Windows won't Shut Down, Restart, Nor Standby

To brute-force a shutdown. Start / run type the command

shutdown -s -f

typed into the Start/Run line or used as the guts of a batch file will tell the OS to force (-f) a shutdown (-s) even if some software or driver doesn't acknowledge the termination command.

And, for completeness,

shutdown -r -f

does the same thing, but with a reboot (-r) instead of a shutdown. For more about "shutdown" command options, go to Start/Help and Support and use "shutdown" as the search term, and under "Pick a task" select "Shutdown."

If using an external program is easier, try the free Wizmo ( http://www.google.com/search?as_q=wizmo&as_sitesearch=langa.com ). The commands

Wizmo shutdown!

Wizmo reboot!

(with the exclamation points) are the Wizmo equivalent of "shutdown -s -f" and "shutdown -r -f"

Naturally, fixing the problem is best; but at least the above can get you past the problem in the meantime.

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.php

But would rather explore why this is happening.