Ever since I bought my latest computer (Core 2Duo 6400, 1GB RAM, WinXP Media Centre Edition) I've had a problem with shutting down. Basically, after clicking "start->turn off computer" it's taking 2.5 mins to offer me the options of shut down, restart etc; it then takes something like 3 mins on "saving your settings" etc before the thing turns off for good.
I've read countless forums and sites on this issue, offering 1001 reasons why this might be the case. I've tried plenty of these without success.
Interestingly, I've experimented with loads of theories and determined that this problem only kicks in after the computer has been on for 30mins (pretty much exactly). Before 30 mins, shutdown appears to start normally (ie the pop-up box after clicking "turn off computer" comes up immediately); however, at 30mins the hourglass on the cursor comes up for a second or two (easy to miss unless you're watching closely around 30mins!), & any further attempts at shutdown get stuck as described previously: & <1second becomes 2.5 minutes!
I do not have very much on my computer as it is quite new: basically, Microsoft Office, Opera & Explorer web browsers, a bunch of photos & iTunes (with about 7000 tracks). I have excluded a virus as the problem, (using AVG and before that, Bullguard), but this problem began even before I had connected to the net.
Any ideas??? (btw Ctrl/Alt/Del during the delayed shutdown reveals 0 Processes active, with 46-47 processes, with CPU Usage 7-17%; Shutting Down via the menu here, though, bypasses whatever is going on & causes shutdown to proceed immediately)
Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated
I've read countless forums and sites on this issue, offering 1001 reasons why this might be the case. I've tried plenty of these without success.
Interestingly, I've experimented with loads of theories and determined that this problem only kicks in after the computer has been on for 30mins (pretty much exactly). Before 30 mins, shutdown appears to start normally (ie the pop-up box after clicking "turn off computer" comes up immediately); however, at 30mins the hourglass on the cursor comes up for a second or two (easy to miss unless you're watching closely around 30mins!), & any further attempts at shutdown get stuck as described previously: & <1second becomes 2.5 minutes!
I do not have very much on my computer as it is quite new: basically, Microsoft Office, Opera & Explorer web browsers, a bunch of photos & iTunes (with about 7000 tracks). I have excluded a virus as the problem, (using AVG and before that, Bullguard), but this problem began even before I had connected to the net.
Any ideas??? (btw Ctrl/Alt/Del during the delayed shutdown reveals 0 Processes active, with 46-47 processes, with CPU Usage 7-17%; Shutting Down via the menu here, though, bypasses whatever is going on & causes shutdown to proceed immediately)
Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated