Windows 7 laptop takes 20-25 minutes to shut down, even from Safe Mode

Duckbill,

Welcome to SevenForums.

First test: turn off your wireless, disconnect from any network, remove any cables to external devices.

Now try to shutdown.

Is the problem gone? Yes/no

WiN + X | Connected section, click on TURN WIRELESS OFF
WIN= key with Microsoft flag on top.

So I tried turning off my wireless and unplugging my external hard drive: it took the same time, 23 minutes. Today I also tried booting into safe mode with minimal services, and that also took the same time to shut down.

I don't remember changing any BIOS settings. How can I check if AHCI is enabled? I have noticed that the hard disk light stays on solidly when it's shutting down. About a month after I got the laptop, I did a clean install using the DVDs Dell gave me (Operating System disk and Drivers And Utilities disk) so those are the drivers I'm using.

It seems to be about the same every time, but usually the computer is on for a few days at a time and I just put it to sleep at night instead of shutting down. I will try shutting it down straight away from the login screen and see how long that takes.

Oh, I also tried booting from a Knoppix liveCD this morning, and the shut down from that only took a few seconds, but that isn't very useful.

Edit: Just started it up and shut it down from the login screen... 23 minutes again.

Duckbill,
Are you connected via a cable or router of some type to a home network or to any other kind of network? Yes/No.

I keep hammering at this because there is a plausible explanation if this is the case.

Is your computer a member of a "home group" / "home network"?

If NO, then we must rule out malware first and foremost.

To that end, I'm including a procedure for running WINDOWS DEFENDER OFFLINE.
Windows Defender Offline is NOT Windows Defender as shows in your Control Panel.
This is another example of a misnomer from Microsoft.

With that said, here we go:
(Please notice that you need to submit the .LOG files when finished)

HOW TO USE WINDOWS DEFENDER OFFLINE ON A USB STICK
Windows Defender Offline
· is a free standalone, bootable malware and virus remover from Microsoft.
· performs an offline scan of an infected PC to remove viruses, rootkits and other advanced malware.

Download Windows Defender Offline (about 764 kB)

You will have the choice of downloading the 32bit version (x86) or the 64 bit version (x64).
The link will help you determine whether you are running a 32 bit version or 64 bit version of Windows

NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 32 bit version using a 64 bit version of Windows
NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 64 bit version using a 32bit version of Windows.

You run the 32 bit version on a 32 bit version of Windows.
You run the 64 bit version on a 64 bit version of Windows.

The 32 bit download file name is: mssstool32.exe
The 64 bit download file name is: mssstool64.exe

For the curious, this program was originally name Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.


INSTALLATION:
You will need an Internet Connection.
Insert 512 mB (Microsoft’s 256 mB is no longer accurate) or larger USB stick into a usb port.
Run the downloaded program--mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe
NEXT button
Choose the option On a USB flash drive that is not password protected
NEXT button
NEXT button
.
The install program will format the usb stick using the NTFS format.
The install program will download about 210 mB.
The install program will name the USB stick WDO_Media32 or WDO_Media64
The WDO_Media32 usb stick will have used space of 255 mB (268,140,544 bytes)
The WDO_Media64 usb stick will have used space of 282 mB (296,165,376 bytes)
You can expect the number of mB to increase as more malware appears.

UPDATE Windows Defender Offline USB stick:
· reinsert the usb stick
· run the installation program, mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe, again.
· the update will download about 66 mB (mssstool32.exe) and 68 mB (mssstool64.exe).

Since the malware database is sometimes updated several times in a day, always update before running.

PERFORM AN OFFLINE SCAN
Bootup your computer from the USB stick
Windows Defender Offline will automatically perform a quick scan.
After the quick scan finishes, Choose Full Scan
Select all of your drives

The initial, full scan can easily take several hours, but
Remember, your computer is being very thoroughly checked for all types of malware.


RESULTS OF THE SCAN
The results will be in 4 log files on your computer's disk in:
\Windows\Microsoft Antimalware\Support
Upload the four log files please.
==========================================
==============================================

I suggest you gather the data that tell you what is going on. See here: Gathering a Startup, Shutdown, Sleep, Hibernate, or Reboot Trace