Any help please.

I have a desktop running XP and all of a sudden it is running reaslly slowly, like swapping between IE pages, swapping between applications etc. Also shutdown doesn't work anymore. shutdown being 'Start', 'Turn Off Computer', 'Turn Off'. I have to physically remove the power for it to shutdown.

Have run Anti VIrus, Ad-Aware and Spybot but nothing shows up, all are at the most latest updates.

Hmmm stumped !!!

Hi Chris,
I'm running IE via TOT, last couple of days it has been slooooow.
Today i downloaded IE 8 which has just come out, solved the problem. I don't know wither Microsoft was working on this update and this caused the problem or not, so i suggest you try downloading IE 8. Works great so far.
Cheers Doug.

Chriss wrote:Any help please.

I have a desktop running XP and all of a sudden it is running reaslly slowly, like swapping between IE pages, swapping between applications etc. Also shutdown doesn't work anymore. shutdown being 'Start', 'Turn Off Computer', 'Turn Off'. I have to physically remove the power for it to shutdown.

Have run Anti VIrus, Ad-Aware and Spybot but nothing shows up, all are at the most latest updates.

Hmmm stumped !!!

Don't think it has anything to do with IE, just guessing but maybe hard drive full or memory issue. Check to see how space you have in your hard drive.

I've had problems like that in the past, which it turned out were caused by damage to my Hard Drive (caused by electrical surges).

You could do as Papa suggests and maybe also do a de-frag, repair or check disc etc.

I'd bet on malware or some virus. To do a one time thorough check, run this program;

http://www.freedrweb.com/download+cureit/

It is a big download and takes quite a while to download and then complete the scan, but it is supposedly the best free scanner available.

Well I've run the lot, updated the adaware and spyware again and rerun, still won't shutdown, updated antivirus rerun still won't shutdown, system restore to 2 months ago, still won't shutdown, run ccleaner. still won't shutdown, run ccleaner registry repair, still won't shutdown, run the program linked above, still won't shutdown.

Also found out it won't restart either and takes an age to boot up... Any other ideas please before I throw it to the PC repair man

Sounds to me like you have a corrupt Windows file..
Try running Windows in safe mode & see if that will identify where the problem is....
Info about running in safe mode here...

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutoria ... ial61.html

Another thing is your registry. As your pc shuts down it accesses the registry to see if any program has changed. When I run CCleaner I usually use the registry feature and click scan for issues. You may want to do a back up of your registry when prompted to be on the safe side. So far I have found it reliable in cleaning the registry after software installs/un-installs. I used to use a third part registry cleaner but I forget the name of it. I'm trying a new one now and will report back with name and link.

Edit: Just downloaded Window Registry Repair... It scanned and reported back what seemed like hundreds of redundant entries and then cleaned them. Download here: Windows Registry Repair

I agree with most of the already stated, but that is only the OS(operating system) i.e. Window XP,Vista or Windows 7.

Always do the easiest and simplest diagnostics 1st.

1. It's true, hard drives can be an issue, but, this can be caused by the Mother Boards BIOS (basic, input, out-put system), or what most people fail to think about, is the simple 300 baht power supply.
2. On restart or reboot, black screen, before the OS appears press Delete, to access BIOS settings. Check your settings. You can also look at system settings, in control panel, click system, hardaware, and find the manufacture, got to website, check your specs, or simply open the PC, and look at the manufacturer printed on the Motherboard itself, after you power down and un-plug, of course.
3. Here in Thailand, also remember your PC is very warm, or I should say very hot. If you have a fairly new PC, your PC's BIOS will show you temperatures of the ambient temps in the case itself as well as what the processor temp is.
4. Aside from incorrect BIOS settings, because it is hotter here, your power supply is subject to failure very easily, especially with all the power surges we get, and if you have not grounded your PC.
5. The power supply is the engine of your PC, not the processor, memory or OS.
All peripherals, and software will never function correctly if you don't have a properly rated power supply to run that said.
6. If all seems good on the BIOS end, restart to the OS, then check MSCONFIG settings 1st, then check registry, only if you know how to edit the reg. If not, you can use some of the reg fix softwares.
7. If you keep having shut down/restart issues, most likely it's not software, hard-drive, or bios. It's your power supply dying. This is the most common issue for many PC's, that is overlooked. Very simple, very inexpensive, and saves a lot of time, and unnecessary spending, on other non-essential issues for a mere 300-400 BHT. It's very hot here, and power supplies fail all the time.
8. Do not always think it's a software issue. Keep your PC cool as possible. It is way too hot here for PC's. Notebooks, or some say Laptops, have the worst heat issues here. Purchase and use a home PC, or a MAC if your brave.
9. Do simple searches on PC cooling, bios, config sys, power supplies, motherboards and so on. Simple google searches will go a long ways, and save you some heart ache.
10. Learn what PC you have and it's components, and it will save you all sorts of troubles.

A site to help you all, http://computer.howstuffworks.com/bios.htm

Update, went to speak with the young lad in the local PC repair shop, he said when I click the 'Turn Off' button after 'Start' and 'Turn Off Computer' hold the 'Control' key down, seems to work, and cured the problem, now the PC wakes up and shuts down correctly

Anyone heard of this and if so what has the control key done (apart from clear the problem that is)

Takes me back to having a similar problem in Windows 98. Hold the shift key starting up etc. Holding down the control key is killing all the shutdown processes. Do you have to hold control key every time now?

At least it wasn't a total loss. Now you know your computer doesn't have any nasty bugs.

Do you by any chance use Zone Alarm? That program sometimes causes slow boots and slow or freeze up shutdowns.

I Alan, no it now shutsdown correctly.

Glalt, you are so right, I think I've run every know cleanup in the book..... no I don't use Zone Alarm.

I am glad I read all the post because I was going to recommend getting a external H/D to save all
your important data like photos & music etc and format the hard drive & re install win xp but you found the answer which it some thing I will use now in the future if that problem arises in my PC

Yes, another thing within all of M.S. Os's is the control+alt+delete and you have the option to to shut down, but that's just a cheater way to band-aid the problem.

Look at your key board, as it it should be newer than 10 years old. Does it have a wake up key, a sleep key, and a power key? If so, those are inherent to the MB BIOS. Hit any one of those, and it does what it supposed to do. Check the BIOS setting for start up/shut down, etc.

If not, enter your BIOS screen to edit, and with the slight touch of any key, your PC will shut down, hibernate, sleep, or even power up, by the simple movement of the mouse, or any key touched on the key board.

The BIOS is designed to help you, the user. Use the BIOS.

It's all in the BIOS. These Thai shops, are good at getting your cash, so bone up on some studies.

Even with a bad power supply, your PC will still function, but not the way it should.

Buy a new power supply, rated for your machine, and configure the BIOS. It's all there, and easy. Look at the BIOS settings, 1st.

Software is just software, but if your BIOS is screwed from start, you get nothing but problems, Shortcuts in the software, stupid, and an idiotic band-aid of tricks. Keep in mind you can also re-flash to the current BIOS software via the manufacturers website.

Updating XP, VISTA, WIN 7, is nothing, if you don't update the main boards BIOS, and it incorporated peripherals.