I'm having trouble shutting down Windows XP Professional. The details are:
It doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes it closes out normally.
The problem, when it occurs, won't let me log off or shut down.
It can occur as soon as immediately after boot up, so if it's related to a program, it's one that auto starts.
This just began about six weeks ago.
When you click on Shut Down or Log Off, there is a brief flicker to the screen, and then it just goes nowhere.
Any thougts?

Have you tried right clicking taskbar and bringing up task manager ad seeing what it tells you. Another solution is trying System Restore to a date before this problem statrted to occue.

You might try a System Restore to a point prior to your problem:

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Tried using System Restore. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, System Restore wasn't enabled before the middle of May, so that's as far back as I can go, and it doesn't fix anything. As far as using the Task Manager, it doesn't show me anything of use. Most of the processes that are running are Greek to me. I did try writing down all the processes running when I first log in, and then checking to see if something got added between then and the time I attempted to shut down, but the lists were identical. And, as I mentioned, this doesn't happen all the time, but sometimes I can log in and try to log out immediately and it will hang.

When it locks up and you open task manager, click on running to see what program is not responding and click on end task. Sorry that you don't have a earlier restore point than what youv'e got.If Task manager doesn't show anything in the window,which is not unheard of, I don't know what to tell you then except maybe run an chkdisk check on your hardrive which is part of your windows software. Here is the link on how to use it.

Using Check Disk (ChkDisk) - Ferris State University

Task Manager doesn't show anything as not responding. Went ahead and did a check disc. We'll see if anything changes.

Good Luck and let everybody know with an update if this solution works. Keep your'e fingers crossed.

Had the problem again last night, a day after I'd done the check disc. One thing I discovered is that if I do a system restore, it automatically shuts down afterward. It's slow and a pain in the neck, but it beats just pulling the plug. If you have any other ideas send them along.