It’s fairly common for people to want to learn how to speed up their Windows XP startup and boot up; in fact, it’s actually quite the popular topic.  However, we’re going to head to the opposite side of the spectrum right now and delve into how to speed up Windows XP shutdown. Now, since you’re here you’ve probably been suffering from deplorably slow PC shutdown, and we have three tricks that may enable your PC to shut down within seconds as opposed to mind-numbing minutes. Yes – we said seconds.

What we’re going to be sharing today will involve manually editing your computer’s registry.  We generally we advise against such activities because it can be dangerous – however, if you follow our advice and be careful when you’re editing the registry, you should fare just fine.

Before you start – backup the registry

This is a word to the wise whenever you’re making any changes to your computer’s registry, and it’s important to do now.  In order to backup the registry, though, you need to access your PCs registry editor:

Click Start from your desktop >> Run >> Type in “regedit” (no quotes) >> Press OK

At this point you should have your Windows Registry editor in front of you.  To create a backup of your registry:

Click File >> Export

When you’re prompted for the file name, we suggest creating something like “registrybackup-todays.date” or something like that so that you know what the file is.  By default the backup file should be in your My Documents folder.

Important Note: Before you click “Save”, at the bottom of the Export Registry File screen you will see two options under Export Range: All and Selected Branch.  Be 100% sure that you choose All, otherwise you will not have a complete backup of your registry.

Click Save >> Backup Complete!  Be patient, though as it may take a minute or so to process.

Now, onto the tweaks

In order to continue, you should already have your Windows registry editor open.

Tweak #1: This tweak will lower the amount of time Windows allows itself before it kills open applications when you press the shutdown or restart button.

Click HKEY_CURRENT_USER >> Control Panel >> Desktop

Be sure that Desktop is highlighted (in the left panel) and in the right panel find the following:

HungAppTimeout – double click on this entry, enter 1000 and hit OK

WaitToKillAppTimeout – double click on this entry, enter 1000 then hit OK

Tweak #2: This really is an extension of the first tweak, except this one will enable the faster shutdown time for all users instead of just the current user.

Click HKEY_USERS >> .Default >> Control Panel >> Desktop

Just as before, we’re going to change the following values to 1000:

HungAppTimeout – double click on this entry, enter 1000 and hit OK

WaitToKillAppTimeout – double click on this entry, enter 1000 then hit OK

Tweak #3: Our third tweak involves changing the registry to increase the speed by which Windows will kill running services when you press on the restart or shutdown button:

Click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE >> SYSTEM >> CurrentControlSet >> Control

In the right panel you’ll see the entry:

WaitToKillServiceTimeout – double click on this, enter 1000 then hit OK

That’s it – Just close your registry editor, reboot your PC and enjoy the faster shutdown speed for your Windows XP Computer.

Before we go, though, we want to give a special thanks to JohnTP.com for sharing his expertise as the idea for these tweaks came from his website.  We have personally applied these tweaks and can say with 100% certainty that these tweaks speed up Windows XP shutdown considerably.

Enjoy!

For as long as there have been computers, there has been the desire for computer users to be able to repair their own machines.  Whether it is because they want to save money, they don’t want to tear apart their computer and lug it down to the PC repair shop or for some other reason – there are a lot of do-it-yourselfers out there.  Now, while it’s true that some computer problems should only be handled by qualified professionals, there are a number of things that the average computer owner can do to help eradicate computer errors.

What causes PC errors?

Really, there are so many causes for computer errors that it would be impossible to list them all here.  That being said, there are certain scenarios that will almost guarantee a computer’s predisposition to errors:

Improper removal of programs – your computer has an Add or Remove programs application that is designed to help you uninstall applications properly. However, sometimes a program’s uninstaller does not function correctly or you just up and delete a program without removing it – any instances of improper program removal are catalysts for PC errors.

Corrupted drivers – Many parts of your computer, from hardware to software, rely upon drivers.  If a driver becomes corrupted, is installed improperly or is in the wrong location, this will definitely cause noticeable issues with your computer.

Corrupted registry – Your registry holds important data that ties into nearly every program, piece of hardware and process required by your PC to operate.  If your registry becomes corrupted, filled with errant data or becomes so large that it is unmanageable; you will start to notice errors on your computer and possibly system instability.

How can I repair these types of errors on my computer?

Quite honestly, there are three simple solutions that may be able to fix your computer’s errors:

1. Rebooting your computer (amazingly simple, we know)
2. Running a registry cleaner program
3. Checking Windows update for the latest drivers for your computer

Another resource to consider if you have corrupted drivers is Driver Agent; this service will automatically scan your computer and show you which drivers are out of date or corrupted.  Now, a service like Driver Agent is especially important if you own multiple computes – it’s a real time saver and it can help you correct and prevent errors on all of the computers in your home.

The first line of defense against receiving computer errors is being sure that you properly remove installed applications and that your computer is up-to-date with the latest fixes and drivers through Windows update.  While hindsight is always 20/20 – preventive action is the best course when it comes to PC error repair; by using the three simple tips outlined above, there’s a very good chance that your errors will be taken care of today while protecting your computer against problems tomorrow.