Hello eusebius,
Thank you for your question.
One of the best resources for this type of problem is this page:
http://aumha.org/win4/a/shtdwnme.php
WINDOWS SHUTDOWN & RESTART CENTER
WINDOWS MILLENNIUM EDITION
Version 6.1 — Last updated May 19, 2003
They note:
"Shutdown problems in Windows Millennium Edition can be caused by many
factors including, but not limited to: a damaged exit sound file;
incorrectly configured or damaged hardware; conflicting programs, or
an incompatible, damaged, or conflicting device driver. This article
can be used to troubleshoot the possible causes. Many of these issues
preexisted Win ME, and should be approached through my general Windows
Shutdown troubleshooting article. The present articles addresses those
additional items that are unique to the Win ME shutdown problem...
and:
...Microsoft has formally acknowledged that there is a shutdown and
restart problem in Windows Millennium. In email correspondence,
Microsoft particularly cited an inability for Win ME to force all
running programs to shut down in preparation for a system restart or
shutdown. Here are the most promising approaches for resolving
shutdown problems unique to Win ME:..."
Do read this article. I'm afraid it is going to be a bit of trial and
error as there are many possibilities for what could be causing your
particular problem, but, as you note, it is not likely to be
SuperCleaner.
You will also want to visit this page on General Windows Shutdown
problems not specific to ME. These could also be at the cause of your
problem:
http://aumha.org/win4/a/shutdown.htm
WINDOWS SHUTDOWN & RESTART CENTER
TROUBLESHOOTING in 15 STEPS
Version 11.10 — Last updated May 19, 2003
As you can see, there are 15 steps to tracking down the cause of the
problem.
Microsoft also has a page in its Knowledgebase for tracking down ME
Shutdown Problems:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=273746
How to Troubleshoot Windows Me Shutdown Problems
This article describes troubleshooting steps that may help you solve
problems that occur when you shut down Windows Millennium Edition
(Me). This information is also available in the Windows Me Startup and
Shutdown Troubleshooting Wizard. Microsoft recommends using this
wizard, but this text-based article is available for your convenience.
The Windows Me Startup and Shutdown Troubleshooting Wizard is located
in the Help and Support Center in Windows Me or at the following
Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/windows/tshoot/
There are numerous other articles and discussions on ME shutdown
problems, but the above are fairly thorough and with luck will uncover
your problem. If not, you might wish to recreate my search results for
other sources of information:
windows me shutdown problem OR error
://www.google.com/search?q=windows%20me%20shutdown%20problem%20OR%20error
And shutting down "dirty" is never a good idea. It can leave files
behind that are not closed properly and can damage data that has not
been properly saved from a clean shutdown. Do try to avoid it whenever
possible.
I trust my research has provided excellent sources of information on
the causes of this problem. If a link above should fail to work or
anything require further explanation or research, please do post a
Request for Clarification prior to rating the answer and closing the
question and I will be pleased to assist further.
Regards,
-=clouseau=- |
Request for Answer Clarification by
eusebius-ga
on
22 May 2003 12:49 PDT
Hello clouseau,
Thank you for your prompt and helpful reply.
The checklists on your various web sites are daunting. Do you think
there is any way to narrow down the troubleshooting choices? My
shutdown problem occurs only under two circumstances: after the
computer has been running for several hours, and after I run
SuperCleaner, which I usually do just before shutting down the
machine. In other words, I have (so far, anyway!) never had shutdown
mishaps if I run SuperCleaner and then shut down the computer after it
has been running for only an hour; nor are there problems if I shut
down the computer after it has been running for four hours but don't
run SuperCleaner beforehand.
Perhaps you see my quandary with the checklists. They require you to
try an adjustment or reset something, and see if the computer will
then shut down. But given the nature of my shutdown problem, it would
be pointless to try out each adjustment unless the computer has been
running for four or five hours and I've run SuperCleaner. At that
rate, it would take me several weeks to work through a check list. My
shutdown problem is rather specific: it seems connected to the length
of time the computer has been running and to cleaning the hard disk. I
wonder the problem's specific nature might narrow down the checklist
to some of the more promising items.
|
Clarification of Answer by
clouseau-ga
on
22 May 2003 13:12 PDT
Hello again,
Unfortunately, this type of error, particulalry when it involves ME,
may take quite a bit of trial and error to discover the cause.
Clarify something for me and I'll try to help further.
Does the problem occur with EITHER the computer being on for hours and
running SuperCleaner, OR when you do either one?
If it is only when the combination occurs, then I would strongly
suspect a memory problem and/or resource leak, which may be in
SuperCleaner.
If it happens without SuperCleaner, but only after being on for
several hours, that would point in a different direction.
And, have you looked at suggestions that mention the video card and
video driver? Although it might seem highly unrleated, problems of
this type are often related to video drivers. If your card is
mentioned in the above articles, it would be well worth your time to
update drivers if they are available.
Do let me know.
-=clouseau=-
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
eusebius-ga
on
23 May 2003 13:59 PDT
Once more, hi,
I appreciate your quick replies and apologize for my own lag. If you
live in the U.S. I am six to nine hours ahead of you here in Vienna,
and can get to the computer only in the evening hours.
To your most recent question first of all: its answer is more
difficult than it seems because the computer is inconsistent and
intractable in its willingness to shut down. By and large, however, my
impression is that the computer has its greatest shutdown problems
after it has both been on a long while and had SuperCleaner run. The
procedure seems less troubled if SuperCleaner has not been run, even
if the computer has been on for several hours. You point out quite
logically that all this would suggest a SuperCleaner problem, except
that I had similar problems when I used another cleaner (Internet
Sweeper) before installing SuperCleaner. (If it is in fact a cleaner
problem what is the solution [is that a pun?]? None is given on the
web sites.)
Though I felt out of my depth, I updated the video driver this evening
as you suggested. (I assume that's the same thing as a graphic card,
which is what my computer calls it.) At least I think I did; after
pressing the windows and pause/break buttons simultaneously, I went to
the device manager tab and had the update performed automatically
(Forgive me if my English computer jargon is off; my computer speaks
German.) We shall see what happens tonight on log-off.
Last night I tried the quick fix suggested on one of the web sites you
suggested: "TEMPORARILY SWITCH TO STANDARD VGA: also related to video
cards and drivers, one of the most successful 'quick fixes' for many
people, restoring their shutdown ability when a driver update would
not, is the following: In MSCONFIG, click Advanced, then check the box
marked VGA 640 x 480 x 16. Click OK twice, and let the computer
reboot. When it reboots (in standard VGA mode), return to MSCONFIG,
and uncheck the box." The computer had been on for about four hours;
after performing the above operation I ran SuperCleaner and the
comnputer shut down flawlessly, albeit with some delay.
I also activated a log-off sound, a curious fix which the site, itself
with some bafflement, suggests.
Clouseau, I will see how it goes. What is so maddening is that the
computer behaves as often as it misbehaves and can indeed shut down
without a hitch after long hours and a SuperCleaner run. I have as yet
no way of knowing whether last night's successful shutdown following
those quick fixes is the dawn of a new cooperative attitude or simply
another of my machine's wiles. In any event I did not imagine such a
drawn-out troubleshooting process, and it would not be fair to you at
the price I am paying you to string you along endlessly. So I'll knock
about the troubleshooting lists a bit, and shall post again should I
stumble or find no improvement. However, if you do have a comment
about my answer to your question I would welcome it.
I hope I don't mess up my attempt to give you a high rating.
Best,
Eusebius
|
Clarification of Answer by
clouseau-ga
on
23 May 2003 14:31 PDT
Hello again eusebius,
First, thank you for the kind words, rating and tip.
As I mentioned, this type of problem is tricky to trouble shoot.
Particulalry when it is a known problem with ME. Had you been using XP
or another version of the OS, it does become easier to track.
Video driver (or graphic card driver) problems are very high on the
list for these problems. what happens is that other programs tend to
try to write to the same area of memory held by the display driver.
Often, an update of the driver cures this. Howver, I am not sure that
the method you used actually updated your driver. Usually, one would
visit the site of the card manufacturer, compare the installed version
of the driver with the latest patches available, download and install
the new driver. Do check the version in Device Manager and compare to
the vendor's website.
Let me know how it goes. You can clarify or comment here and I will
note when you have posted new information. If the problem persists,
try to detail anything else that might help further diagnose the
problem.
Kind regards,
-=clouseau=-
|
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