I'm not sure where this topic belongs...My Windows XP SP2 will not shut down normally. I am able to bring it up and shut it down in safe mode, but not any other way without holding my on/off switch for 4 or more seconds. I also cannot generate my add/remove programs list from my control panel. I haven't discovered any other quirks as of right now. I am running the CA security suite but had a week where I didn't have any protection. I think the problem occurred around January 18th because that's when it started not shutting down normally. Here's all I've done so far. I did a system restore to a date prior to the 18th in hopes that might work. I also ran my anti-virus and anti-spyware programs to see if I could detect anything. I didn't run any of the suggestions on the web site yet because I don't know exactly what the problem is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

what suggestions...can you cut and paste a link to the site/thread

I went to the Malware section of Geeks to go! to see if any of that info. might help. That's where I was on the site. I didn't do anything suggested there because I'm not sure what's up with my system. I'm really lost about which forum I should be posting on with this problem.

What happens when you do a shutdown?

Try this: Open Task Manager (press Ctrl+Alt+Del) and click on the Processes tab.
Leave it open and do a shutdown. Watch Task Manager and see if any particular process uses a lot of the CPU.

Post back with what you see.

Ok, I opened the task manager in normal operating mode. I shut down the system and checked for CPU hogs. I saw my CA Security Suite processes bouncing back and forth on the high usage of CPU (ones I know belong to them) but I also saw a process running that I don't ever see while my system is just on. The name of the file is logonui.exe. I did not look this process up yet to see what it actually belongs to so I'm not sure if it's supposed to be there. It's one of the final processes I see before my desktop screen goes out and I get the blue screens where the system states it's saving my settings, then shutting down. Is there any way I can make the task manager hang for longer while shutting down? It's really hard to catch which processes are running because the names switch so quickly. I know a little about computers so if you direct me I'm willing to give stuff a try. Thanks so much for what you do......it's awesome that you're here!

"logonui.exe" is a normal XP process that is critical to system operation. There is no way to extend the life of Task Manager. There may be tools to record what's running at shutdown but I'm not aware of any.

I think the User Profile Hive Cleanup utility may help, give it a try.

I just want to reverify that the User Profile Hive Cleanup is what I want to do to help this problem. My system goes all the way to the final screen where it states that it's shutting down but will not shut down. It's been left on with that screen showing up to three hours and still no shut down. All that I read about the User Profile Hive Cleanup in the description seemed to tell me if I had a slow shut down, that was the program to use. My XP just won't shut down at all. I still also cannot access my Add/Remove Programs within my control panel. If you give the go ahead I will try the User Profile Hive Cleanup, but I just wanted to double check that I gave accurate info. for what's going on in my system. I await your answer and thanks!

This is one of those try and see cases I believe. It won't hurt and may very well resolve the problem. If not we'll keep working on it till we find the problem.

Edit: One fix for Add/Remove problems is to re-register some DLLs as follows:

Following from DaverSlinger Post #13, modified for clarity.

Re-register the library files in Internet Explorer

These files are all in the Windows\system32 directory of your boot drive.

1. Close all instances of Internet Explorer.
2. Open a Command prompt window by clicking Start then Run, typing cmd and pressing Enter.
3. Type regsvr32 URLMON.dll and press Enter.
4. When you receive the "DllRegisterServer and DllInstall succeeded" message, click OK.
5. Repeat for each of the following files:

* Shdocvw.dll
* Actxprxy.dll
* Oleaut32.dll
* Browseui.dll
* Shell32.dll
* scrrun.dll
* msxml.dll
* mshtml.dll
* jscript.dll
* vbscript.dll

Reset Internet Explorer (IE) Settings

1. Click Start then Run, type notepad and click OK.
2. Copy and Paste the red lines to the Notepad window:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0000031A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="ClassMoniker"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0000031A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\InprocServer32]
@="ole32.dll"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0000031A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\ProgID]
@="clsid"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\CLSID]
@="{0000031A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"


3. Click File, and then click Save.
4. In the Save in box, click Desktop.
5. In the File name box, type fix01.reg.
6. In the Save as type box, click All Files, and then click Save.
7. Click File then click Exit.
8. On the desktop, double-click fix01.reg, and then click Yes to add the information to the registry.
9. Click OK to confirm that the information in the fix01.reg file has been added to the registry.
10. Restart the computer.
11. Delete fix01.reg from the Desktop when done.

This post has been edited by Ztruker: Feb 11 2008, 02:17 PM

I have the User Profile Hive Cleanup running. I have attempted a normal shut down at least three times to no avail. Am I supposed to do anything with the utility or does it just run in the background? I also tried the fix for my Add/Remove Programs list. Everything went normally but I could not shut down to restart the computer. Not sure if that had an effect on it not working. Here's what comes up when I go to the Add/Remove Programs screen. I get the screen that's supposed to come up. On the top of the screen it says.....ok take that back. I just went back into my control panel and I can't even get the link to work for the Ad/Remove Programs at all now. It worked not five minutes ago but it's not working now. It gives me the hourglass like it's working on it and then just stays at the Control panel. My Auto Updates link doesn't work either. It does the same thing. Any ideas?

Sounds more and more like some kind of malware infection. Just follow the steps listed where you started before:

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Must-Read-B...-Log-t2852.html

Begin at Preparation: These initial steps will remove temporary files and make the malware scans that follow run faster.

ok, I will. If I need help understanding should I go to the Malware forum or should I stay here?

I'm stuck. The computer came up with a warning. "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\ATF-Cleaner.exe is not a vaild Win32 application." I can try to clean some of the files myself since I know where some of them are and I have more than one user listed on my computer. Let me know if I can try to do that based on what the ATF Cleaner would clean up. Maybe I downloaded it wrong and that's why it's not working? I await a reply......

I got an executable version of ATF Cleaner from their hompage. The link from the Malware instructions gave me a different file that wasn't an executable. I'm up to Step One. My problem is now that I have CA Security Suite which includes Anti-spyware; Anti-virus; and a firewall. I know it's not safe having two of some of these programs on the same system. Should I just disable these programs? I can't use my Add/Remove Programs to remove them. Patiently awaiting some further instructions.

Post in the malware forum. They should be able to help you start the cleanup.

Malware Removal Forum.

Make sure you read the You Must Read This Before Posting A Hijackthis Log article before posting.

Please be patient, this is a very active anti-malware site and the malware removal experts are extremely busy. It can take 1 to 3 days for them to get to you. I know you don't want to wait but it can't be helped.

Should I ask to have my topic moved to the Malware forum or should I start a new topic? I don't want to start a new topic if the info from here would help in the Malware forum.