Make Windows XP Shut Down Faster
One of the biggest annoyances in Windows XP is waiting for what seems an eternity while it shuts down, so we have a couple of registry tweaks to help force Windows to shut down more quickly.
Usually what is happening is one or more applications is hanging up to 20 seconds (in the Registry all values are set to milliseconds) while the OS tries to shutdown. Before making any changes to the Registry it is highly advisable to create a backup.
The first thing we need to do is access the Registry by going to Start \ Run and type in “regedit” (no quotes) then click OK.
Now with the Registry Editor open the first change we want to make is under HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop scroll down to HungAppTimeout and change the default 5000 to 1000 then click OK.
Then scroll down to WaitToKillAppTimeout from 20000 to 1000 then click OK. Keep the Registry Editor open as we have 3 more values to change in two different sections.
Next we are going to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control and double click on WaitToKillServiceTimeout to 1000 then click OK.
Finally, we need to navigate to HKEY_USERS \ DEFAULT \ Control Panel \ Desktop and change HungAppTimeout to 1000 and click OK.
Then scroll down to WaitToKillAppTimeout to 1000 and click OK.
While I am showing much lower timeout times in this post you might want to start with say 20000 to 10000 as some programs may be performing cleanup maintenance. No matter what you change the values to, make sure they are uniform throughout each setting.
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Another trick for fast shutdown in Windows XP, which I want to share here is-
Which theme is this?
I installed a custom theme some time back, and my system bluescreened on me.
Since then, I've stuck to Royale and Zune.
Anything out there, that's 'safe'?
Please realize this gives you the chance to actually choose e.g. save open file or stuff like that, if you really need to close quickly all OS's have force shut down functions I believe even though I wouldn't know where they are in windows.
Thank you.
Are there side effects of these settings while XP is running (during normal operation)?
@ C:
You can read more and download the official embedded theme at ..
http://www.askvg.com/download-new-official-embedded-theme-for-windows-xp-and-2003-no-file-patching-required/
Download and install this MS Program in conjunction with this tweak.
It will help in implementing the fast orderly shut down of an XP machine.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?FamilyID=1b286e6d-8912-4e18-b570-42470e2f3582&displaylang=en
Thanks!!
"Please realize this gives you the chance to actually choose e.g. save open file or stuff like that, if you really need to close quickly all OS's have force shut down functions I believe even though I wouldn't know where they are in windows."
Actually, this setting will not effect that.
If you shut down and a program asks you to save something then Windows XP will wait indefinably for you to make up your mind on saving the file.
This setting is the lower the time it takes before Windows XP kills programs that are not responding enough to even ask you that question.
Of which should you have no programs that are not-responding when you log-off/shutdown the computer this setting will not make any difference in shut down time.
Windows Vista adds a third function that will kill all programs even if they ask you first after a small timeout to avoid things like draining your laptop battery should you hit shut down and put your laptop in a bag when you think it's shutting down.
I'm not quite sure how to configure that feature or what it's timeout is though.
I have installed Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition on Windows XP Home Edition one year ago. Since its installation System Restore can not restore my computer to an earlier date.I have read this web site about this problem: http://bertk.mvps.org/html/symantecdoc1.html
I can not apply what is written on the above web site because it troubleshoots the problem with Norton2007 and Norton2006, but not with
Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition. Please help me,
Yours sincerely
Gamal Matta
@ Gamal Matta
You can either dig through the settings of your Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition for something like "Turn on protection for Norton products" or "Self Protect". Alternatively just run System Restore from outside the normal windows environment such as ‘Safe Mode’ or ‘Safe Mode with Command Prompt’. Also the Windows Recovery Console can be a useful tool. Some OEM computer manufacturers such as HP or Dell may also include additional tools for the recovery environment so be sure to check with your system manufacturer for those details.
Some Useful Links:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=304449
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
Hope This Helps
BearGriz72
Create a shortcut to shutdown windows XP wiht shutdown -s -t 0 can help to fastly shutdown windows .
is there a .reg file so that it can be easily applied without accidentally deleting keys?
In the actions required to get faster shutdown of XP you did not mention the WaitToKillServiceTimeout in HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop as a value that needed to be changed. Should this be changed as well or should this value be left alone?
Another question is why does my laptop have the WaitToKillServiceTimeout in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop and my desktop does not?
hi, my win xp does not shut down at all. tried many things, still did not work… when i try to restart or shut down, it freezes on the last blue page saying windows logging off & never does, i have to press & hold the start up shutdown key & shut manually..
i defraged, used reg cleaners, changed values as mentioned abv for quick shut down. nothing worked
any ideas?
Same thing happens to me right now Natasha. I need to know why I have to turn my power cord off just to completely shut it down.
Why edit the registry manually? Copy and paste the following into a text editor and save as ShutdownXPFast.reg. Right-click the newly created ShutdownXPFast.reg and select Merge.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1″
"HungAppTimeout"="1000″
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="1000″
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="1000″
[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1″
"HungAppTimeout"="1000″
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="1000″
This tweak should only be used if no apps are running and you've been staring at the shutdown process for more than an hour. Avoid shutting down your pc if some apps are running.
Is it not available in windows vista?
i have seen a technique which uses no registry edit and no XP tweaks but its really simple and very fast
check this out
http://www.techgodown.com/how-to-shut-down-your-windows-xp-really-fast/
Hi,Iwant to that my comuter shut down faster .what kind of software i must install
i didn't make a back up does anyone know the OG settings for tis i want to switch back i am afraid of it messing up my computer
shutdown.exe -s -f -t 00
will work better I think.