Shutdown Screen Hanging

[gary palmer]

What is best way to deal with a hung or stuck Shutdown screen. I am not having a problem at the moment but in past handled this problem by pressing the physical restart button on PC case or holding the PC on/off button for about 5 seconds to do a forced shutdown. End result back then was a system drive that would not boot after a restart was required for Windows Updates. Luckily I clone regularly using Acronis True Image so the clone saved the day.

Is there a better way to deal with a hung/stuck shutdown screen?
Seems that once the shutdown screen is visible there is no way that I know of how to get out of it back to Windows? Any smart advice appreciated...Gary

 

[mitchell65]

Have you got you Microsoft updates set to "automatic"?

 

[gary palmer]

Mitchell65 I have Microsoft Updates set to: 'Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them'. I avoid automatic updates as things will be installed that may be problematic or simply not needed. Like for example the rather 'under the radar' and forceful approach by Microsoft lately to force people to update to Windows 10. Thx...Gary

 

[RonWesley]

Shutdown issues are generally caused by a program or process that is refusing to exit gracefully. The program or process can be from malware or can be legitimate (such as an invasive antivirus like Norton or McAfee). If you are using a Norton or McAfee product, uninstall it and replace with a better program such as NOD32, Kasperksy, or Avast (free).

 

[gary palmer]

Thanks Ron Wesley. Am using Avast Pro Antivirus so not as invasive as Norton/McAfee. Am aware that a program may be running that has not exited so can inhibit the Shut Down process. Was wanting to know how to get out of the Shut Down process being hung without hitting restart button or doing a forced shutdown as these can also cause problems. Thanks for your insight though...Gary

 

[mitchell65]

Look at the programs that start on Windows boot up via msconfig. See if there are any that you don't need on start up and disable them. See if that helps. If not disable all that are enabled at start up and see if that cures the problem. If it does then enable each prog that you really need enabled one at a time to see if you can find which one causes the problem. If that solves the probelm then really reconsider whether you need any programs apart from your anti virus to start up on Windows boot.

 

[Layback Bear]

This tutorial by Brink should be helpful.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

 

[gary palmer]

Thanks everybody with replies. Am aware that a program may continue running at Shut Down so causing the shutdown to be in a sort of loop.

In past I have done a forced shutdown by holding down the power button. Tried restarting PC by pressing the restart button on PC front panel. I look at these as being somewhat risky as can create a situation where Windows will not boot up as it did not shut down properly.

What I am really wanting (maybe I should have explained better) is what to do when a Shut Down loop occurs so as not to cause a problem where Windows7 will not boot up. What is the smart or safest way to handle this?

Gary

 

[mitchell65]

I don't really know an answer to this but something is causing the shutdown problem so surely it is better to cure the cause whereas finding a "safe" or "smart" way to deal with it is just treating the symptons?

 

[gary palmer]

Thanks Mitchell65. You are absolutely correct...better to treat the problem rather than it's symptoms.
I actually do not have a current problem with Shut Down loop but did in recent past before doing a clean fresh install of W7. Everything running great now but is surprisingly little on web about what to do if actually in a Shut Down loop. Thanks again... Gary

 

[mitchell65]

If your Pc is running well at the moment then may I suggest that you backup your C drive using Macrium Reflect or similar and do this on say a weekly basis then if you have a similar or any other problem in the future you can always restore from the backup and be up and running within minutes. If you automatically back up your data files to an external hard drive this is an added bonus. If you restore your C drive with a backup file a week or so old your won't even loose any data files.

 

[gary palmer]

Thanks for that Mitchell65. I use Acronis True Image 2014 to make a clone of my C drive about once a fortnight. I do this outside of Windows as Acronis allows one to create a bootable media disc to do the cloning process. After using Acronis for about 5 years or so I can honestly say it works. Good software. I also use C drive only for programs and keep all my data on another hard drive.

Have heard of Macrium Reflect and often in a positive way. Can you tell me does it do cloning? Sounds like you use it mainly for its backup features. Is it fully effective when the backup needs to be restored? Have you had any negatives with it? Alway good to chat with someone who has actually used the software they are talking about...Gary