Windows 7: Ultra slow 'logging off' during shut down

Win 7 64 bit.

For some reason my system is no longer shutting down quick. It used to be really quick. Now it hangs for like 3 - 4 mins on the 'logging off' phase of shutdown.

This has happened before once when I had an ipod plugged in. It's probably a hardware thing, but can someone tell me how to tell the computer to force a shutdown and get rid of this annoying 'logging off' hang. Or at least find a log file so I can find which process is causing the hang. Thanks

The event log says the following. It doesn't appear to give me any information which program is causing the 72 second delay though, which is quite frankly useless. Can anyone help?


Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance
Date: 13/03/2010 14:13:15
Event ID: 200
Task Category: Shutdown Performance Monitoring
Level: Error
Keywords: Event Log
User: LOCAL SERVICE
Computer: John-PC
Description:
Windows has shutdown:
Shutdown Duration : 72199ms
IsDegradation : true
Incident Time (UTC) : ‎2010‎-‎03‎-‎13T14:09:35.690316600Z
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance" Guid="{CFC18EC0-96B1-4EBA-961B-622CAEE05B0A}" />
<EventID>200</EventID>
<Version>1</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>4007</Task>
<Opcode>40</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000010000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-03-13T14:13:15.301183600Z" />
<EventRecordID>725</EventRecordID>
<Correlation ActivityID="{00000100-0000-0000-F5A8-2C0EB7C2CA01}" />
<Execution ProcessID="1740" ThreadID="452" />
<Channel>Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational</Channel>
<Computer>John-PC</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-19" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="ShutdownTsVersion">1</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownStartTime">2010-03-13T14:09:35.690316600Z</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownEndTime">2010-03-13T14:10:47.889832300Z</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownTime">72199</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownUserSessionTime">56522</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownUserPolicyTime">0</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownUserProfilesTime">8</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownSystemSessionsTime">5001</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownPreShutdownNotificationsTime">200</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownServicesTime">4281</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownKernelTime">10676</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownRootCauseStepImprovementBits">0</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownRootCauseGradualImprovementBits">0</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownRootCauseStepDegradationBits">3</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownRootCauseGradualDegradationBits">3</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownIsDegradation">true</Data>
<Data Name="ShutdownTimeChange">111307</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Try installing TuneUp Utilities. It would help increase you computer's performance a lot.

Windows 7 doesn't require any tweaking other than normal settings changes. It works against you.

It is normally other errors logged in Performance-Diagnostics nearby Shutdown degradation Critical/Error that will clue you to what app or driver is causing the issue.

You can try Clean Boot Procedure to see if you can isolate the cause: How to Troubleshoot a Problem by Performing a Clean Startup in Windows 7 or Vista

Also check for issues cued and Generate a System Health Report at Advanced Tools menu at Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Performance Information and Tools\Advanced Tools.

And check for Problem solutions by typing Problems in Start box.