Windows XP shutdown problem

Question

- Inspiron 5150 (1 week old)

- Last BIOS update

- Last Windows XP SP1 (Home edition)

Hang on a blank blue screen after Windows XP shutdown.

- Always after browsing the internet

- Neither after working off-line

No virus, no hardware conflict, no program started automatically nor running in background (I removed them all, including Nvidia stuff), power management is OK, register keys are OK.

I found tons of FAQ, posts, documentation, troubleshooters, publications, reviews, user guides. I read them all for hours and hours. Thousand of people do have the same problem.

Is there something to do (except holding the power button down for a few seconds) ?

kippy50 · Answer

See if you can identify the problem by looking at the system error files by doing this: Go to your Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Event Viewer Check under the System Tab for any listed error messages. If any are found, repost them in a new thread or go to http://www.google.com and input the error message in the search box to see if solution may be listed. Kip

dcmo5 · Answer

Thanks for your help, Kip. An error was found when ckecking Event Viewer : U3sHlpDr cannot start (File not found). Searching U3sHlpDr with Google or searching Microsoft site doesn't give any result. Only one question can be found at microsoft.public.windowsnt.misc newsgroup with no answer. I found U3sHlpDr.sys on another computer in Windows\System32\Drivers and can repair the missing file problem.

Now Event Viewer doesn't log any error, but the shutdown problem remains. What else can be done ? Why Microsoft cannot fix this ? According to newsgroups, thousands of Windows users have this problem every day since the first Windows 95 release and nobody can solve it. No doubt it is linked to Internet Explorer, since everything is OK when I don't open IE.

gryjhnhpe · Answer

Do you get Exit Windows sound , Logging off & Saving your settings.
Did you have this problem when you 1st got Computer.?

Since the Computer is only 1 week old you could check with DELL Support & if they can't give you a fix (will probably suggest trying a System Restore & then a Clean Install).
If the above doesn't work I think you can return Computer within 30 days.

dcmo5 · Answer

Windows XP exits as usual : playing exit sound, logging off, saving my settings. Then the empty blue screen is displayed forever. The mouse cursor is still alive. Keyboard is not responding. The only way to stop the system is holding down the power button. This only happens after using Internet Explorer. If you don't run IE everything works fine. I used to have this problem with Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP first release, running on IBM computers, Compaq computers, Dell computers and other brands as well, so I doubt it's a hardware issue. It's not a power management problem, because the computer switches off normally if you don't use IE. I have spent days and days to search a working fix. Never find one. I'll keep on pressing down the power button for the rest of my life, or switch to Linux or MSDOS 6.2. Thanks for your time, Gary. Daniel

kippy50 · Answer

Well I have to disagree that everyone is having shutdown problems.  I do not, have not had the issue unless it was something that I installed caused it.  My bet is, that is what is causing your problems.  The fact of the matter is, windows out of the box, does not normally have shutdown issues, its what you install after that, causes the problems.  It could be spyware/malware or a program you have installed.  But, blaming Windows carte blanche is just not a true statement, nor is it going to solve your problem.  I fully realize its a frustrating situation, but I assure you, the answer is in software that you have added.  Kip

dcmo5 · Answer

I agree with you, Kip. Some people don't have this shutdown problem, I never said everyone has it. I never blamed Windows. I know I can format my hard drive and reinstall XP and it should work. I did it very often in the past and this worked. Unfortunately Windows alone is useless. I have installed a C++ compiler, a French-English dictionary and Acrobat Reader. Computer shuts down properly after compiling my programs, reading the dictionary or browsing pdf. I have to run Internet Explorer to produce the shutdown stop. Is it my fault ? May be... I can live easily with the problem : pressing the power button down for 3 seconds solves it. The only question is : why this happened ? How can I figure out what is stopping Windows and what I did wrong ? I want to know. It happens to be difficult, but I'll don't give up the fight. Daniel

JRosenfeld · Answer

Sounds like an APM (advanced power management) problem. In device manager under computer does it show APCI? I think that there may also be something in the BIOS.

I assume you've searched the MS knowledge base? several articles and a troubleshooter for shut down problems there.

dcmo5 · Answer

I've checked APCI in device manager. I've checked bios settings, but there is nothing I can tune. I've also checked power management properties and even used regedit to check register keys. Power management is OK. The problem occurs only after a connection to the internet.

I've made additional tests : After running Internet Explorer off-line, there is no shutdown problem. After a connection with the built-in modem, shutdown stops with an empty blue screen after saving my settings. After a connection through local network there is no shutdown problem.

In my opinion, the Conexant D480 MDC V.9x modem or its driver is causing the crash. The driver version is 6.2.9.2 (03/07/2003) and it is signed by Microsoft. I've never changed any settings since the computer was shipped by Dell two weeks ago. What else can I do ?

Daniel

gryjhnhpe · Answer

Time is running out if you don't report Computer problem to DELL Sales/Support & get a job number.

dcmo5 · Answer

I'm sorry, Gary. I don't trust Dell support, and its too time consuming to deal with them. I prefer fixing the problem by myself. Daniel

dcmo5 · Answer

Thanks to Dell users, the solution was just found in Inspiron - Power management forum.

Shame on Dell support, they made me install the last modem driver and wanted me to ship back the computer. The solution is to remove the last driver, and install the previous one.

Daniel

Windows General

Windows XP shutdown problem

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