Shut Down -Speed Up

How to Set WaitToKillServiceTimeout to Speed Up Shut Down Time in Windows​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to set the WaitToKillServiceTimeout to how long the system waits for services to stop after notifying the service that the system is shutting down in XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

When the WaitToKillServiceTimeout value of this entry expires, the system notifies the user that the service has not stopped. The user can either force the service task to stop or continue to wait. If the user waits, this WaitToKillServiceTimeout value specifies the interval between repeated user notices that the service has not stopped.

If all services stop before this WaitToKillServiceTimeout value expires, the system shuts down; it does not wait for this value to expire.

   Warning

You should always save and close all programs before shutting down the computer to help prevent any data loss.

   Tip

If your shutdown time is still taking longer then normal, then check these items below.

• Make sure your system is not set to clear the page file at shutdown.
• Perform a clean start to see if it shuts down normally with minimal applications running. If so, it will help you to find what may be causing the hang at shutdown.
• WaitToKillServiceTimeout registry value does not work in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

OPTION ONE

Set WaitToKillServiceTimeout before Shut Down using a REG File Download

1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Speed Up Shut Down Time with 2 Second WaitToKillServiceTimeout
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
NOTE: This sets the shutdown "Wait to kill" time to 2 seconds (2000 milliseconds). If you want shutdown to wait for a different amount of seconds, then do the manual method below.
2_Second_Shutdown.reg

Download


3. To Restore the Default WaitToKillServiceTimeout in Windows 7
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
NOTE: The default shutdown "wait to kill" time is 12 seconds (12000 milliseconds) in Windows 7.
Windows-7_Default_Shutdown_Time.reg

Download


4. To Restore the Default WaitToKillServiceTimeout in Windows 8
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
NOTE: The default shutdown "wait to kill" time is 5 seconds (5000 milliseconds) in Windows 7.
Windows-8_Default_Shutdown_Time.reg

Download


5. Save, and save the .reg file to your desktop.

6. Double click on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7. If prompted, click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8. If you like, you may also wish to change the HungAppTimeout, WaitToKillAppTimeout, and AutoEndTasks values to what you want.

9. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION TWO

Set WaitToKillServiceTimeout before Shut Down in Registry Editor

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click/tap on OK.

2. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

3. In the right pane, right click on WaitToKillServiceTimeout, and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)

4. Type in a number between 2000-20000 (2-20 seconds), and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: The default time is 12000 (Windows 7) or 5000 (Windows 8). I use 2000 (2 seconds) and have not had any problems. Your experience may vary.

5. If you like, you may also wish to change the HungAppTimeout, WaitToKillAppTimeout, and AutoEndTasks values to what you want.

6. When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.
NOTE: If you have problems with programs from your computer shutting down to quickly, then repeat the above steps and increase the WaitToKillServiceTimeout time (step 5) a bit.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Specify HungAppTimeout Used to Determine a Hung Process in Windows
• How to Specify WaitToKillAppTimeout to Speed Up Shut Down Time in Windows
• Turn On or Off to Automatically Close Apps not Responding at Shutdown in Windows
• How to See What Your Windows 7 Restart Time is
• How to Create a Shut Down Windows Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Shut Down Computer Shortcut in Windows
• How to Enable or Disable Shut Down without Having to Log On
• How to Change the "Logging off..." Text Message at Shut Down in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Change the "Shutting down..." Text Message at Shut Down in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Allow or Prevent Users and Groups to Shut Down the Computer
• How to See the Last Shutdown Time of Your Windows PC
• How to Enable or Disable "Clear Virtual Memory Paging File at Shutdown" in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Hibernate in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Reduce the Startup Delay Time for Desktop Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome John.

 

[jhexp67]

Thanks for the tutorial. I used option 2 and set to 2000. No problems.

 

[MarkmBha]

THANK YOU!
This has always bugged me: waiting & waiting for the reboot.
The perfect solution!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks for the tutorial. I used option 2 and set to 2000. No problems.

Hmm I have set mine as low as 5 and have no problems either.
Did you try the other parts of the tutorial that Brink did this comes from?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[archaeopteryx]

Thank you!

 

[jonnyhotchkiss]

My boot time with waitokill value at 12000:
View attachment 10426

My boot time with waitokill value at 120:
View attachment 10427

How do you do this? (variables in a msgbox / evt string > msg)?

 

[jonnyhotchkiss]

I imagine that to do something like this

you need to pass some variables.

Some info here, but it's a bit above my level of understanding

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Jonny mate in the tutorial by Brink http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/717-shut-down-speed-up.html just as in Option 2 in the registry but as a precaution do this first just in case you do something wrong
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/4230-registry-backup-restore.html I always do this after a clean install and before tweaking the registry - not that Brinks tutorial will do anything untoward but you just might hit the wrong key or button and if things go awry then you can just merge the registry settings back and start again it is a good safety net.
I have mine set to 5 but you can set it to what you like 20 50 100 etc
Same goes with the menu start up in the Optimise tutorial see point 16 in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html it will speed the start up for you, in fact most of the tweaks will. But do that backup FIRST!!

 

[jonnyhotchkiss]

That doesn't answer my question

How do you configure the event viewer's action for an event (103 etc from Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational) to reference the boot / reboot info, like in the image above?

 

[Brink]

Hello Jonny,

Here you go: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/720-restart-time.html

 

[ICIT2LOL]

That doesn't answer my question

How do you configure the event viewer's action for an event (103 etc from Microsoft-Windows-Diagnostics-Performance/Operational) to reference the boot / reboot info, like in the image above?

My mistake Jonny I thought you were after how to reduce the shut down and included the menu start time feature to speed things up and why I ref'd Brink's tutorial but seems like you are not into that so I shall leave it at that..

Brink has answered what you need to know. For my own personal use I find that a rather material feature as I just use a timepiece to check mine and like a few other things the restart thing is a curiousity come bragging item.