Windows 7: Win 7 will not shutdown after update, cannot use Sys Restore.

After a 12 file Windows update a couple of days ago my Win 7 64bit PC will only shut down from Safe Mode or from the desktop as long as I have not launched any programs. I have not checked every program but it seems as though after I have opened any of my common programs, Office 2010, FireFox etc and closed them then chose Shutdown the 'Shutting Down' screen appears with the revolving icon and will go no further, after 10 mins the screen has not changed.

I tried to do a System Restore but as the system will not shut down then System Restore cannot run on the reboot. A manual reboot did not work with System Restore as there was an error warning after startup.

Before the update I nearly always had a 'Windows is waiting for background programs to close' dark screen on shutdown, then shortly after the screen disappeared and windows shut down.

Any suggestions as to the possible cause/remedy? Perhaps the update and problem are a coincidence.



I have not installed any programs or made any driver updates for a while so have discounted these areas.

Mini Dump Zipped files attached. as per instructions on pc does not shut down thread, I hope these are the right files!

No progress so far.

Under safe mode I have started a few programs, gone on the web and generally played about. then shut down without a problem, try it normally and even with opening and closing device manager the shut down hangs at Shutting Down...

If my mini dumps files do not help to show the cause what are my best options?
I have a Repair CD made after installation, but wonder if this will then mean that later installations of programs will have to be re-installed again???

I could also start from scratch but this seems a little over the top as the problem may be a conflict or some other minor cause.

All suggestions appreciated....

Use Advanced Boot Options to choose Repair Your Computer. This will start the System Recovery Options environment where you can use OPTION TWO for System Restore.

Thanks for the links, I will try these as soon as I can.

I have run sfc /verifyonly which found some corrupted files. the ran sfc /scannow that corrected these.
That made no difference, PC would still not shut down.

I then used the guide to do a repair install, and why I don't know but I ended up somehow with limited options, including system restore but was advised that doing this under the process I was using meant that it could not be undone. I also found that my USB mouse went on strike and using Tab was a right pain.

I rebooted and hit system restore which worked and I restored to before the 12 file update, of course these updates were re-installed and on restart then shut down I was back to square one, it would not shut down

Perhaps its time to do a clean install

IS it normal for USB mice to go on strike? I have recently replaced my old one with a new USB version.

I have two USB mice on two systems and have had no problems with either. I am guessing it is related to your system problems.

I suggest a Repair Install before a clean install so you do not lose your current programs and user files. If you would prefer to backup your important data and do a clean install, that should guarantee that you no longer have these problems.

Have you at any point used a registry cleaner? They can lead to this type of behavior.

Thanks writhziden, I do use a registry cleaner, CCleaner and Toniarts. I have used these for years with Windows 98SE and XP and to my knowledge they have never caused any noticeable problems. Are these not recommended for Windows 7? Is there a better system/program for cleaning the registry?

I do not know if Windows 7 keeps a user preferences/settings file that can be copied and replaced after a clean installation, likewise Office 2010 which I now have to my liking.

I thought of replacing with the System Image but I may as well format the drive and start again. With the help and information I have learnt from this forum I should make far less 'cockups' with the new install, well I hope so anyway!!

Many of us on the forums actually do not recommend automated optimization tools for Windows 7. Windows 7 does a much better job of handling its own optimization than its predecessors did. We especially do not recommend registry cleaning as an "optimization" step because automated registry cleaning causes more harm to the registry than it actually repairs.

In the future, if you need help optimizing Windows 7, please post a thread in Performance & Maintenance - Windows 7 Forums or follow the tutorial enclosed in that forum to Optimize Windows 7.

Learning all the time what you thought was good is not so good after all. I remember 98se grinding to a halt and being recommended to check the registry, I think I used Toniarts program. After this my PC was working fine again so have used this method ever since.

I had a quick read through the performance forum and found many negative comments on these programs.

I have some files to find and backup after which I hope to re-install Windows 7 this weekend. The tutorials are printed off in readiness ...... What could possibly go wrong

Best wishes nothing goes wrong. Definitely a good idea to back up first, though. That is an excellent step.