Windows

My Computer Won't Shut Down!

Posted by on Nov 30, 2005 | 17 Comments

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[/tags]

  • Dan

    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

    I have the same problem only mine gets hung up on something called Cardreader….It is really @$^*ING me off!!!!

  • http://www.fourward.com Warren Ward

    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

    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.

  • http://dunno jemzi

    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

    My computer will not shut down, I am running window xp Please Help!!

  • Jason

    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

    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

    HELP!! HELP!! MY PC WONT SHUT DOWN!! ITS TRYING TO EAT ME!! PLEASE HELPPP!!

  • Math Person

    Jason, how would we access that registry?

  • nico

    go to start>run> then run Regedit

  • nicole

    Okay here’s my delima.

    My computer has been running for almost a month. Newly Built, my brother in-law installed all my stuff for me. I’m running XP 2003. For a few weeks is would totally shut down. I do the updates, because I was told to in order to install my sound drives. NOT GOOD!

    After the updates were in…my computer won’t shut down and no sound.

    When I go from start, then choose shut down it tells me that windows is shutting down in order to safely power down computer. Which means…when windows shut down i’m left with a blue screen and my computer still running.

    It’s getting on my nerves and I can’t figure out what it could be. Please some body save me :(

  • benji

    HELP ME SOME ONE PLEASE!!! OK HERE’S MY PROBLEM(S). MY COMPUTER WONT SHUT DOWN I’M RUNNING ON XP, BUT NOT ONLY THAT. IT WONT SHOW ME ANY OF MY PROGRAMS ON ADD OR REMOVE IN CONTROL PANEL. NOT ONLY THAT. BUT IT STOPPED RUNNING MY WINDOWS ONE CARE AND WANTS ME TO UNINSTALL IT BUT LIKE I SAID I CAN SEE MY ADD OR REMOVE PROGRAMS. I’VE GONE THOUGHSAFE MODE AND TRY TO RESTORE SYSTEM BUT NOTHING. I’M WONDERING IF I SHOULD JUST UNINSTALL XP AND REINSTALL IT, THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO DO IT…….PLEASE HELP ME…..BBBENJAMINNN@YAHOO.COM

  • TotallyDOWN

    Plez help! my PC can’t shutdown, it still can running without any warning@notice.. i’m using vista home. It happen after i update the vga driver.. any help.. my pc not shutdown for a week..

  • jdogg

    I was looking something up and it told me it wasn’t responding I tried to restarted but it froze I keep hitting the power key but it won’t turn off

  • maxine

    Yeah same thing happening with mine too.. Running Windows xp as well.. Tried going through registry and deleting any new entries and still no luck.. no problems with hardware when I checked in Device Manager.. Ran REGCURE to check registry and all clear.. Ran Kapersky anti virus found a backdoor virus and 2 trojans but cant get rid of them or quarantine them.. Using the latest Kapersky.. HEEELLLLPP!!!!!!!!! This is f%$@king me right off..!!!! Desktop and taskbar keeps refreshing when not online.. Only way for me to log on line to is in safe mode because computer keeps crashing… and cant turn off comp only by power switch on the wall… RRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

  • Geek101

    HELP! I am having a problem similar to “wont shut down” problem being discussed here. I am using windows vista Home premium and it started after I installed SP2 from automatic updates. Can anybody please help. It just won’t shut down!!!