Laptop shuts down but will not power off

I am running Windows 7 Home premium. On Start/Shut down the computer appears to shutdown normally except that it will not power off. The power light and the WiFi light remain on. This state continues indefinitely. The machine cannot be restarted by clicking the power switch.

When I force a power off (by holding the power switch down or momentarily removing the battery) and then start the machine by clicking on the power switch, it comes up normally with no complaint of an abnormal shutdown or asking if I want Windows to start normally. Therefore I conclude the shutdown completed except for the power off.

Start/Restart works normally. The machine will complete the shutdown including the power light going off for a short time. Then the light will come back on and the machine comes up normally.

Booting in safe mode and then Start/shutdown fails similarly.

Any help will be MUCH appreciated.

Hi Ev7 you might want to try a SFC /Scannow here's how.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

try this in order.
1. open your regedit and navigate to

Code:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

find this entry "PowerdownAfterShutdown", if the entry not found make one.
try change the value to 0 if its 1, and if its 1 then change it to 0, try to shut down.


2. Just before windows BOOT, press F2 to enter bios, and press power button to force shutdown.... does it really powered off?if no it is a bios function error.

3. if related to bios function, check and find entry about "after power off/ outtage = soft off, memory/last state "
sorry about that.. kinda forget the exact phrases.

Thanks for the replies. I will try each of the suggestions in spite of the following finding:

I began to wonder if the problem may be a hardware problem. I removed the hard drive and placed it in another laptop of the same model (Asus X54C) and on that computer I was able to shut down properly.

I conclude that the problem is a hardware problem. Anyone think that may be an invalid conclusion?

Any help is still much appreciated.

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. Here is a list of suggestions I have been given and the result of my trying them.

SFC /SCANNOW
No problems found

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\...\PowerdownAfterShutdown
Was 0, changed to 1. Still would not power off

Just before windows BOOT, press F2 to enter bios, etc.
Pressing power switch did not cause power off, but system hung on Bios screen
Then pressing keyboard keys did nothing

find entry about "after power off/ outtage = soft off ..."
Could find no similar BIOS entry.

Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options\System Settings
All were ok

The suggestions were good, reasonable ones, but none of them worked.