Shut Down\Restart Trouble

Hey, I'm having a problem i probably wouldnt care about if it hadnt previously preceded bigger problems.

Whenever i click "Start," "Shut down" and then try to resart or shut down, the computer just sits there. I doesnt give me an hour glass or freeze, it just acts like i hadnt clicked anything at all.

Does anyone know what causes this, or moreover what to do about it?

 

http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/announcement.php?f=21

OS please?

 

Oh sorry, i meant to put that info, just got distracted.

OS: Win XP (home version)
CPU: pentium 4, 1400mhz

 

Can you continue to use the computer as though you had not done anything at all?

Any recent installs?

 

OK, there's a series of questions that need to be answered, the first being does this same behavior happen in Safe Mode? If you have to hit Reset or power off to answer this go ahead and do that.
Here's what I'm referring to:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308029#3


What are the "bigger problems" you're talking about?



[Edit] Good questions, MrPewty

 

hai my system automatically restarts when i shutdown i have formatted my system and even changed my settings in my computer i.e automatically restart