shutdown scripts are changed if uhave any important information on OS drive back it

up *
use sysytem restore or repair xp by booting with CD and time of install R to repair

try system restore....

and try installing service pack....2....i guess this will solve the complete
problem....and try
scanning the system and remove some bugs...if present... *

this is a simpel process .

try it out no harm will come to your computer.
1. start xp in safe mode and defragment your drives.
2. restart computer normal mode .
3. in desktop , free space , right click,
4. go to properties, go to power managment option ( it is in screen saver menu ),
5. see under power schems heading ,
6. u got diff setings , just pick any ,
7. turn off monitor : NEVER
8. TURN OFF HARD DISK : NEVER
9. SYSTEM STANBY : NEVER
10. Save the settings by some diff name *( e.g. your name etc..)*
11. go in advanced menu in same window
12. look in power buttons.
13. u will find a option saying WHEN I PRESS THE POWER BUTTON IN MY COMPUTER
14. SELECT OPTION *SHUTDOWN*
15. PRESS OK, PRESS APPLY.
16. VOLLA NOW U CAN RELAX ..........THE TRICK IS DONE . *(RE-START)* THE COMPUTER
REPLY IF U ENCOUNTER SAME PROB .....( I DONT THINK U WILL FACE IT AGAIN)

Well try the shutdown command from the command promt.............shutdown -s -f

this should work ....but your system seems to have some script running in the
background which is preventing your system from shutdown therefore you mucst scan
ot with some good antivirus and spy remover program.

YES I THINK IT WILL WORK BUT BEWARE IF U DO NOT KNOW HOW TO USE COMMAND PROMPTS ,
IT CAN SIVERLY DAMAGE U'R PC . ANTI-VI---S SCAN IS BETTER OPTION BUT I THINK U MUST
HAVE DONE IT BEFORE ASKIN US...........GOOD LUCK

After rebooting re-shutdown from the logging prompt.......

The things you are telling might be due to change in bios feture this means when
computer shutdowns the hard disk is off and even if it is having a bad sector in HD
it can not start only our bios is alvays online if power is on then there might be
some modification there in your bios.Do you have telephone connected to your PC.If
yes then tell me.

Alternatively you can try this:

Open your registry: and find the key PowerdownAfterShutdown and set it to "1" to
power off the computer at shutdown, or "0" to reboot. Here is the path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon If you don
find it, create it(REG_SZ (String Value)) restart windows