when i select "shut down" the computer turns off ok. when i select "restart" it freezes on the "windows is shutting down" screen. so whenever i want to restart i have to select shut down, and wait for the computer to turn off, and turn it back on manually. also when arrogant (esp microsoft) programs decide to restart windows without giving you an option it locks up on the same screen and i have to hold down the power button to turn it off. then have to sit thru scan disk on the reload... whats wrong?

Run, msconfig....On the general tab,click advanced....Put a check in, disable fast shutdown..See if that helps the shutdown.. beansoup

It is possible that you have something loaded in memory that will not let you terminate your session. CTRL-ALT-DEL will bring up the Task Manager. Try "End Task" on everything BUT the Explorer and Sys Tray. Then do a normal shutdown. If it shuts down properly, you know that something that was running was the culprit. Then try to End Task on them one at a time, and close. If it closes fine, wait until the one that causes the halt, find its function and if it is really needed or not. I have read many places where a corrupted sound file for the "Exit Sound" causes this, but in my years of experience, I have yet to find a sound file that keeps Windows from closing. If none of the above works; you may have something running "stealth" that will not show up in Task Manager (especially Windows 9x versions). If you are not comfortable or knowledgeable in editing the registry, you should have your neighborhood computer guru take a look and run a spyware program, or take it to a tech and have it looked at professionally. Besides fixing this problem, they may be albe to tweak your system in ways to make it run much faster, especially if it hasn't had a proventive maintenance in a while. Good luck, and post if you need more help after trying this...