New XP and Dell user

[Jim Simon]

Just got a new computer with XP so have a lot of questions.
Some I'm finding on previous posts, some by expermeninting(cautiously). I'll just ask one at a time so it won't be so confusing.

After clicking the icon to restart(or shut down) it takes 30 seconds before it even begins to shut down, any cure?

Dell 4500
IE6

TIA

[dAm]

To speed up the shut-down, open regedit (start/run type in regedit and hit enter), browse to the HKEY_Current user_Control Panel_Desktop and double click the "autoEndTasks" value. Change the default character value from 0 to 1. A bit below the AutoEndTasks you'll see HungAppTimeout. Confirm that the value for it is set to 5000. Near the bottom you'll see WaitToKillAppTimeout, set that value to 4000.

As always, backup the registry or create a restore point before modifying anything through regedit.

[Jim Simon]

dAm:

Did just as you said, no change. Anything else?

[dAm]

That's always worked for me. Maybe someone else will have something else to add.

[tironsi]

Just a guess, but have you tried doing a chkdsk and later defrag on the partitions?

You could also try looking at the Event Viewer for any error messages (don't know if this is available only for Pro and if you have the Home or Pro edition):
run->eventvwr.msc

[Jim Simon]

Sorry, I goofed by not stating I have home edition. I've been putting off chkdsk and defrag until I get more programs installed and taking off any I don't need.

Is Event Viewer on home edition?

[Miz]

Go to Black Viper's site where there is a list of the services running in the background...and which ones you can safely disable. It's rather tedious (there are a lot of them) but well worth the time. Disabling unneeded services drastically shortened the shutdown (and startup) on my Dell.

[Jim Simon]

The delay in shutdown is caused by my printer being installed. ????

Lexmark X75 printer, scanner, copier. Anything I can do?

Also having too long a pause before most actions; auto complete, auto disconnect, etc. These are not caused by the printer.

Have any of you who use XP Home ever had any of these problems?