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    D820 - Not shutting down properly sometimes

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by SFA, Jun 10, 2006.

  1. SFA

    SFA Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi everyone. So I have a Dell D820 which I got a couple of months ago. Everything has been great, until lately (the last 2 weeks or so), when I go to Shutdown the laptop, I get the "explorer.exe isn't reponding. Do you want to end the task" window, with the same thing happening to powermeter.exe (or something like powermtr.exe).

    I have downloaded all the updates frrom the windows site. I also have defragged, used scandisk, etc.. I have also ran Ad-Aware too.

    I have no idea what the problem is. I am worried it could be something wrong with my hardware? I haven't called Dell support yet, but I have a feeling I will get the usual "format and reinstall XP" answer.

    Anyone have an idea? I don't have a virus scanner installed on my laptop yet. I just can't afford ot buy one right now (I don't know any good free ones either)
     
    SFA, Jun 10, 2006
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  2. compsavy

    compsavy Notebook Deity

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    compsavy, Jun 10, 2006
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  3. SFA

    SFA Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just bringing this to the top.. hopefully someone will know?
     
    SFA, Jun 11, 2006
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  4. drakematthew

    drakematthew Notebook Enthusiast

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    My desktop does that on occasion if I don't shut it down properly the last time. It's annoying but no big deal <I think>. It'll go away. Of course, that's just from observation from a novice computer user (i.e., no comp sci degree here hehe).
     
    drakematthew, Jun 11, 2006
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  5. Amber

    Amber Notebook Prophet NBR Reviewer

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    If you have recently installed software lately, that might be causing the problem. You might try looking through your software programs and figuring if you've added anything in the past couple of weeks.

    Another option is that you can force your computer to shut down all programs with out having to wait. You'll have to edit your registry:

    HKEY_USERS-->.DEFAULT-->CONTROL PANEL-->DESKTOP-->AUTOENDTASKS and change the value to 1.

    Normally, the registry edit is for forcing your programs to shut down during the actual shut down process - after you've exited out of XP. I'm not 100% sure if it will help while you are trying to get out of XP, but thought I would suggest that.

    BTW, a good free virus scanner that alot of us use is AVG free for home users. Also, Avast is a free program that is very popular.
     
    Amber, Jun 11, 2006
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