Faster Windows Shutdown

Faster Windows Shutdown with a Simple Download

If you are a Windows user you have certainly noticed that it can sometimes take a very long time to do something as simple as shutting down your computer. This article will explain why a shutdown can take so long and what Microsoft has done to fix the problem.

In an earlier article I explained why the Windows boot process can eventually become a several minute ordeal and how the prefetch cache plays an important role. Now with a simple download Windows has fixed the problem of shutting down your computer.

When you click Start> Shutdown to turn off your computer you are also telling all subsequent programs to close. For any operating system to properly shutdown it needs to sync the disk and flush all program memory. If an application is still open or did not close with the proper exit status, it is in a sense “hanging” and still partially resides in memory. These programs can become a nuisance when you need to shutdown because Windows will try to unload the profile until it eventually “times-out”. Waiting for the time-out is why shutdown times become annoying.

To address this issue Microsoft has developed a free utility that automatically cleans the user profiles and prevents the “time-out” wait. This utility is packaged in an installer and runs as a service. It will continually monitor users to log off and will reclaim those unused resources.

After the User Profile Hive Cleanup Service is installed, the next time you logoff or shutdown your computer it should be within seconds.