Shutting Down/Turning off

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Im Running on Windows XP SP2 Free Space: 11.7GB Used Space: 95.1GB Total Capacity: 106GB ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Okay, well I'm having a trouble turning off my computer because when I click the "Turn off Computer" on "Start" menu, my computer loads really slow…and that is something new, so I have to use the "Task Manager" to Shut Down my computer….and also It takes like 10 minutes for the computer to shut down…I dont know why, it used to be like just 2 Minutes….. So my main problems are: -Computer slows down when "Turn off Computer" is clicked….and the small window that shows the three buttons "Stand By" , "Turn off" and "Restart"….that windows wont show up…. -When the computer is shutting down by itself, it takes like 10 minutes to shut down. (The Slow part is when the computer says "Shutting Down Computer." THANKS

Some information here:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowshutdown.htm

and more "specific" and "complicated" information about a huge variety of software and hardware issues here:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

It is curious to me that your listed a description of your hard drive.
Curious, because that is the first thing I thought about……. "I wonder how much free space the user has on their Hard Drive?"

Your 10% is "way" below recommended levels.
WinXP and applications that you use will require quite a bit of space "on the hard drive" to open and run.
Part of this is because physical RAM may not be sufficient to handle all the operating system and the applications, so Windows will commandere a chunk of HD space as Virtual Memory/Page File to use in processing information for the operating system and applications.

With a "chunk" of your remaining 10% Free Space being used when your machine is running, your operating system doesn't have much "wiggle room" when opening and closing applications. When you Shut Down, your operating system goes through a process of "putting everything away" so that all your programs and data get saved and everthing is where it should be when you want to start again.

I'll bet that with only 10% Free Space, you Hard Drive has become quite fragmented.

If at all possible, consider freeing up as much Hard Drive space as you can, hopefully at least 25% free Space total or more.

You can do this by saving data, images, media to CD.
You can do this by uninstalling programs that you don't use anymore.
You can do this by removing "junk files".

Once you've backed-up, uninstalled, and deleted junk files, run your Disk Defragmenter!

Let us know if getting more Free Space helped. And if either of the linked resources helps please let us know.

Best Regards

Here's the recommended "manual" method of removing temp and junk files:

To clean out all the temporary files and cookies on your system.
Go to
Start - Run - (type) "cleanmgr" without the quotes.
Let it scan your system for files to remove.
Check these three boxes and then press ok to remove:
Temporary Files,
Temporary Internet Files,
Recycle Bin.

Then GoTo:
Start - Find/search - Files or folders - in the named box, type: *.tmp
When the list is generated, choose
Edit - select all - File - delete.

Note: If you cannot delete them all at once because you have too many, then click and hold ctrl and highlight a batch of them at a time. Once highlighted, R-click over the highlight and select delete.

Then use
Start - Run - (type) "%temp%" (without the quotes).
Delete the entire contents of that "temp" folder
(use Edit - Select All - press "Delete", click "Yes").

Then,
Empty your Temporary Internet Cache completely.
Close all instances of Outlook and Internet Explorer,
then use "Control Panel - Internet Options - General tab and click the "Delete File" button.
When prompted place a check in: "Delete all offline content", then click OK.

Then, use Windows Explorer to clean out ALL the other temp folders on your system
(navigate to the folder, (as listed below)
use "Edit - Select All", press "Delete", click "Yes"

* C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp\
* C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\
* C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp\

* C:\Windows\Prefetch\

* Empty your "Recycle Bin".

Note: This is a long manual way to clear out .tmp files. It is safe and highly recommended.

Eventually you may wish to use a "tool" to do this procedure for you on a regular basis.
Download: CleanUp! 4.0 from http://www.stevengould.org
Read about all the options for using this device and use it only after you are satisfied that you understand what it will do for you. I use it regularly, and have a squeaky clean computer as a result.

Best Regards

[attachment removed]"Then, use Windows Explorer to clean out ALL the other temp folders on your system (navigate to the folder, (as listed below) use "Edit - Select All", press "Delete", click "Yes" * C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp\ * C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\ * C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp\" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dough, I read with interest and executed your guidance regarding the post SHUTTING DOWN/TURNING OFF. Can you give more details how to access through Documents/settings. I have enclosed a screen shot here as I cannot find local settings at all………sorry! One more question and this is regarding further PCPitstop tests? Do I post them here as they seem to me to give personal details of ISP'S and even real names of the relevant computers? OR to PM where only you would see them? "Will you please run a fresh PCPitstop Full Test and post the TechExpress back into a PM reply so I can have a look at how your machine is currently running?" I know your busy, but I did do as you requested which I quote above. Thanks tallin

Hi Tallin,

In order to view "local settings" go to Windows Explorer - Tools - Folder Options - View (tab)
In the scroll window "un-check" the item that refers to "hide system and hidden files".

Now when you navigate in C:\Documents and Settings\"your username"\ you will be able to see "Local Settings" and inside of local settings you'll see Temp and Temporary Internet Files.

As to the PCPitstop Full test, I have not run into the concern that you present, unless the the owner/user actually named the computer by his/her own full legal name.

I have seen such information in HighJackThis Logs, but I just edit it out with XXXX's if I find something like an IP. or email address

Most often people name their computer something like "Work Computer" or "Home computer", or "Dougs Nightmare to Fix" or some other playful name.
I went back and looked at your Pit Test.
Your computer's name is not listed, and neither is your own.
Here's the identifying information that the Pit Test gives about your machine:

Brand/Model System Manufacturer System Name
Type Desktop
Serial Number SYS-1234567890
BIOS Award Software, Inc. ASUS P4S800MX ACPI BIOS Revision 1010 09/02/2004
System Board ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4S800MX REV 1.xx

Nothing in the above box gives away any proprietary or personal information.


Here's the information that the Pit Test lists regarding your internet connection:

External IP Address 203.26.xxx.xxx
Internal IP Address 220.245.xxx.xxx

Again, nothing proprietary or capable of giving away any personal information.
The bolded "x's" conceal any specific address information.
The first two numbers
220.26
220.245
may give away the fact that you are on the other side of the International Dateline from me and share those same prefix numbers with hundreds of thousands of other internet users in your internet Zone……. but again, nothing proprietary or personally identifying.

Browser MSIE 6.0; SV1; sensis; .NET CLR 1.1.4322

the above information just describes the common carriers that you have allowed to access your IE browser and represent the global entities of NetClear, Microsoft Internet Explorer, An Australian advertizing agency called Sensis, and something called SV1 which might be a Sirius Radio connection, a Web Hosting company, or a back door to a Cray Computer installation in Texas……….. Who knows?
again, no proprietary or personally reveiling data.
By the way, unless you wanted that Sensis Advertizing agency to have access to your machine, I'd dump it.


I'm not saying it can't happen, but I just don't see anything compromising yours.
In the event that you still have concerns, please be more specific about what you are noticing.

Best Regards,
Doug

Hi Tallin,

In order to view "local settings" go to Windows Explorer - Tools - Folder Options - View (tab)
In the scroll window "un-check" the item that refers to "hide system and hidden files".

Now when you navigate in C:\Documents and Settings\"your username"\ you will be able to see "Local Settings" and inside of local settings you'll see Temp and Temporary Internet Files.

As to the PCPitstop Full test, I have not run into the concern that you present, unless the the owner/user actually named the computer by his/her own full legal name.

I have seen such information in HighJackThis Logs, but I just edit it out with XXXX's if I find something like an IP. or email address

Most often people name their computer something like "Work Computer" or "Home computer", or "Dougs Nightmare to Fix" or some other playful name.
I went back and looked at your Pit Test.
Your computer's name is not listed, and neither is your own.
Here's the identifying information that the Pit Test gives about your machine:

Brand/Model System Manufacturer System Name
Type Desktop
Serial Number SYS-1234567890
BIOS Award Software, Inc. ASUS P4S800MX ACPI BIOS Revision 1010 09/02/2004
System Board ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4S800MX REV 1.xx

Nothing in the above box gives away any proprietary or personal information.


Here's the information that the Pit Test lists regarding your internet connection:

External IP Address 203.26.xxx.xxx
Internal IP Address 220.245.xxx.xxx

Again, nothing proprietary or capable of giving away any personal information.
The bolded "x's" conceal any specific address information.
The first two numbers
220.26
220.245
may give away the fact that you are on the other side of the International Dateline from me and share those same prefix numbers with hundreds of thousands of other internet users in your internet Zone……. but again, nothing proprietary or personally identifying.

Browser MSIE 6.0; SV1; sensis; .NET CLR 1.1.4322

the above information just describes the common carriers that you have allowed to access your IE browser and represent the global entities of NetClear, Microsoft Internet Explorer, An Australian advertizing agency called Sensis, and something called SV1 which might be a Sirius Radio connection, a Web Hosting company, or a back door to a Cray Computer installation in Texas……….. Who knows?
again, no proprietary or personally reveiling data.
By the way, unless you wanted that Sensis Advertizing agency to have access to your machine, I'd dump it.


I'm not saying it can't happen, but I just don't see anything compromising yours.
In the event that you still have concerns, please be more specific about what you are noticing.

Best Regards,
Doug

Thanks Dough -

I think I must see PCPITSTOP differently as I am logged in and can definately see my name in full. Never mind, I understand what you say is correct.

Do you mean uninstal which I use constantly? If it is dangerous I will, but I did not think it was an advertising Agency? It tells me it is a search engine for Australians!

"Now when you navigate in C:\Documents and Settings\"your username"\ you will be able to see "Local Settings" and inside of local settings you'll see Temp and Temporary Internet Files."

I found my way to the above, but when I tried to delete files in "Temp and Temporary Internet Files" I ran into all sorts of problems - ie: "could not delete ram/these files are being used by another program/" I had nothing else open at the time.

I backed off as I am not knowledged enough to play about in that area.

I think I am dough's nightmare and beyond fixing!!!

I take it I would post further PCPITSTOP tests to Tom Coyote appropriate forum….okay?

kind regards,

Hi Tallin,

Sorry about the delay in responding. I had a full reply typed out, and then had a power failure here.
Dang! Lotsa work in this little Add Reply window, that got wiped out.

So I'm going to take it a little at a time, but eventually respond to all of your questions.

I think I must see PCPITSTOP differently as I am logged in and can definately see my name in full.

You are absolutely right. When the owner/user views Test Results, the actual detailed information appears for the owner/user only. For instance, I can see all of the numbers representing my actual External and Internal IP Addresses. But TechExpress "blanks out" any/all personally identifiable information for the very reason that you expressed your concern.

For example, you can go here to view my machine's TechExpress:
TechExpress link for your current results:
http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress.asp?id=0SN00W3PNJCSDNMQ

You'll notice that the IP Addresses are "blanked out".

Hope this make you feel more confident about posting the results from this highly useful tool at PCPitstop.

More later,
Doug

Navigate to your own Pit Test Results by using the TechExpress link that you posted to me.
You'll find the stuff blanked out just like when you view mine.

Dough - Goodness all that work and power off - Get a UPS! Thanks and yes, I see what you mean - you certainly have a slim computer there? Please, no apologies regarding replies, I am so lucky to have you at the other end, no demand on time replies here. I downloaded "Cleanup" customised the options, held my breath and clicked "Cleanup". The noice was enough to frighten me to death!! Many thanks to you,