and happens to all PC's especially those on Windows XP over time.
Unfortunately many of these tasks and services are more deeply embedded than just watching the task manager will show and XP is not good/fast at releasing some processes and resources.
The best fix I can recommend is to load one of the small utilities that specifically does that cleanup job for you and removes references to these (sometimes orphaned) processes as well as removing other redundant residue. This is safer than the average person trying to manually fix it.
Try CC Cleaner or System Boost Elite or ToolWiz Care or TweakNow Power Pack or Ashampoo Win Optimiser 2012 - this last one I use all the time. These are usually free downloads (unless you want the very latest version), are simple to work and mostly will do it for you with one click. You will find these by searching on the Web or an most free? DVD's on Computer Magazines(What a bunch of titles ! and there are plenty more too that other forumites probably use.)