Those are the words I put into Google after my computer decided it would not shut down when using shut down from within Windows. It would only shut-down after holding power button for a long time and then it would wind down slowly, or I would lose patience and shut off power supply.
For two weeks I searched all the posts, PC Mag, Toms Hardware, Microsoft Help, and there were many more. I would read the threads and try in vain all the “fixes” different people suggested. The last thing I wanted to do is re-install windows. Mainly for the fact that I am a Flight Sim junky and have 10’s of GB of addons that I don’t want to reload. If you don’t know what that means, don’t worry, doesn’t really matter.
I would consider myself a mid level user. Having built PC’s from used and new parts, fixed almost any problem that has come up with my home computers and sort of by default become the IT guy at the small office where I work.
The PC I use for now is a inexpensive core i5 with a 500 watt power supply and 2g graphics card from about 5 years ago and updated to Windows 10 2 or 3 months ago.
First: make sure windows is up to date and scan for viruses or malware. Check.
Turn off fast start-up. Check
Try turning off all but the necessary services for booting. Check.
Read and re-read any post that might seem relevant event if it’s from 5 years ago. Check
Perform maintenance on all hard drives. Check.
Maybe it’s the hard drive. They’re sort of old. How much is a 500 gig SSD now? Oh, that’s not too much. I will buy one, clone my windows drive and try that. Well it sure is faster, but……..
Unplug old hard drive, peripherals, excess fans, ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT CAUSE A PROBLEM!!
Put in cloned drive with windows 10 and repair from rescue disk (thumb drive). CHECK.
Could have easily re-loaded Windows 10 and all my programs by this time and all my problems would be solved. Right?
Would not have worked. Something about the way it was acting was pulling deep in the back of my brain. Something I saw on an ancient post perhaps.
That whine when I pushed the power button, where is that coming from? The power supply???!
Could it be that simple? To find out I would have to put a new power supply in a 5 year old computer. What would that cost? For a 600 Watt PS it would be about 40 bucks with 5 year warranty. Hmm.
Thought about it some more. Started without any hard drive. Mistake, don’t do that. Had to use repair disc again, but got it back without too much trouble.
So, finally, ordered a 600 watt power supply to test my last theory. One hour or so too install and BAM!
Shuts down faster than new thanks to new 600w Thermaltake power supply and SSD. Problem solved.