computer won't shut down.

I have Vista 32 bit Ultimate. I try and shut it down, and it logs off, get to the Vista shutdown part, (lightblue background little dot circling), and it stops. It stays there infinitely. I can only shutdown if I log off manually first then shut down. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

Well a couple things to try:

1st, try:

Click the windows key + R, this should bring up the run box.
Next type in: msconfig (press enter).
Click "continue" on the UAC popup.
Click on the tab "startup".
Click "disable all"
Click OK
Click restart. Note at this point, you'll probably have to force a shutdown.
Start the computer.
Click no or cancel for the msconfig popup message.
Now, once you are back to the desktop. Try a normal shutdown.
Does it shutdown normally?

If so, then there is an app that is preventing windows from shutting down.

2nd:

Try safemode. Does it shutdown normally there?

 

Yeah, after I followed your instructions, it shut down automatically. I already had guessed that it was a program, but could you give me a little insight as to what? Could I post some kind of log, so you could get more details about my system and help me further.

 

Okay, the fun stuff begins...

List me the apps, that msconfig has under startup. Then we'll go from there.

Note, most printer apps can cause hangups.

Btw, I'm running ultimate also, but the 64 bit version.

 

OR...

You could recheck an item, one at a time, and reboot, between them. Eventually, you'll get your culprit.

 

I only had three in my startup, and they're all disabled.