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WinXP shutdown problem

Discussion in 'Computers & Technology Forum' started by computerjunkie, Sep 13, 2005.

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  1. computerjunkie

    computerjunkie New Member

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    I have a new HP computer running WinXP SP2. Spent some time "uninstalling" all the junk that's pre-installed and it's working great except for one little thing!

    I am using Outlook 2002 (installed from purchased OfficeXP Standard CD), and when I use and exit Outlook, it is still running in the background. When I try to shutdown the computer, it goes through several messages that "WMS ST Notif xxxxxx" is shutting down, or "MCI Command Handling Window" is shutting down. When they finally finish, there is a message that says the program is not responding, and I click End Task to stop the program. After it goes through 2-4 of these processes, the computer finally is able to shutdown.

    I've done some looking around on the internet and it looks like the WMS ST Notif Window is related to Outlook. No clue what the MCI Command Handling Window is/does. My old computer was running Win98SE and I didn't have this particular shutdown problem...only problem IT had was the BSOD when I tried to shutdown! :D

    Do any of you gurus know what might causing this and how I fix it? HP tech support is suggesting I do a non-destructive recovery which reinstalls the OS but supposedly leaves all my files intact, although I will have to reinstall any software I have installed. That seems a rather extreme process for a new computer, but they are saying some of the files are corrupted and this is what must be done to fix it. (It's a new computer, although it was a "display" model, so is it possible some files actually might be corrupted? Still seems extreme to have to do that.)

    Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

    CJ
     
    #1 computerjunkie, Sep 13, 2005
  2. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    I dunno if the files are 'corrupted' or not, but you may have taken a neeed file while you were cleaning out your hard drive.

    If your computer actually came with the Windows disks (I doubt it, as everyone is getting cheap nowadays), you can do a restore of Windows without damaging anything else on the drive. You can also try reinstalling Outlook.

    I am sending you a PM, as well.

    In Christ,
    Trotter
     
    #2 Trotter, Sep 13, 2005
  3. computerjunkie

    computerjunkie New Member

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    Thanks, Trotter...to both! No disks, of course, but apparently WinXP has a "recovery" system which doesn't need the disks. I'm really skeptical about trying it without disks, though.
     
    #3 computerjunkie, Sep 13, 2005
  4. exscentric

    exscentric Well-Known Member
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    The recovery is on the hard drive most of the time and does fine. Have a couple years old hp and have used it several times. I think they will send you disks if you have problems with it - may have to get cranky with them but I got a set just in case.

    Problem. Before recovery try a few things. Read the whole post and choose the best for your situation to try first. All might fix the problem.

    There is a go back option in accessories/system tools I think it is. It most likely has several points that you can go back to. It will restore some of your deleted programs most likely but if you deleted something you shouldn't have it may recover things for you.

    Another idea - go to add remove programs, choose outlook and click remove. It most likely will open an option box and repair is one of the options. Try that, it will look for problems, missing files etc. and repair if needed. If there is no repair option you should consider removing it and reinstalling.

    Also you might try opening task manager and look in the list and see if outlook is listed (after you have shut it down). If it is, right click, choose shutdown tree and when that is done try shutting down - if it shuts down normally then that is your problem for sure. Not sure how you fix it though :)

    Another possible if these don't work is just boot the thing and shut it down immediately and power down then boot, power down etc. for three or four times. XP has a certain amount of self fix ability through this process. Might give it a kick in the pants and get it going.

    That might give you some clues???? hope something turns up for you.

    There is another feature of xp that might possibly give trouble, but it shouldn't. There is an option somewhere that will load files that you use often into memory so it doesn't have to go get them when you open the program. It might be that this is happening, though the thing isn't supposed to run the program, just add files to memory for quick use.

    Also, did you uninstall any MCI freebies? If you did it might have left something over.

    Don't think of this as trouble, but the fun adventure of solving a problem :) well I tried to uplift a brother anyway :)
     
    #4 exscentric, Sep 13, 2005
  5. computerjunkie

    computerjunkie New Member

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    excentric, thanks for the ideas...very helpful!

    I think I have pretty much narrowed it down to an Outlook problem. When I use Outlook and exit the program, it still shows up in running processes. If I close it there, the computer seems to shutdown properly.

    I am going to try some Outlook "fixes" and see if that will resolve the problem. Also, someone on another board gave me a couple of links with lots of other possibilities to check out.

    I did request the recovery disks and they offered to sell them to me. I then asked if they didn't provide, free of charge, disks to new HP customers. THEN they told me there is a way to create the recovery disks from the system. They sent me the link with instructions, so I will definitely be creating my own set of disks...free of charge! (Guess they try to see if you'll BUY them first!)

    I do, actually, consider this an adventure! I love messing around with my computer and learning new things...and believe me, on THIS problem, I have learned tons! And this is my first experience with XP, so I'm definitely on a learning-curve. However, so far, I have never had to mess with the actual OS, so I'm a little hesitant about doing that. But hey...if I have to, I will! I'm just hoping it's something as simple as an uninstall/reinstall of Outlook, or even Office.

    Thanks for your help!
     
    #5 computerjunkie, Sep 14, 2005
  6. exscentric

    exscentric Well-Known Member
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    Not a problem. I don't know why outlook stays like that, but on one of my systems my PIM software won't open now and then and if I look Outlook.exe is in task manager even though I've shut it down. When I kick it out in task manager the PIM comes up right away???????

    Who knows when Microsoft is involved.

    HP charged me 8 bucks for shipping but they really didn't want to send them for some reason. Actually I've never had a hard drive last like that one and it has really had its use.
     
    #6 exscentric, Sep 14, 2005
  7. computerjunkie

    computerjunkie New Member

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    I don't want to speak too soon, but this problem may have been resolved WITHOUT having to do a system recovery!

    Someone on a tech board suggested checking for other programs I am running that might use Outlook. I did an internet search and found a website that lists lots of programs that use Outlook, one being F-Secure (firewall and A-V) which I use. I messed around with F-Secure settings with no positive results, so I finally uninstalled it and installed another firewall/A-V program.

    I have done several Outlook checks with both sending and receiving email, exited the program, and it's NOT listed in running processes! YEA! [​IMG]

    I will continue to watch it this weekend, but so far, I am able to use Outlook, close it, and shutdown (or restart) my computer with no problems!

    Thanks for all the suggestions...I've learned a TON of stuff about WinXP during this process. After a couple of weeks with this thing, I think everything is FINALLY working smoothly! [​IMG]
     
    #7 computerjunkie, Sep 16, 2005
  8. exscentric

    exscentric Well-Known Member
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    Great! Never heard of other programs using outlook - good information to know - if I can remember it :)

    xp has a firewall built in if you haven't stumbled onto it. Your firewall probably shut it off so it could operate, but just in case you ever want to use some other av software.
     
    #8 exscentric, Sep 16, 2005
  9. kubel

    kubel New Member

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    I have a simple solution: Uninstall and reinstall Outlook, or just do a repair install. That way you don't have to mess with Windows recovery disks (which will probably reinstall all the HP junk that you wanted removed in the first place).
     
    #9 kubel, Sep 16, 2005
  10. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    Good news, computerjunkie!

    Strange how things work, huh?

    In Christ,
    Trotter
     
    #10 Trotter, Sep 17, 2005
  11. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    #11 Magnetic Poles, Sep 17, 2005
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