This PC is brand new, out of the box. It's configured with RAID 1, and I installed XP myself. Install/RAID config went off without a hitch, and now I'm installing my MoBo drivers. Everytime I attempt to restart, the machine hangs at the "Windows is shutting down" screen, and also at the "Windows is starting up" screen. It does eventually shut down/start up, but it generally takes about 15-20 minutes to do so. Brand new PC, hasn't even been on a network yet, so it can't be virus related. This problem happened from the very first Windows logon/logoff. I do believe I had this problem before, and can't remember for the life of me what the fix was. Thought maybe something in the BIOS, but not sure. Figured I'd ask the best of the best here on Tek Tips... :-D
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XP Pro hangs at startup/shutdown
- Thread starter DoahMonty
- Start date
See how things after you have installed all the drivers that are on those CD's that came with the computer.
You may even have a Bios update waiting for you if you check the Motherboard manufacturer's site?
SHUTDOWN & RESTART TROUBLESHOOTING
You may even have a Bios update waiting for you if you check the Motherboard manufacturer's site?
SHUTDOWN & RESTART TROUBLESHOOTING
- Thread starter
- #3
After I installed all of the MoBo drivers, it seems to work ok... It still gives me the screen that says "it is now safe to turn off your computer"... I know that's changeable... No biggie... If the problem persists, I'll repost, but for now, all seems ok... ty for the reply.
jerichardson
Technical User
If it continues after the drivers it could be a DNS problem which is probably easily solved by ipconfig /release then ipconfig /renew. Or make sure WINS is on 
The "it is now safe to turn off your computer" is likely caused by a lack of an ACPI driver. If you go into the Device Manager and under the Computer drop down if it shows "Stardard PC" instead of "ACPI multi/uniprocessor PC" then you need to do a BIOS upgrade. I just had the exact same problem on 2 identical machines and after 4 days of messing around with it that's all it was.
The "it is now safe to turn off your computer" is likely caused by a lack of an ACPI driver. If you go into the Device Manager and under the Computer drop down if it shows "Stardard PC" instead of "ACPI multi/uniprocessor PC" then you need to do a BIOS upgrade. I just had the exact same problem on 2 identical machines and after 4 days of messing around with it that's all it was.
- Thread starter
- #5
jerichardson - thanks for the advice.
Just out of curiosity (not doubting you) how would DNS cause a hang like that?
For the record, it did cease after the drivers were installed. I haven't gotten around to the "it's now safe..." message yet tho. Will definitely try your suggestion. Thanks.
Just out of curiosity (not doubting you) how would DNS cause a hang like that?
For the record, it did cease after the drivers were installed. I haven't gotten around to the "it's now safe..." message yet tho. Will definitely try your suggestion. Thanks.
jerichardson,
The only time I've seen incorrect DNS settings cause a computer to "hang" like this is when the computer was a member of a domain and the DNS settings were not manually entered. Even then, it didn't hang on startup or shutdown - but only when a user was logging on. The computer wouldn't hang, just take about 5 minutes to log on. As soon as I manually entered the DNS settings - everything was fine.
The only time I've seen incorrect DNS settings cause a computer to "hang" like this is when the computer was a member of a domain and the DNS settings were not manually entered. Even then, it didn't hang on startup or shutdown - but only when a user was logging on. The computer wouldn't hang, just take about 5 minutes to log on. As soon as I manually entered the DNS settings - everything was fine.
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