Windows Will Not Shut Down

Hi MGs,

Hopefully this is posted in the correct section.

I have the following:
HP Pavillion dv7 Notebook PC
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU
3.00 GB Ram
32-bit OS.
p.s It's Windows Vista

Apart from every application running extremely slow (system hangs even when trying to "delete" a picture), I am unable to shut the system down in normal mode. I have shut down in Safe mode with no issues, but in normal it just hangs (the whole night).

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Slainte,

DST8

 

Could you please post a Belarc Advisor or Speccy report when running in normal mode (being careful not to reveal your product keys)? When you're running in Safe Mode, the apps that run in normal mode don't load. The report will give us a better idea of what's causing the sluggishness.

 

I have copied and pasted onto a .txt and attached. Please advise if you need anything else.

A few other observations. I had to dowload the belarc in safe mode as the system is just now allowing anything to be installed in normal mode. If I leave the PC unattended and come back to it and try to open an application it just hangs/frozen.

slainte
DST

 

A problem for me at times too.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=279302

 

There were a few things I noticed in the Belarc Advisor report:

1.) Operating System — Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1.

You need to download and install Service Pack 2. Download the version appropriate for your system (32-bit OR 64-bit).Without service Pack 2, you're missing out on a lot of Security Updates. Before installing the Service Pack, make sure to disable Avast! and Malware Bytes as these may interfere with the Service Pack installation.

2.) Missing Security Updates new - for Adobe, Apple, Java, Microsoft and more.

These ALL need to be updated, especially Adobe, Java and Microsoft.

Adobe Reader is at version 11 and you're running version 10.
Java is at version 40 and you're running version 17. People have been disabling Java or uninstalling it from their computers because it has presented severe security loopholes.
The Microsoft updates will come after you've installed Service Pack 2.

3.) i
CyberLink - HP QuickPlay Version 1.0.0.1


i
CyberLink - HP QuickPlay Version 2.04.3025

i
i
CyberLink - HP QuickPlay Version 4.5.0.0000

You've got 3 versions of the same software. Apparently, when you installed the newer versions, the previous versions weren't uninstalled. Only keep the latest version.

4.) i
Malwarebytes - Anti-Malware Version 1.70.0.0000


i
Malwarebytes - Anti-Malware Version 1.75.0001

Uninstall the earlier version.

5.) i
Microsoft - Internet Explorer Version 7.00.6000.16386

Get Internet Explorer 8 (on the page, scroll down to English and select your Vista OS and download and install IE8) — it's more secure.

This is all that I've noticed at this point. Getting the updates you need is critical. Uninstalling earlier versions of the software listed will prevent conflicts and as I stated, make sure to disable Avast! and Malware Bytes to prevent interference with the installation of Service Pack 2.

 

One other thing:

After Service Pack 2 and ALL of the Critical Security Updates are installed, you're going to want to make them permanent on your computer. Windows Vista and later versions come with a utility to accomplish this task. It's called Component Cleaner.

Click on the Start Orb (or, if you've chosen the Classic Theme, the Start button). In the Search Box type "CompCln" (without the quotation marks). On the item that shows in the results field, right click and choose Run as Administrator. A small Command Console window will open with information on what will happen if you run Component Cleaner. Simply type Y. The utility will run. Once complete, close the window.

This will make the updates, including Service Pack 2, permanent and save hard drive space.

 

I thought about something during the night.

In Normal mode, right click the Task Bar and select Task Manager, Switch to the Processes Tab and see what's pegging the processor. I've read recently that Avast! is a processor hog and it may be one of the root causes of your problem.

Still follow the suggestions about the updates and multiple versions of software — you need to do them. But even after doing those, you may need to uninstall Avast!.

I run Microsoft Security Essentials as my AV with Real Time protection enabled and use Windows Firewall. To this point, neither have failed me.

I'm also curious about something — you've got a 64-bit machine (core 2 duo processor) yet you're running a 32-bit OS? This seems strange to me since you've got a second smaller partition on your hard drive which, I believe, is the Recovery Partition set up by HP when they installed the OS on the laptop. HP would have installed the 64-bit version of the OS on a 64-bit machine.

 

Something else now that I just read the News at Major Geeks. Get rid of the Ask Toolbar in all of your web browsers and be more observant when installing third party apps choosing to opt out of installing the bundled software instead of choosing "express install".

 

mdonah, many thanks for all your time and replies. I will go through them and come back to you with an update shortly - we've just had our first child born so things are hectic over here at the moment.

 

Congratulations! :major