Laptop not shutting down

[albaqwerty]

Asus laptop was being temperamental this morning, so I thought I'd reboot in safe mode but it won't shut down.
Have searched AB for some ideas but unfortunately
I couldn't find any replies.
it's running Windows XP vista
Any useful suggestions would be welcome

Thank you

alba

[DanAB]

firstly, how long are you leaving it for? it might be doing something important before shutting down. let it sit for 15-20 mins and see if it shuts down by itself. do you know the last actions performed on the laptop, as that may be causing a problem. try using a system restore if possible.

also, there is no such operating system 'XP vista'

[albaqwerty]

it's been sitting for 4 hours now, not on charge and it has Windows XP vista home (i don't know if that is of use or any importance tho)

last actions performed was all start-up and when that had finished, the cursor on the screen froze in place.

[DanAB]

press and hold down the power button until it shuts off. startup again into safe mode. shut down then boot normally.

if all that works fine then do this:
after boot do a system update (control panel < security < get latest updates), once that has finished you will need to restart the computer. after that do a virus scan, then a defragment. do not do all these at the same time. do them all individually.

if that doesnt work then take it to a repair shop

[tamborine]

pull out the battery

[albaqwerty]

I'm still tempted to take out the battery, but I'm not wanting to upset my son too much :)

please tell me it won't hurt the darned thing.

[tamborine]

pull out battery before you burn out the motor

[chinadog]

I get the same problem with my laptop and I do what tamborine says,take out the battery.

[albaqwerty]

Many thanks Tambo and China

am just going to do that

alba x

[ACtheTROLL]

come back when you've written the machine off

a shutdown (pressing the power button for 30 seconds or so) doesn't cause the same abrupt stop that pulling the battery does - power outs account for most HDD corruption and damage

the only time you should remove the batery is if the power button won't do the job

[fuxake]

I think you should listen to the people that are actually talking as if they know about computers (as one of them I know does for sure), and not so much the guy that says "pull out the battery before you burn out the motor".

Computer's don't have motors, except if by that you mean 'fans'.

[DanAB]

ACtheTROLL, i can agree with you there. although people only learn from their mistakes and in this case it will be an expensive mistake.