Fixing Slow Shutdown

A common Windows annoyance is slow shutdown. Do you see a never-ending hour glass as you anxiously await shutdown? Are you faced with numerous program dialogue boxes urging you to “end task” before Windows actually shuts down? If you’re tempted to cut the power and deal with the consequences later, you likely have a slow shutdown problem on your hands.

As your computer shuts down, it must shut down each individual program. Normally, this process works, however, every now and then your system hangs and refuses to shutdown. This can be caused by an error within one single program which causes an extreme slowdown or complete halt.

Troubleshooting slow shutdown starts with your last modifications to the system. What did you do? While it’s not always your fault, sometimes a recent software or hardware install can cause these slowdowns. Try uninstalling the latest programs using the Add and Remove Programs feature found in the Control Panel. After the successful uninstall, reboot your PC and see if the shutdown is normal. If so, the culprit is likely the program. Check for program updates or patches on the manufacturer’s website to see if the problem has been addressed.

If your shutdown slowdowns are related to a recent Windows or program update or new device driver installation, you can usually restore your computer to a previous state with all its previous settings by accessing System Restore (providing you have it enabled to create Restore Points). Go to the Start button, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore, and follow the prompts.

If your PC slows down and takes forever to shut down, consider the possibility of a virus or spyware infection. These nasty programs can cause shutdown issues. Run a complete virus and spyware scan using the latest definitions available from your anti-spyware and anti-virus vendor to rule out these malicious programs as the cause.

Another potential cause lies in user profiles on your machine. If you’ve added a new user to your computer, it could be related to a problem with the Windows registry and its inability to unload the user profile after the user logs off. Look to Microsoft’s Download Center for the User Profile Hive Cleanup Service, a free download designed to clean your user profiles. 

USB ports and their attached peripherals can affect slowdown if the device doesn’t support the Selective Suspend power management feature. To overcome this potential problem, disable the Power Management option for your USB hub by right-clicking on My Computer and choosing Properties. Click the Hardware tab and choose Device Manager. Click the plus sign to expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers, right-click the USB Root Hub, and choose Properties. Finally, choose the Power Management tab, and clear the box saying, “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”

Your slow system shutdowns can be avoided by following simple, routine maintenance routines. Windows comes with several built-in utilities that can help. The Disk Cleanup utility is perfect for clearing out the hard drive and improving overall system performance. Go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup.

The Disk Defragmenter is also useful for taking all the scattered pieces of data and realigning them making it easier for Windows to find what it needs efficiently. This tool is also located in the System Tools folder.

By keeping your PC cleaned and clearing out the junk that can clog your hard drive and affect performance, you can reduce the typical problems your operating system is prone to including slow shutdown.