neatnettricks

cyberdiva · Enlightened Poster Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 352

For some time now, my WinXP Pro desktop computer has often hung on shutdown. It would get to the "Windows is shutting down" screen and then just stay there. Each time, I've had to force a shutdown by pressing the on/off button. (I recently moved to Service Pack 3, but the problem also existed under SP2.)

I can't recall when this problem started--within the past few months, but certainly too far back to use System Restore. Also, the problem is not consistent. I'd say that about 65% of the time, the computer hangs, and 35% it shuts down normally. I've tried to see whether I could identify any software as the culprit, but I can't. I should add that I recently defragged my hard drive, and I run daily scans with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro and reasonably frequent scans with McAfee Anti-Virus, and they've turned up no problems.

I've looked at Event Viewer, and there are some consistent error messages, but I have no idea what to do about them, nor which if any explain the problem. They include the following:

1) The following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load: sptd

2) The Uninterruptible Power Supply service terminated with the following error: The UPS service is not configured correctly.
[I went into the UPS to see what configuration problems I could find, and I could find none. And as far as I could tell, it was working fine]

3) The SSPORT service failed to start due to the following error: The system cannot find the file specified.

4) Printer Corel Barista failed to initialize because a suitable Corel Barista driver could not be found.
[I do occasionally use WordPerfect 9, but I certainly do not have it start at startup.]

5) The UPS service is not configured correctly.
[See my comment for #2 above]

6) The description for Event ID ( 1 ) in Source ( m4301a ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: , Linksys Wireless-B USB Network Adapter v4.0 #3.
Data:
0000: 00 00 08 00 02 00 5e 00 ......^.
0008: 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 c0 .......À
0010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0028: ac 18 00 00 47 00 00 00 ¬...G...
[There are usually three of these messages, and I think they're identical. I have no idea what they mean. My Linksys Wireless network adapter seems to be working.]

For the most part, I don't understand the error messages, nor what to do about them. I tried going to the "explanations" from Microsoft, but while I can read English, French, Spanish, and a little German, I can't read Microsoft. Rolling Eyes

I also tried searching the Internet for help, but I found nothing really useful.

I'm hoping one of the very knowledgeable folks here at NNT may be able to help. Thanks in advance.

drmark · Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 1:22 pm Post subject:

Cybediva,

This could be a hundred things (well, maybe not a hundred) but I would suggest trying the easiest first. Download this small program from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1b286e6d-8912-4e18-b570-42470e2f3582&displaylang=en

It will run as a service but consumes very little memory. I have used it for a long time and it has sped up my shutdown time considerable. I have also heard that in most instances it solves the problem you are experiencing as well.

Let me know!

Mark

cyberdiva · Enlightened Poster Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 352

Mark, MANY MANY thanks! I confess that I was somewhat skeptical, since the information with the program says "On Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 either event ids 1517 and 1524 indicate the same profile unload problem," but neither of those event IDs appears in my Event Viewer messages. Still, I thought I'd give the program a try. I installed it, went about my business for a while, and then tried to shut down the computer. It shut down! Of course, I'm aware that my sample is too small to draw any meaningful conclusions, but I'm encouraged and hopeful. And VERY grateful to you! Again.

cyberdiva · Enlightened Poster Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 352

Well, I guess I spoke too soon. My computer is now hanging at least as often as it is shutting down. Crying or Very sad

Mark, if you have further suggestions, I'd welcome them.

drmark · Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject:

No, I have not forgotten; just not found a good answer yet. I did , see, however, that Microsoft has just introduced an application to, among other things, detect and repair Windows errors. http://fixitcenter.support.microsoft.com/Portal/ . I have not been able to try it as I did not update to SP3; however, I see that you did.

The reports I have seen have been good so far. Might be worth a try.

Mark

cyberdiva · Enlightened Poster Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 352

Mark, thanks very much! I took a look at the FixItCenter website, and I'll keep it in mind (and bookmarked). However, I'm delighted to report that for the past few days, my computer has been shutting down as it should! I have absolutely no clue as to why it has suddenly started to do so after weeks of hanging more than half the time. I don't know how long my good fortune will continue, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. Smile