Windows 8 will not shut down


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Okay, so everything was working right with Windows 8 until about a few days ago.

Now, it will not shut down when I click shut down. It will not even close any applications. The system is usable as if I didn't start a shut down of the system. I cannot even restart the system after clicking shut down. Only a hard reset or hard shut down will reboot windows.

I've tried disabling fast start and startup items.

Was this caused by a recent Windows update? Anyone else getting this? I'm going to format my system tonight.

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I've done both refresh and re-install to see how they behave with Windows 8 and don't be afraid of a refresh. It keeps most everything intact. It is a terrific addition and not only could fix the issue, but do it in far less time than a reformat. Even the reinstall option is better than formatting (it keeps your library folder and personal settings if you so choose).

I've done both refresh and re-install to see how they behave with Windows 8 and don't be afraid of a refresh. It keeps most everything intact. It is a terrific addition and not only could fix the issue, but do it in far less time than a reformat. Even the reinstall option is better than formatting (it keeps your library folder and personal settings if you so choose).

I've already backed up everything and also tried a lot of fixes that involved removing programs that may have caused it...so, yeah.

AKA "I'd rather just waste more time doing the same thing as a format, but with more work" ?

Do the option below refresh to do a clean install

A complete format won't add too much time to the overall process compared to using this, we're talking minutes here not hours. Sometimes its just nice to have that mental reassurance that its completely fresh.

You should always backup your system partition, after a fresh install and after you get a fresh install configured.

2 minutes to a fresh system and a newly formatted drive, or 10 minutes to restore a fully configured system.

TrueImage comes free with some HDD packages like Western Digital, but there's a lot of free utilities like what's included in Hiren's Boot CD.

  • 1 month later...
  • 4 weeks later...

I use Windows 8 Pro 64 bit and have the Windows 8shut down problem too.

I search all web site for this problem but disable Fast Boot is not work for me but it work only for passing the parameter to shutdown.exe like "shutdown /s /t 000".

I usually format or refresh PC many times.

Finally I found my solution and hope this could work for everyone too.

First I check the windows update in "Installed Updates" on the day that my PC cannot shut down.

I uninstall update manually by right click on the list and choose Uninstall and after uninstalled I don't shutdown and go to another update to uninstall.

I restart PC after uninstall all updates (my PC cannot shut down then I press the power button to turn off).

I start PC again and test by shut it down and it works.

I try to install update again by check the windows update and found.

If I install all available update again by choose all update to install at once, my PC has the problem again and cannot shutdown or restart.

If I install all update one by one and restart PC if it require, I can shutdown and restart without any issue even I use the fast boot option.

When my PC cannot shut down and I look at Task Manager and found that Windows Log-on Application is still working with some CPU usage that not 0% as usual.

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