Please Help -- My T60p suddenly won't shutdown

[brucewilsonpa]

My T60p has been working OK in WinXP Pro until this morning. I installed Win Defender, then updated Windows with some of the optional updates. Now when it boots it hangs with the Windows desktop started but no bar on the bottom or any acces to the start button -- just sits there. My screen protector works as does the fingerprint reader, but no way to get it to show the system tray and start menu. It's obviously not fully loaded.

I've used the task manager and can bring up msconfig -- but it won't respond to such choices as System Restore or Safeboot.

All suggestions are most welcome!

Thanks!

[RonS]

Use the Task Manager, show Processes, Right-click the "Explorer" process and select "End Process."

Then, select File->New Task, enter "Explorer" and run it. See if the new copy of Explorer will come up.

If this doesn't work, then I suggest re-booting and, right after POST, hold down F8. This should bring up a boot menu. Select "Last known good configuration" and see if you can get going that way.

[brucewilsonpa]

Thanks -- your suggestion helped me get my systray and startup memory back -- ran System Mechanic and found a number of folders and files with errors that when corrected seem to have fixed the problem.

I really appreciate the fast response!

[brucewilsonpa]

Well -- I thought I'd got it working right. Now it boots OK but won't shutdown. I've tried the tray mgr shutdown choice as well as start menu shutdown. Only way I can get it to shutdown is to turn the machine off, which is not the best way to do it! Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[RonS]

I would start by uninstalling Win Defender. Sounds like it may have started your series of problems.

[Scratch]

I've had to remove Win Defender from 2 of my systems due to stability/compatibility issues.

If you monitor task manager>processes (sorted by CPU usage) is there a process that is at the top of the list that isn't responding to the shutdown process?

I think RonS' advice is your best starting point. If it was fine before Defender hopefully an uninstall will restore it's functionality.