Windows 7 'hangs' when shutting down

I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium without the SP1 update. The processor is a Intel i3 series. I have 4 GB of RAM.

This problem only annoys me when I have a local blackout (I never turn off my computer otherwise). Not one of my last 3 UPS shutdown software worked correctly. So when the lights go out and the UPS starts beeping, I begin to close all of my open .xls and .jpg files, shut down my browser, video player, music player, and photoshop. At this point I can finally select "Shut Down".

The computer then takes a ridiculously long time to shut down. I haven't timed it (since my room is black except for the monitor glow), but it must be five minutes. I'm just waiting for the occasion that my UPS completely drains before my computer finishes shutting down.

Any suggestions on how I can hasten shut down? When I was running Windows XP there was an app called Force-Down (or ForceDown) that forced a shut down fairly quickly. Obviously this isn't the first time I've experienced this situation, but there are no similar apps for Windows 7, or at least none that I could locate.

Thanks.

 

Does the computer take as long to shut down while shutting down from Safe Mode? Starting your computer in Safe mode

 

I've very recently had the identical problem in Win 7 (64-bit). Spent a few days investigating the cause and got nowhere, but as I always shut down at night I was able to back out of it using a two week old Acronis image. It has not returned.

BILLMCC66 also has the identical problem and has not been able to find the cause.

 

No "Home" version of windows was ever designed to be left run 'Forever'. There are things that Windows needs to do during the shutdown process, like save registry changes to the hard drive, where those changes will be lost if the computer crashes, like due to loss of power.

If your PC is used to receive faxes during the night, for instance, then shut the system down and reboot every evening before you go to bed.

The list of programs that you have open is excessive for any HOME computer. I'm not surprised that the shutdown is hanging.

Sorry, I can't fix your UPS shutdown software. You didn't even say what brand of UPS you're using. Eh?

But if you want to get your computer shut down in the least amount of time, try this:

Make yourself a new desktop shortcut, using the following command:

%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f

A "Quick Shutdown" shortcut using that command will shut down your PC in the least amount of time. Give it a try. I install it for all my customers and they love it.:drool

Good Luck,
The Shadow :cool

 

Can you please give me further directions on how to do this? I don't know how to create shortcuts other than to files, folders, and .exe files. I tried to find an answer online, but couldn't find one in the past forty minutes.

Thank you for your time.

 

Well, first off, to avoid typing errors, don't try to type the shortcut.
Copy and paste it.
Copy it to your Clip-Board by holding down your left mouse button and strike over the shortcut to 'block' it. Then right click on it and click COPY in the drop down menu.
Then on your desktop, right click an open spot and then select NEW and then Shortcut.
In the first open block that comes up, paste the shortcut into that block.
click OK and the next block wants a name for that shortcut. Type in something like "Quick Shutdown". and OK it.
You should now have the shortcut on your desktop.
Just for some continuity, I always put my Shutdown shortcut right above the START button.
(only in windows, do you go to START to STOP. Ain't that weird?)

Good Luck,
The Shadow :cool