Help - laptop won't shut down

[Squash64]

My laptop won't shut down.  I haven't done anything different to usual, but there is the message saying 'shutting down' with a whirly thing at the side.

It's been like that for about half an hour.

What can I do?

[Squash64]

[jimtheworzel]

un plug from mains remove battery

[lewic]

Something is probably running in the background which shouldnt be! It might be trying to install a Windows update, or run a virus scan. Or sometimes a wireless connection will cause problems. Try turning the wireless off (on the laptop) and remove any USB devices.

If this doesnt work you can force it to shut down by holding the power button in for a few seconds.

...and when you start it up again, run all the Windows updates/virus scans, just in case it is a virus!

[Squash64]

un plug from mains remove battery

Thanks Jim, tried that but no luck.

[Squash64]

Something is probably running in the background which shouldnt be! It might be trying to install a Windows update, or run a virus scan. Or sometimes a wireless connection will cause problems. Try turning the wireless off (on the laptop) and remove any USB devices.

If this doesnt work you can force it to shut down by holding the power button in for a few seconds.

...and when you start it up again, run all the Windows updates/virus scans, just in case it is a virus!

Holding the power button worked!
Thank you so much, I'll have to remember that if it happens again, and I will run the virus stuff when I put it on again.

[chriscross1966]

WHen you start up, let it get going and settle down for 10 minutes or so.
Do  Ctrl-Alt-Del and select "Taskl Manager".
Select the "Processes" tab and make a note of all running processes.
When you go to shut down do the same though start off with "Applications" and make sure it's empty. If it isn't force all applications to quit by highlighting them and selecting "End Application"
Kill any process not on you list.
Then try to shut down....

If that doesn't work, install Linux.....

chrisc