Windows freezes at shut-down

[Kassia]

When certain games are played on my computer (2 that I know of), Windows starts gettin flakey. When I go to shut down, it goes thru the whole shutdown process, but then pops up the Windows logo screen with the words "Windows is shutting down" (or something very close to that). And that's as far as it goes....it just freezes, and I have to do a hard boot.

Another question...off topic....what is Poproxy? Whenever I ctrl-alt-delete, then end task on it....it sends up an error box. Just curious.

Thanks in advance.

[azscary]

Poproxy sounds like an antivirus software component.

Are you using Windows 98 First Edition? If so, the shutdown problem is a known issue and was addressed in the Second Edition release of Windows 98. An upgrade to Windows 98se usually, but not always, fixes that problem.

[Kassia]

I have win98se. Do I just go to Microsoft windows update to get that upgrade?

And thanks for clearing up the Poproxy thingy.

[azscary]

You can order the CD from there but I don't think you can download it because it is one of those CD KEYS things from M$. You can buy it from EBAY and from local stores or PC swap meets. Be sure you get the upgrade because if it is the full version I think you lose everything after the install. I am not sure.

[SARGE]

http://support.microsoft.com/search/...;en-us;Q238096

[azscary]

THANKS SARGE!

I bookmarked that puppy for future reference!

[Kassia]

I went to Microsoft and downloaded the latest security update. It asked me to reboot, and I clicked "yes". It began to go thru the process, but sent up an error window. Taskmon error...in the user.exe. Now, I know that file is corrupt, cuz I ran file check and it came up as corrupt. When it asks you where you want to extract the file from....this is where I get confused. It shows you where it will go, but not where to get the uncorrupted file from.. This is probably a dense question, but sorry...I'm really not sure where to extract files.

[bosco]

extract files from your win98 CD or where ever you installed windows from.
If you installed windows right off the CD, then put the 98 CD in your CD drive and extract off the CD.
If you installed from your hard drive(copied cab files to hard drive and installed from there) then point the extractor the the folder the cab files are in.
If you bought the machine with windows already on it then you'll probably need the CD.

[azscary]

Downloading OS patches is tricky. IMHO, It is best to have a CD.

[Cricket]

Hi Kassia,

Try checking out this site: Windows 98 SE Shutdown Troubleshooter

Cricket

[glc]

Do NOT replace your user.exe! This "corrupt" error is normal with OEM hotloads.

[Kassia]

It's a good thing you mentioned that, glc. Thanks.

[HAL9000]

Yea... I found that one out the hard way

[Kassia]

OUCH

[Kassia]

I still haven't solved the problem yet. I just wanna clarify, in case I hadn't, the only time Windows gives me the shutdown prob is when Tiberian Sun is played, otherwise it shuts down fine. The other game isn't giving me anymore problems. Thanks.

[snakeyes]

Have you tried to uninstall then reinstall "Tiberian Sun?" or checked for updates? Just a thought

[mike breck]

I would have thought if you only get this problem when playing the game then the game is to blame. Games are pretty powerful programs and bugs in games can cause all sorts of peculiar Windows behaviour. Even after the game is apparently closed (good thing to check. Ctrl+Alt+Del and make sure the game is not still running in the background after closing it)
.
I've come across games that kept running in the background and quite a few instances over the years where the game program was actually running TWICE in the background. The first instance was closed when the game closed but the second kept on running in the background. That certainly stopped my PC shutting down until I found out what the problem was.

Try End Tasking "everthing" apart from Explorer and systray before playing the game. No virus scanners, screen savers, nothing.

If you have been working on your PC before playing the game, try restarting Windows to flush the system (no I'm not a plumber or a Doctor) before starting the game. I always do that before gaming.

Also, following on from another thread, try deleting everything in your Windows>Temp and Tempory Internet Files Folders.

As Snakeyes suggested, when a game causes problems, your first port of call before blaming your PC is the official game site and other unofficial sites. There may ba patch that addresses this problem.

Do a search on the net for Tiberian Sun. You may find that other gamers have experienced a similar problem and have got a solution or work-a-round.

HTH

[snakeyes]

Kassia,

I took the initiative and found the link to Tiberian Suns patch and/or update area for you. just click Here I don't know if the area on the page will be right where you need to be, because it has more game updates/patches. Also I didn't have time to view everything. Just thought it would be easier to have the link to something hopfully helpful.

[Kassia]

Wow! You guys are great! I've downloaded the patch, I'll let you know if it made a difference.

[waiting]

Originally posted by azscary Downloading OS patches is tricky. IMHO, It is best to have a CD.

Hi Azscary--------What is "IMHO"?

[Kassia]

waiting,

IMHO means "In my humble opinion".

[azscary]

Thanks Kassia for answering for me.

Waiting,
What she said.

[Kassia]

[waverider]

Hi, I use windows 98, and I have found that if you wait a bit in between each of the normal shutdown steps, usually then there will be no shutdown hangups.