In Windows XP, what should I do if my computer will not shut down?

When the Power Scheme is causing the problem

In Windows XP, the "Always On" Power Scheme can cause some computers to hang at shutdown. To correct this setting, follow the steps below:

1. From the Start menu, click Settings, and then Control Panel.

   Note: If this doesn't match what you see, refer to About navigation settings in Windows.

2. Double-click Power Options. From the Power Schemes tab, in the "Power schemes" section, select Home/Office Desk.
   
   
3. Click Apply, and then click OK.

When something other than the Power Scheme is at fault

Occasionally, the computer will hang at shutdown due to reasons that have nothing to do with the selected power scheme (for example, a background program or service is having problems terminating). In that case, it's probably best to cancel the shutdown (if possible), determine what program, service, or process is hanging, and temporarily fix the problem by manually terminating the offending program, service, or process. You can then try to diagnose why the hang occurs and implement a permanent fix (for example, reinstall the program causing the hang, or clean a spyware or viral infection).

In some cases, though, the shutdown cannot be terminated. When that happens, there is no choice but to use the power button to shut the computer down. This is not a good thing to do to Windows, because bypassing the normal shutdown process by forcing an immediate power-off can corrupt important system files and affect how Windows runs; however, there may not be any choice. The computer is simply stuck. To force a power-off, hold the power button in for around 10 seconds. Any computer is supposed to respond to that. Ones that don't may be physically broken, and in that case you should contact the manufacturer.

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