Windows 7: Machine Won't Hibernate, Sleep or Shut down

Hello,
I had upgraded by laptop computer from windows vista to windows 7 about 3.5 months ago. My computer has been working fine until about 2-3 days ago when it stopped being able to hibernate, sleep or shut down. Whenever I try to sleep or hibernate my computer the screen goes black but the computer is still on. When I try to shutdown my computer it forever says on the "logging off" screen. I'm not very tech savvy so I have no idea what to do. Programs I try to install now won't work either. They just will not open. I tried to do a system restore but it won't let me do that either, saying that there's an error. I've tried uninstalling programs that I had installed in the past week as well as used CC cleaner to no avail. Someone please help! I will need step by step instructions as I am not that computer savvy. Thanks!

You can try to restore via Safe Boot.


Go into Start, bottom left of screen. type msconfig. Click that, msconfig.exe.

When that opens, go to the Boot tab. Go to boot options, and select Safe Boot\minimal.

Once your system reboots, then try your system restore. See if that gets rid of error.

Shut off computer, during boot hit f8 repeately and quickly. This will bring you to safe mode. In safe mode do a system restore.

If that does not work, do a repair install.
Repair Install[2]=General Tips

Usually problems like that are caused by programs hanging.

Before you shut down next time, go to Task Manager, in the Processes tab, and end half of them. Be sure to record which ones you ended!

If the shutdown hangs, you can guess the problematic process is in the next half. You can end half of the remaining half, and so on, until you identify the rogue process.

One thing you can try is shutting down immediately upon startup. If it hangs, you know we have a bigger problem.

This is quicker than my way of doing it, but I went this route as my sytem refused to listen to my repeated attempts at hitting F8 and just kept booting normally.

Either way will work. Hopefully the F8 route works for you better than me.

Devildog

One of the primary benefits of this forum is that each member can learn about different techniques and solutions. Your valuable contribution is appreciated just as much as any other.

Thanks Rich. I like your way better though, but it just wouldn't work, maybe my timing was off.

Anyways novemberchild, use Rich's method first, should work for you.