Recently had a man come to the house and install a flat screen monitor
to my Gateway computer, windows 98.  When I am finished and want to
shut down, I always go to "Start", and click on "Shut Down" when a  
window appears and lists Re-start, shut down, and two other choices. 
For the 3 years I've owned my computer all I have to do is shut down
that way.  I have Net Zero and before shutting down completely it also
shows a window, (before the other window shows) and gives option Shut
Down, Yes, No.  I click Yes and Net Zero disappears and says session
is ended and shutting down.  However, I have to go to Start, shut
down, and a window appears, as it has for 3 years, and lists 4
options, including Shut Down, which all I do is click on it and it
shuts down.  However, it doesn't shut down, but remains on.  This
means I have to turn my computer off by pressing the on/off button,
which results in having to wait when I turn my computer on the next
time, with Scan Disk is searching computer for errors, because
computer was not shut down properly.  I'm sure this is confusing to
you, but I don't know how else to explain it.  My neighbor has the
same trouble and didn't get a new monitor, but added a new printer,
(same person installed it for her.)  Know what is wrong?

It sounds like you have either a service or program that is hanging
when you try to shut down the computer.

Try shutting down any programs(bottom right of your screen) that may
be running before you shutdown the computer.  If this clears the
problems up slightly, you've found the culprit.

If that method works, **STOP HERE**

Alternately, you can do it the hard way

start --> run --> regedit

It is strongly recommended that you create a back-up of your registry
in case you mess up.  All changes are permanent.

To back-up:  

Registry --> Export Registry File

Pick a safe place.  Remember it.

Click on the + next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, go to "System",
"CurrentControlSet", Click on the word "Control"

On the right side of the screen, right click on the white space, mouse
over to "new", and choose "string value".

Type in "WaitToKillServiceTimeout" exactly as it (without the quotes.
It is case sensitive)

Double click on the new line on the right hand side of the window, it
should bring up a box.  Type "200" and press ok.

If that doesn't help, come back :)

Me?

I would get the guy in who installed it and get him to fix it for free.

Don't start tinkering yourself unless you know what you are doing.

Forget everything buddy....
Just clear off your operating system drive, and install the o/s freshly. 
y to hang arnd with unneccessary stuff, when u have a better way out.

chao.

Resources to Help Troubleshoot Shutdown Problems in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q308029

Windows XP Shut Down Issues:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_restart.htm

Troubleshooters for Windows XP Shut Down:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

Troubleshooting Windows XP Shutdown Issues:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/shutdown_issues_in_xp.htm

Article of interest:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article06-453

Poweroff at Shutdown
If your computer does not turn off the power when doing a shutdown
(even though you have the correct BIOS and Power settings), you may
need to edit the registry.

Start | Run
Then type Regedit

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Edit the key PowerOffActive and give it a value of 1
You can do the same in HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop

Note you can save the registry key first by:
On the File menu, click Export.
In the File name box, type SaveKey, and then click Save.
Or create a system restore point prior to editing.
Note: If the registry key is not there, you can simply create one
by going edit | new.

HOW TO: Back Up, Edit, and Restore the Registry in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;322756

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems
that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Use the
information provided at your own risk.

This is a known issue with windows 98 and windows 98 second edition. I
have had hundreds of these computers come into my repair room with the
same problems, with different causes. Some were fixed with a "windows
98 hotfix" which you can download (depending on your version). This
might help too: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;202633
9 out of 10 I was able to fix, a few of them I could never figure out. Good luck!
But in all likelihood the new advanced flatscreen just wont play nice with old 98.

Hi hay1246-ga,

Try not selecting "Shut down" when closing Net Zero. Windows 98 has
lots of problems with applications hanging (not closing properly). 
You should be able to simply exit NetZero or go to Start and shutdown
Windows (it will automatically attempt to closeout NetZero for you).

Also make sure that you have an anti-virus program running because
*nothing is free* so you might have any number of Trojan horse
programs running on your computer (these are secret programs that use
your internet connection without your permission -- usually embedded
in *free* programs online).

You may also check out the Task List in Windows 98 (Ctrl-Alt-Delete
then select Task List...)to see what programs are running. Write the
list of programs down so that we can determine if a more serious
problem is occurring or if a known incompatible program is running.

I am a computer consultant so post back and I will see what else I can
do to assist you...

Tommie

Thanks to all of you who answered my shutting down computer.  I'm
going to print out the answers and try ones I think I could handle. 
I'm not nearly as computer "savvy" as some of the suggestions aren't
something I can follow through on.  I'm going to pick out some of them
and see what happens.  Thanks again and I'll let you know if I can
correct it and also what method I used.