Computer does not turn off after shutdown

[just_laze]

Hi,

The operating system displays "Shutting down..." the screen goes black and my monitor goes into power saving mode but the machine remains on. My specification is as follows:

Operating System

• Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit

Key Hardware Components

• Tagan T430-U15 430W
• Intel Core 2 Duo 6300
• Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R
• Corsair 2GB Value Select
• nVidia Geforce 9600GT 512MB
• Samsung 1TB HD103UJ x2
• Optiarc AD-7201S DVD-RW drive

Peripherals

• Logitech G11 keyboard
• Logitech MX518 mouse
• Generic Bluetooth module
• Generic four port USB hub

My computer is listed as ACPI x86-based PC in Device Manager. I've tried:

• Removing my graphics card drivers, this changed nothing other than preventing the screen from going into power saving mode.
• Setting all USB root hubs to 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'. However, upon reboot this option remain unticked(?).

Any ideas what else I could try? It's really bugging me now.

Thanks,

laze

[smargh]

How old is the Tagan? If >2 years (well... actually regardless of age), check the voltages.

My 3yr old Tagan had various issues, which disassembly revealed to be several capacitors in various states of distress.

[GoNz0]

try updating the acpi drivers, or check device manager to see if its shown as a yellow question mark

[just_laze]

How old is the Tagan? If >2 years (well... actually regardless of age), check the voltages.

My 3yr old Tagan had various issues, which disassembly revealed to be several capacitors in various states of distress.

This problem is a result of changing the motherboard. With my old motherboard this problem did not exist. The only other thing that's changed is I did a fresh install of Windows.

try updating the acpi drivers, or check device manager to see if its shown as a yellow question mark

I tried to update the ACPI drivers through Device Manager but I'm told they're already up to date? There are no yellow questions marks in Device Manager.

[watercooled]

Have a go at running a Linux LiveCD and try shutting that down. It should eject the CD, ask you to remove CD, close the tray and press enter then the system should switch off. That should help narrow down where the problem lies.

[GoNz0]

Have a go at running a Linux LiveCD and try shutting that down. It should eject the CD, ask you to remove CD, close the tray and press enter then the system should switch off. That should help narrow down where the problem lies.

you could enter bios and press the power button to test that, you dont need anything else.

you should check the event viewer for a faulting app at shutdown

[just_laze]

Have a go at running a Linux LiveCD and try shutting that down. It should eject the CD, ask you to remove CD, close the tray and press enter then the system should switch off. That should help narrow down where the problem lies.

I booted into Ubuntu v9.04 and clicked Shutdown. The machine turned itself off.

you should check the event viewer for a faulting app at shutdown

I have two warnings in the Application log but no errors, both of the warnings are very similar:

Windows detected your registry file is still in use by other applications or services. The file will be unloaded now. The applications or services that hold your registry file may not function properly afterwards.  

 DETAIL - 
 1 user registry handles leaked from \Registry\User\S-1-5-21-1562068133-36875316-2026665921-1000:
Process 1040 (\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Windows\System32\svchost.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-1562068133-36875316-2026665921-1000

Windows detected your registry file is still in use by other applications or services. The file will be unloaded now. The applications or services that hold your registry file may not function properly afterwards.  

 DETAIL - 
 1 user registry handles leaked from \Registry\User\S-1-5-21-1562068133-36875316-2026665921-1000_Classes:
Process 1040 (\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Windows\System32\svchost.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-1562068133-36875316-2026665921-1000_CLASSES

In the System log I have one error and two warnings in that order:

The TVersityMediaServer service terminated unexpectedly.  It has done this 1 time(s).

WLAN AutoConfig service has successfully stopped.

Initialization of the High Precision Event Timer failed due to a BIOS configuration problem.
The operating system will use another available platform timer in lieu of the High Precision Event Timer.

Contact your system vendor for technical assistance.
Initialization status: 1.

I've since enabled HPET mode in the BIOS. This had no effect.

laze

[GoNz0]

msconfig time, disable everything and reboot, then try to shutdown.


if it does. start by adding back all microsoft services, then add none ms ones a few at a time until it stops shutting down, then you can back track to find the problem. it might take you a while but it should pin it down

[just_laze]

How old is the Tagan? If >2 years (well... actually regardless of age), check the voltages.

My 3yr old Tagan had various issues, which disassembly revealed to be several capacitors in various states of distress.

Hi smargh,

Following your advice I disassembled my PSU. I wasn't sure what I was looking for but came across this:

Scraped this gunk off the top of the capacitor:



This is the capacitor:



I thought the gunk was the plastic shielding from a wire that had melted but there's no evidence of this so I guess it came out of the capacitor?

Time for a new PSU?

laze

[Stephen C]

Are you shutting down via the power symbol on Vista?
Just a note, if you are.. that's exactly what that does,
It puts the machine into sleep.

Over from the power symbol, past the padlock is an arrow,
Click that and select "shutdown".

[Stephen C]

Check this guide on how to change the default power button in Vista
http://changevistashutdownbutton.blo...wn-button.html

[just_laze]

Hi Zap,

Thanks for your advice dude but the first thing I do on a fresh install of Vista is change the power button to Shutdown. No idea why Microsoft decided to make the default Sleep, it confuses so many people.

laze

[smargh]

The yellow stuff is what they plaster over some of the things to stop them moving or resonating - solder doesn't like vibrations.

I think leaky capacitor gunk is normally dark brown burned style stuff.

[just_laze]

Oh, that's good to know. So there's nothing wrong with the PSU then.

I'm pretty convinced it's a piece of hardware preventing the operating system from shutting down correctly. A driver not unloading or whatever. Perhaps I'll just install Windows 7 release candidate and be done with it.

laze

[Singh400]

Those 'in-use registry' errors could be the cause. Make sure the User Profile Hive Cleanup service is up and running (in Services.msc).

[just_laze]

I've installed Windows 7 RC. Problem gone.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

laze