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Thread ID: 108506 2010-03-31 21:31:00 Windows 7 Won't Shut Down ryanjames.powell (13554) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
871534 2010-04-22 11:25:00 Dont get it over the net with the program. Download the BIOS (then load it) if you want to use Windows. Otherwise it'll freeze and kill the BIOS. Then you'll have to use crashfree BIOS to restore the original BIOS

Go into the BIOS, it'll probably support EZ-Flash 2 (copy the unzipped update to a flash drive. It'll bring up a window / select the update, then it'll flash the BIOS). This will save you using DOS to do it, or using EZ-flash. Or windows
Speedy Gonzales (78)
871535 2010-04-22 11:27:00 As I said in my first post, there is nothing in the event logs. By the way, I am not a novice user, Never said you were, but did you look in the event log or the reliability log - two different things. The event logs are hopeless.

Something that shows in the reliability Log wont always show in the event logs.Classic Example (www.imagef1.net.nz) look at these errors-- the only one that showed in the event log was Explorer locking up.
wainuitech (129)
871536 2010-04-22 11:39:00 Never said you were, but did you look in the event log or the reliability log - two different things. The event logs are hopeless.

Something that shows in the reliability Log wont always show in the event logs.Classic Example (www.imagef1.net.nz) look at these errors-- the only one that showed in the event log was Explorer locking up.

OK, sorry, yes I did look in the reliability log, nothing there either. I just sort of assumed that they would both show the same thing though, as Reliability Log seems like a "for dummies" version of the Event Log. But yes, I did check.

It appears that Windows actually does shut down, the computer just doesn't power down. If do a hard power down at the point where it stops, Windows does not tell me that I did not shut down properly in the event logs or anything. It simply appears to be a normal shutdown from Windows' point of view, which leads me to believe that the BIOS update should help. We shall see. I am also installing the latest ATi drivers, as the ones I have are well out of date (well, a few months out of date anyway).
ryanjames.powell (13554)
871537 2010-04-22 11:42:00 Dont get it over the net with the program. Download the BIOS (then load it) if you want to use Windows. Otherwise it'll freeze and kill the BIOS. Then you'll have to use crashfree BIOS to restore the original BIOS

Go into the BIOS, it'll probably support EZ-Flash 2 (copy the unzipped update to a flash drive. It'll bring up a window / select the update, then it'll flash the BIOS). This will save you using DOS to do it, or using EZ-flash. Or windows

Yes, I did end up using EZ-Flash 2 (for some reason it couldn't read the file the first time I tried, I think maybe it requires the filename to be DOS compatible? ie 8 Characters or less). The problem I had with the program was that it downloaded the update but when it came to flashing, it just said it couldnt find a registry key or something and wouldn't do it.
ryanjames.powell (13554)
871538 2010-04-22 21:10:00 Try some basic trouble shooting - Start the PC in safe mode a couple of times, see if it shuts down correctly every time that way. IF it does, then its a driver problem or some program is not closing down correctly.(which is a common cause in any windows OS)

If it shuts down in safe mode OK, then try a clean boot options - see what happens. If its determined its a program stopping it from shutting down, you can go into msconfig, disable everything thats not required for the PC to start. Then enable one item/program at a time until it plays up again.

In the past with XP / Vista I have seen damaged Creative SoundBlaster drivers cause this sort of problem as well. Have a look at Post number 6 (www.windowsbbs.com) -- May be your problem as well.
wainuitech (129)
871539 2010-04-25 07:40:00 Well, at the risk of jinxing it again, I think it is fixed. I have tried about 5 times to shut it down and it shuts down every time.

So it was either the graphics driver or the BIOS. I also updated the Dolby Digital Live part of my sound card driver, but this seems unlikely to be it.

Thanks for your help guys.
ryanjames.powell (13554)
871540 2010-04-25 08:52:00 Good that it appears to be fixed. :)

Just a little constructive advice. ( Please dont take it as negative - but some learning advice).

What are they teaching these days :groan:

Where you say you are doing a computer course, and used to work as a sys admin, while that's all good and fine. I notice under your user name you say computer Technician ? A real tech would know the following:

The basic rules to fixes appear not to have been adhere to. Meaning --
So it was either the graphics driver or the BIOS. I also updated the Dolby Digital Live part of my sound card driver, but this seems unlikely to be it. Ok changed three things, all three are capable of causing a PC not to shut down -- So which one was the actual fault??

Basic rules - change one thing at a time.

Lets say instead of fixing it one of the changes made it worse - If you are working on a customers PC, they are not paying you to experiment.

IF it had have gone the other way and made things worse which do you "undo" ?

Doing one thing at a time - at least if something does turn to custard, you know exactly what it was and the steps to rectify it.
wainuitech (129)
871541 2010-04-25 11:35:00 Very good advice to any of us, WT! Occasionally I have to tell myself off for this 'sin'.

Hope you have a boiler plate for the reliability log advice! That info is very often overlooked, eh.
linw (53)
871542 2010-04-25 18:25:00 hammer









just kidding :D
h4rsheys (15319)
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