• The laptop is stuck, what should I do, won’t turn off. How to turn off a laptop if the usual methods do not work

    Good afternoon.

    Relatively often, users of laptops (less often PCs) encounter one problem: when they turn off the device, it continues to work (that is, it either does not respond at all, or, for example, the screen goes out, and the laptop itself continues to work (you can hear the coolers working and see burning LEDs on the device body)).

    This can happen for various reasons; in this article I want to look at some of the most common ones. So...

    To turn off the laptop, simply hold down the power button for 5-10 seconds. I do not recommend leaving the laptop half-turned off for a long time.

    1) Checking and setting the shutdown buttons

    Most users turn off the laptop using the power key on the front panel next to the keyboard. By default, it is often configured not to turn off the laptop, but to put it into sleep mode. If you are also used to turning off using this button, I recommend that you first check what settings and parameters are set for this button.

    To do this, go to the Windows control panel (relevant for Windows 7, 8, 10) at: Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options

    Rice. 2. Setting to “Shutdown” - that is, turning off the computer.

    2) Disabling fast startup

    The second thing I recommend doing if the laptop does not turn off completely is to disable fast startup. This is also done in the power settings in the same section as in the first step of this article - “Setting up power buttons”. In Fig. 2 (a little higher), by the way, you can see the link “Change parameters that are currently unavailable” - that’s what you need to click!

    Next, you need to uncheck the box next to “Enable fast startup (recommended)” and save the settings. The fact is that this option often conflicts with some drivers for laptops running Windows 7, 8 (I personally encountered it on ASUS and Dell). By the way, in this case, sometimes it helps to replace Windows with another version (for example, replace Windows 8 with Windows 7) and install other drivers for the new OS.

    Rice. 3. Disabling fast startup

    3) Changing USB power settings

    Also a very common reason for incorrect shutdown (as well as sleep and hibernation mode) is the operation of USB ports. Therefore, if the previous tips did not work, I recommend trying to disable power saving when using USB (this will slightly reduce the battery life of the laptop, on average by 3-6%).

    To disable this option, you need to open the device manager: Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Device Manager (see Fig. 4).

    Rice. 4. Launch Device Manager

    Rice. 5. Properties of USB controllers

    In the device properties, open the “Power Management” tab and uncheck the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save energy” (see Fig. 6).

    Rice. 6. Allow device to turn off to save power

    Then save the settings and go to the second USB device in the “USB Controllers” tab (similarly, uncheck all USB devices in the “USB Controllers” tab).

    After that, try turning off the laptop. If the problem was related to USB, it starts working as expected.

    4) Disable hibernation mode

    Moreover, an important point is that you need to disable hibernation not in the Windows control panel in the power section, but through the command line (with administrator rights) by entering the command: powercfg /h off

    Let's take a closer look.

    In Windows 8.1, 10, just right-click on the "START" menu and select "Command Prompt (Administrator)". In Windows 7, the command line can be launched from the START menu by finding the appropriate section in it.

    Rice. 8. Disable hibernation

    Often, such a simple tip helps return the laptop to normal!

    5) Blocking shutdown by some programs and services

    Some services and programs may block your computer from turning off. Although, the computer closes all services and programs within 20 seconds. - this does not always happen without errors...

    It is not always easy to clearly determine the exact process that is blocking the system. If you have not had problems with turning off/on before, and after installing some programs this problem appears, then identifying the culprit is quite simple. In addition, Windows often, before shutting down, notifies you that such and such a program is still running and whether you really want to complete it.

    In cases where it is not clearly visible which program is blocking the shutdown, you can try looking in the log. In Windows 7, 8, 10 - it is located at the following address: Control Panel\System and Security\Support Center\System Stability Monitor

    By selecting a specific date, you can find critical system messages. Surely your program that blocks the PC from shutting down will also be on this list.

    If all else fails...

    Very often it is precisely because of the conflict that this problem occurs. Personally, I have encountered one problem many times: the laptop works fine with Windows 7, then you update it to Windows 10 - and problems begin. In these cases, rolling back to the old OS and old drivers helps (everything new is not always better than the old one).

    2) The problem in some cases can be solved by updating the BIOS. By the way, manufacturers themselves sometimes write in updates that such errors have been corrected (on a new laptop, I don’t recommend updating yourself - you risk losing the manufacturer’s warranty).

    3) On one Dell laptop I observed a similar picture: after pressing the power button, the screen turned off, but the laptop itself continued to work. After a long search, it was determined that the whole problem was in the CD/DVD drive. After turning it off, the laptop began to work normally.

    4) I also encountered a similar problem on some Acer and Asus models due to the Bluetooth module. I think that many people don’t even use it - so I recommend turning it off completely and checking the laptop’s operation.

    5) And lastly... If you use different builds of Windows, you can try installing a license. Very often "collectors" do this...

    The problem with incomplete shutdown mostly affects laptops. It is extremely rare for users to encounter this when working with desktop computers. So if this happens, options for resolving the problem will be described below.

    If suddenly, after turning off the device, it continues to function, that is, it does not respond to user actions, then you urgently need to deal with this in detail. In this case, the screen may go dark, and by the working coolers you can understand that the gadget continues to function
    Burning LEDs and other signs may also indicate this. These types of failures can occur for various reasons. Below we will discuss the most common reasons for this “behavior” of a laptop, as well as some troubleshooting techniques.

    Is the button that activates turning off the device configured correctly?

    First of all, the user should check his own device. It will be necessary to analyze many aspects that are involved in normalizing the functioning of the laptop and further adjustments will need to be made regarding the shutdown button itself. Most often, users use the button located on the front of the gadget panel. If the user clicks on this button, the laptop will immediately turn off.

    But this is only possible if normal operation is ensured. In case of failures, you will not be able to turn off the device the first time. So you will have to fix all the problems.

    By default, the laptop deactivation button is configured to put the device into a special mode, and not to turn off the laptop. Many users do not realize, but it was created with the purpose of putting the device into sleep mode. So if you were faced with the impossibility of turning off the device, then first of all, you will need to check the settings of this element.

    The operating parameters of this button may not always be correct. To go to the settings, you will need to open the main menu of the device by clicking on “Start”, and then the user will have to go to the control panel tab. This technique is relevant specifically for Windows in the latest versions.

    Afterwards you will need to go to a certain section in which the equipment and sound are indicated. Next, you will need to open the “Power Options” section. It is in this tab that you will have to make settings, according to which the further functioning of the device will be ensured. But you need to perform these steps carefully.

    Recommendation #2: Disabling Fast Startup

    This manipulation will also need to be done if such a problem arises. The process of disabling fast startup is quite simple. You must also go to the power section. Here you will have to configure the power buttons.

    After this, an option to enable quick launch will appear. You must uncheck the box next to this option. Afterwards we save the new settings. There shouldn't be any more difficulties. The lack of response to user actions is due to the fact that the quick startup option often conflicts with some laptop drivers.

    This is especially true for those devices on which users downloaded Windows. Versions 7 and 8 of this operating system are most susceptible to this type of failure. But there is always a way out: replacing these versions with another, as well as subsequent installation of other drivers, helps to correct the situation.

    Adjusting USB port settings

    Then you can try to move on to the next manipulations, if suddenly the two previous methods did not help. So now let's try to adjust the settings that are made regarding the USB power supply.

    The cause of incorrect parameters of these elements is also quite common. Incorrect shutdown may occur due to the operation of USB ports. Many users may not even understand the connection between these two aspects at first. But it's worth turning off energy saving when USB is running.

    This technique may also not be effective, but you can try to implement it. This method makes it possible to reduce the battery life of a laptop. The reduction parameter can reach 6%. The process of disabling this option is also carried out in the device manager.

    So the user will again need to go to the menu and then open the specified section. When you go to the control panel, you need to find the tab with equipment and sound, then immediately click on it. After this, you can see several more sections, among which Device Manager will also be shown.

    Next in the same section you need to open the tab with controllers. Next, the user will need to open the properties of the object that will be number one in the list that appears on the screen. Now you need to go to the section with the properties of this object to open the power management tab.

    Afterwards you will need to find an item about allowing you to turn off this device. Uncheck the box next to this item. This action saves energy. Then you need to save all new settings for the first object so that you can then move on to the second USB device.

    We make settings for this component in exactly the same way. We uncheck the boxes, and then save the created settings so that now we can work with ports in a new way. After this, you will need to try to turn off the device. If suddenly it turns off immediately, then it means that the problem was related to USB.

    Another way to solve the problem

    Users can also try to implement the option to disable the hibernation mode. This option is implemented by users precisely in the case when all other specified methods and recommendations turned out to be ineffective. In this case, you will have to try disabling this mode.

    It must be completely deactivated. Before using it, you still need to figure out what this mode is, since many people do not use it. Moreover, you need to disable the option through the command line, and not through the capabilities that can be used through the control panel.

    So let’s not go to the power supply section, but immediately open the command line, which will help implement the task. It is important to first configure the OS settings so that all further manipulations are performed with administrator rights.

    Launch the command line. Next you will need to enter the command powercfg /h off. Such a simple manipulation helps to return to the previous normal state, in which the operation of the device is carried out in accordance with the user’s actions. However, this technique is not always a real assistant in solving the problem of turning off the gadget from the first press of the shutdown button.

    Unblocking

    Quite often, various services and programs can make some changes to the basic parameters of the functioning of a laptop and other frequently used devices. Computer technology operates using a variety of utilities.

    But sometimes applications downloaded to the device can independently block various options and settings. Some existing services and downloaded software products may block the process of turning off the gadget. In most cases, the laptop automatically closes all open applications within a few seconds, but this does not always happen without errors accompanying this procedure.

    It is not always possible to unambiguously determine the specific process that leads to the blocking of the system by its actions. It's almost impossible to guess. You can try to analyze the behavior of the device before and after installing certain services.

    If suddenly the user notices failures after downloading a certain program, then the fault for the failures that occur lies with it. Identifying the culprit is quite simple. But the user may not remember which software caused the problems.

    You can also pay attention to which utility or service needs to be terminated in order to turn off the device. So you can focus on which program will be shown. But if it is not clearly visible which process is blocking the shutdown, then you can look at it in the log.

    The log can be accessed by going to the main menu located on the desktop. Next, you need to open the panel, which is involved in managing all the options and elements available in each operating system. After that, go to the system and security section, and then you will need to go to the support center. From this section you will have to go to the tab for determining system stability.

    So the log will be shown next. All critical errors can be found there. To do this, it will be enough to indicate a specific date in order to trace all the actions that were performed at that time. So all critical messages can be viewed and studied.

    If some service blocks system settings, it will be detected without fail. So you can identify all the blockers, and then try to get rid of them to fix the problem.

    And finally...

    As a conclusion, I would like to note that sometimes drivers can be the cause of “bad” behavior of a device. Outdated components simply cannot function properly. So it is important to update in a timely manner and install all missing drivers.

    If suddenly none of the methods described above help, then it’s worth checking a few more settings. In some cases, the problem may be resolved after updating the BIOS. But it is not recommended to perform this procedure yourself.

    Especially on new devices, there is no need to perform such manipulations, since during the intervention the warranty that is issued for each laptop by its manufacturer may be lost. As soon as the warranty period ends, you can try to do this work, having first studied all the necessary documentation.

    It’s also hard to imagine, but an error like this could be a consequence of problems with the CD/DVD drive. But as soon as it was turned off, all settings immediately returned to their previous course. That is, the device was turned off after the first press of the shutdown button.

    And some users may have encountered a problem due to incorrectness in Bluetooth. That is, the user conducted a full scan of the device for vulnerabilities, the presence of blockers and other elements, but the problem was precisely in this component.

    The fact is that many users do not even use this option, and therefore cannot think that it is causing difficulties in managing laptops. Since this function is used extremely rarely, you can disable it. After this, you will need to check the device again.

    It could also be a problem directly with the operating system. Most often, users download pirated versions, which can carry a huge number of threats. For this reason, you should avoid using such platforms. Only real licensed versions will function truly correctly.

    In general, the abundance of reasons makes it clear that users should pay attention to a huge number of nuances. User control is a guarantee of proper functioning of all functions, options and other aspects. When owning a laptop, difficulties with turning it on can occur much more often than when working with stationary devices, but this is due precisely to the technical features of the mobile gadget.

    The main reasons are described below, a little advice - even a frozen laptop can be turned off withholding press the "power" button for 5 seconds.

    The laptop does not turn off due to
    power settings.

    1. Start - Right-click on the Computer shortcut - Properties.

    3. Find the Root USB Hub and Generic USB Hub in the list of devices (this may not be on the list).

    4. Go to Properties of each device (right mouse button) - Power management - Allow turning off this device to save energy.

    Laptop won't turn off
    due to active programs

    It often happens that active programs (Skype, Microsoft Office) do not close normally when the laptop is shut down and do not allow the computer to shut down.

    To troubleshoot any problems with apps that are difficult to close, we recommend using the Switch Off utility to turn off your laptop.

    2. Right-click on the application in the tray - Properties - Other - Force quit applications.

    3. To turn off the laptop, right-click on the program shortcut - Shut down - Now.

    Laptop won't turn off
    due to system errors (we treat the registry).

    It is quite possible that the computer does not want to shut down normally through the Start menu due to various system errors. In this case, you can disable it via the command line by doing the following:

    1. Right-click on the Desktop - Create - Shortcut.

    2. In the properties, where you need to specify the path to the shortcut, enter:

    "%WINDIR%\system32\shutdown.exe -s -f"

    3. Name the shortcut something, such as “Shutdown” or “Shutdown Laptop” and click “Done”.

    4. Now, when you want to turn off the system, double-click the created shortcut and the laptop will turn off.

    Problems with computer equipment manifest themselves in a variety of ways, but some “miracles” force us to scratch our heads for a long time: what could have happened to a laptop that just 5 minutes ago was working at “five plus”? It worked and worked, and then suddenly refused... to turn off. Although the problem is non-standard, in 90% of cases you can cope with it without a specialist. So, let's talk about everything in order.

    How does it manifest itself?

    When we say “the laptop won’t turn off,” we most often mean one of two things:

    • Windows does not shut down - does not respond to the shutdown command through the Start menu. Or the shutdown process continues indefinitely until the user turns off the computer by pressing the power button.
    • The system shuts down as expected, but the machine remains turned on - the screen goes blank and the processor cooling fan continues to spin. Sometimes the indicators (power, wi-fi and others) remain on. Closing the lid and pressing the power button for 4 seconds does nothing; the laptop can only be turned off by disconnecting the power supplies.

    Why does this happen?

    There are many things that can cause a problem. More precisely:

    • Software, including malware.
    • Operating system errors. This, in particular, was encountered by users who were among the first to update their computer to Windows 10.
    • Hardware drivers (especially from Intel, as well as any network adapters, video cards and devices connected via USB).
    • Faulty equipment.
    • BIOS failure.

    Let's localize the problem

    Software

    Problems with programs and virus infections manifest themselves in the first type - the inability to shut down Windows. This option is likely in cases where the problem arose after installing new software or is accompanied by symptoms of the presence of viruses (unknown processes in the task manager, lags, pop-up advertising windows, etc.).

    Drivers and system

    Errors in drivers and the OS itself are manifested by both the endless shutdown of Windows and the fact that the laptop continues to work when the lid is closed and the Power button is pressed. The reason is most likely this if the problem was preceded by one of the following events:

    • Reinstalling the operating system (the failure occurs only in the new OS, but the old one turned off the laptop normally).
    • Updating the operating system (installing current updates, upgrading to Windows 10).
    • Updating or installing new drivers.
    • Change your computer's power settings.

    However, operating system and driver errors can occur for no apparent reason.

    Iron

    Hardware failure is usually accompanied by other symptoms. For example, an endless shutdown of Windows, which occurs due to incorrect operation of the hard drive, manifests itself in slow loading, lags while using the laptop, and errors, including blue screens of death (BSoD). RAM defects also manifest themselves as BSoDs, problems when copying and moving files, errors in launching programs, etc.

    The “clinic” of hardware problems is very diverse and also often does not have obvious cause-and-effect relationships.

    BIOS errors can occur due to the exhaustion of the CMOS battery life (on laptops older than 4-5 years), incorrect installation of an update, or damage to the chip where the firmware is stored. They manifest themselves in the fact that the machine does not turn off completely when you press the power button, does not reboot, and does not go to sleep.

    If you tried to fix the problem by reinstalling the operating system, but this did not help (provided that you installed the correct distribution and tested drivers), then the reason lies in a hardware malfunction or a BIOS failure.

    We carry out step-by-step diagnostics and fix the problem

    Checking and adjusting power settings

    According to statistics, most problems with turning off a laptop are related to power settings, so we’ll start with them. So, open “Power and Sleep Options” by clicking on the battery icon in the system tray or by going to the “Power Options” section of the Control Panel. Click in the navigation menu (on the left) “Power button actions.”

    Make sure that the list of instructions for pressing the buttons and closing the lid does not select “Turn off display” or “No action required.”

    If Shutdown, Hibernation, or Sleep is set and your laptop still won't shut down completely, try turning off Fast Startup, Sleep, and Hibernate one by one in the shutdown options list.

    If there is no result, return to the beginning of the “Power Options” section and click “Power plan settings” opposite the active item.

    The last operation can be done through the device manager, checking “Allow shutdown to save power” in the properties of each USB controller, but this is faster.

    Test run in safe mode

    Starting the computer in safe mode will help you check whether software errors, viruses, and most of the drivers are involved in the problem. It loads only the main components of the operating system. Programs that start working with the OS and viruses are inactive in this mode.

    To enter safe mode:

    • On Windows XP, Vista and 7: reboot, before starting the next OS startup, press the F8 key and select “Safe Mode” from the menu.

    If the laptop turns off normally in safe mode, the reason lies in the components that do not work in it.

    What to do

    • Scan your system with an antivirus.
    • Boot into normal mode, open the “Startup” tab in the task manager (in Windows XP and 7, startup is located in the Msconfig utility), disable programs one by one, restarting the computer each time and checking if the problem is resolved.

    • Reinstall device drivers. Particular attention is paid to Intel drivers, as one of the most common culprits of failure, in particular, the Intel Management Engine Interface. Along with reinstalling this driver, it is recommended to uninstall the Intel Rapid Storage Technology utility (if available).

    System stability assessment

    If, after finishing work in safe mode, the laptop still does not turn off, the source of the problem is probably in the OS itself or in the hardware. The system stability monitor can give you a hint.

    To launch the monitor, go to the “System and Security” section of the control panel, open “Security and Maintenance”, expand the “Maintenance” tab and click “Show stability log”.

    The monitor window displays events that affect Windows stability. Click the date when the problem occurred and view the list of errors. In some cases, the system directly indicates what their source was. In my example this is equipment.

    What to do

    • Click “Search for a solution” next to the error message and follow the instructions to resolve it.

    If the system does not offer anything specific or does not indicate the source of the problem, you will have to call on the event log to help.

    Event log analysis

    The Windows Event Log, among other things, collects information about the computer's performance during the shutdown process. If shutdown takes longer than expected, an error entry appears in the log indicating the cause—specific application, service, driver, etc.

    The most convenient way to open the event log is by searching:

    The section where the necessary data is stored is located in the list “Application and service logs” - “Microsoft” - “Windows” - “Diagnostic-Performance” - “Running”. The middle part of the window displays all events belonging to this category. We are interested in the category “Performance monitoring during shutdown” (all event codes starting from 200).

    Search this list for information about errors and critical events. A single click on a line shows error information at the bottom of the list. To view it in a separate window, double-click on the line.

    What to do next

    The identified source of the problem should be eliminated if possible. If this is an application, remove it from the startup list or uninstall it. If the service is disabled (except for those critical for the operation of the computer). If the driver is a driver, reinstall or disable the associated hardware in Device Manager.

    Other ways to resolve Windows errors

    • If a failure occurs after updating the operating system, installing or uninstalling software, treating viruses, cleaning the registry and other similar operations, roll back to a restore point. Press Windows + R on your keyboard (to launch the Run utility), enter the command rsrtui in the Open field and click OK - this will launch the System Restore utility. Select a checkpoint that was created before the problem occurred and follow the program's instructions.

    • Failures caused by damaged system files are resolved by the sfc.exe utility utility. To run it, open a command prompt (as an administrator), enter the instruction sfc /scannow, press Enter and wait until the scan and recovery are completed.

    • Problems with Windows 10 that cannot be fixed by any of the described methods are often resolved by the Microsoft MediaCreationTool utility (download by clicking on the “Download tool now” button, run it, select the “Update this PC now” option and follow further instructions). Its work lasts 40-60 minutes, it may seem to you that the system is being installed again, but after finishing all your files and settings will remain in place. However, in 2 cases MediaCreationTool will not help you: if the laptop is not connected to the Internet and if the shutdown problem is not related to the operating system.

    Resetting BIOS Settings

    If all attempts are exhausted and the laptop still does not turn off, this is the last thing you can do at home. But provided that:

    • the car is not under warranty;
    • you have the skills to disassemble and reassemble a laptop.

    The essence of the method is to briefly remove the CMOS memory power source - a small round battery on the motherboard (or several batteries in one casing). The difficulty is that the battery can be located anywhere - sometimes, to get to it, you need to completely disassemble the device. On some models the battery is soldered, but more often it is connected through a connector or installed in a socket, as in the picture.

    Before the procedure, do not forget to completely disconnect the laptop. After 15-30 minutes, replace the battery, turn on the device and check if the problem is solved. If yes, I congratulate you. If not, the problem is probably more serious than it seemed and requires diagnostics at a service center. But this, fortunately, does not happen often.

    Read more: