Cbroadus,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
Does it do it if you try to shut down from Windows Safe Mode?
Have you tried using Msconfig to stop all background programs?
Have you tried running the SFC utility to verify the system files?
Have you tried running CHKDSK to verify the hard drive integrety?
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Stopping background programs and applications.

**Clearing the Startup Folder.**
Click on (Start,Programs,)
Find the (Startup) folder, and right click the mouse button over it.
You should get a small gray windows.
Go down to "Explore" and left click on "Explore"
You should get a "Startup" window that is split in two.
High light and delete all the icons on the right hand side of the Window.

**Using MSconfig to stop all background programs.**
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility starts.
Click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
Process SYSTEM.INI file
Process WIN.INI file
Load Startup Items

Then...
Click the Startup tab.
Uncheck every entry.
Left-click on "Apply" and then left-click on "OK."
A message will appear stating that "For the changes to take place, the system must be restarted." Left-click on the "OK" button, and the system will begin the restart.

If the problem stops, you must then isolate the cause of it.
Using msconfig again, to back to the startup tab.
Recheck one entry click Apply, OK, and reboot the system.
Keep using this process until you find the entry that is causing the problem.
Once you have found that entry, leave it unchecked and recheck everything else.
Click Apply, Ok, and reboot the system for the last time.
"Process of elimination"...

If having problems with an application or driver, it is best to try and reload
the application or driver. If reloading the application or driver does not fix the
problem, then you may want to leave it unchecked under the startup tab.
You may also want to check and see if there is an updated version of that
application or driver.

Msconfig can be used to stop all programs from loading at startup to free up system resources.
The true intention of MSconfig is to be used as a troubleshooting tool to isolate programs that may be causing problems.

**Delete old dos/legacy configuration files.**
Search the system for these files, delete them.
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Win.ini
-Delete "All" the files and folders in the ( C:\Windows\Temp ) and
( C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files ) folder.
Search the system for any ( *.TMP ) files, and delete them.

To restore the computer to use a normal startup, start the System Configuration Utility, click the General tab, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services, click OK, and then click Restart.
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Information:
To try and fix problems with Windows corrupt files, please try using Windows SFC.

Solution:
1.) Put your WindowsXP reinstall CD in the system.
2.) Click Start, Run.
3.) Type in ( SFC /Scannow )
4.) Click OK, and the system will start checking the system files.
5.) If any errors are found the system will prompt you to replace these files.
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How should I run CHKDSK or what switches should I use?

Answer:
There are several ways to run CHKDSK.

*Option 1:
1.Open My Computer.
2.Right click on the Hard drive, click Properties.
3.Click on the Tools Tab.
4.Under Error Checking click on Check Now.
5.Click the Start button to run Check Disk.

Using choosing the options "Automaticaly fix files.... or Scan for and Attempt recovery... " you will get the following message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained.
Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"

Simply click on YES.

*Option 2:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in CHKDSK and press Enter.
3.Check Disk will run a very quick check of the drive.

*Option 3:
Complete Check:
1.Click on Start, Run.
2.Type in Command and click Ok.
3.Type in CHKDSK /F or /R and click Ok.

You will get a message:
"The disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive could not be obtained.
Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"

4.Press Y for yes.
5.Close the command prompt and reboot the system.

/F switch Fixes errors on the disk.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information, implies /F switch.
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