My Computer Won’t Shut Down!
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Brook says:
“My computer won’t shut down; I have to use the power button. I’m running Windows XP. Please help!”
The Geek replies:
Brook, there are many possible causes for your problem, but the most common one I see on computers like yours is a thing called the �nVidia Driver Helper� service. Neither I, nor my fellow Geeks, know exactly what it is supposed to do, but it sure can cause shutdown problems. And turning it off doesn’t appear to hurt anything.
[Read My Computer Won’t Shut Down! at Ask the Geek]
Have a computer problem? A question about your latest gadget? Click here to Ask the Geek!Kenny “The Geek” Harthun has been playing with geeky stuff since 1965. He’s a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer with Connective Computing providing network, desktop and info security support services to a wide range of clients.
Tags: ask the geek, driver, shutdown problems, nvidia, xp services

11 Comments
Dan
December 3rd, 2006
at 7:28am
Nope, that’s not doing it. Disable nVidia driver helper service and still won’t shut down.
Installed SpyBot and used that to kill all but a handful of required processes. Still won’t shut down. Disabled started up of most software. Still won’t shut down.
What’s next?
Robert
January 6th, 2007
at 9:43am
I have the same problem only mine gets hung up on something called Cardreader….It is really @$^*ING me off!!!!
Warren Ward
January 6th, 2007
at 9:51am
The reason it won’t shut down is because of the illegal alien flood. Before the horde started coming we didn’t have this problem. I think it is due to an increase in social spending and the closing of hundreds of hospitals due to their horrible claims upon our economy, and the computers are the only ones standing up to the government and the crybaby supporters of the mass illegal invasion. If we all had the backbone of your computer to stand up to what is clearly wrong when told to SHUT UP we would not turn off so easily, either.
At least that is my opinion…
Chris Jones
January 19th, 2007
at 7:58am
I fixed it by renaming the profile, logging the user back in, then transferring the files I needed from the old profile.
To rename the profile, login as administrator, find it up under Documents And Settings folder on C: Drive. Rename to .old. Then log back in as the user.
Only downside to this is they will loose their preferences (screensavers, themes, etc) and network printers that have been installed. Also effects Outlook Express and Outlook. You will have to copy your .mbx or .pst files into the new profile as well.
jemzi
April 10th, 2007
at 10:47pm
i cant’t turn of my computer, i have to hold on to the button. When ever i press shut down, my computer just freezes! I thought the problem will eventually go away….. but it hasnt and it is really p****n me off!
Lee McKithen
January 11th, 2008
at 7:31pm
My computer will not shut down, I am running window xp Please Help!!
Jason
February 15th, 2008
at 6:34am
If the issue is go to start shut down and does nothing, but you are still able to use the machine. I did this to fix the problem. I changed registry key HKLM\software\microsoft\windowsNT\current version\winlogon Powerdownaftershutdown change this to 1 from 0. Then hit the power button to shut it down. Bring it back up then test restart. Should work. This is assuming that there are no errors with shut down.
Devon
April 15th, 2008
at 8:15am
My computer is frozen and won’t turn off. The screen shows that there is no battery left, but it still won’t die! What do I do?????
tHe biZkiD
June 3rd, 2008
at 8:34am
HELP!! HELP!! MY PC WONT SHUT DOWN!! ITS TRYING TO EAT ME!! PLEASE HELPPP!!
Math Person
August 1st, 2008
at 12:37pm
Jason, how would we access that registry?
nico
August 15th, 2008
at 12:04pm
go to start>run> then run Regedit