How do I fix my computer's inability to shut off or restart?

If your computer is unable to shut off or restart, there are a few potential causes and solutions you can try:

1. Fast Startup Issues: Sometimes, the Fast Startup feature can cause problems with shutting down or restarting. You can disable it by following these steps:
   • Open the Control Panel and navigate to Power Options.
   • Click on Choose what the power buttons do.
   • Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
   • Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) and save changes.
2. Using Shutdown Command: Instead of using the Windows menu, you can try using the command line to shut down your computer. Open the Run dialog (Windows key + R), type shutdown /s /t 0, and press Enter. This command forces a full shutdown.
3. Check for Updates: Ensure that your system is fully updated. Sometimes pending updates can cause issues with shutdowns. You can check for updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
4. Event Viewer: Check the Event Viewer for any error messages that might indicate what is causing the shutdown issue. Look for Event ID 41, which indicates unexpected shutdowns. This can provide clues about hardware or software issues.
5. Registry Modification: If you are comfortable with it, you can check the registry settings related to crash dumps. Make sure that the DumpFilters registry value only contains dumpfve.sys and no other entries, as incorrect values can affect shutdown behavior.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be worth considering hardware diagnostics or consulting with technical support for further assistance.

References:

• Fast startup causes hibernation or shutdown to fail in Windows 10 or Windows 8.1
• Advanced troubleshooting for Event ID 41: "The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first"

If you have an update that is waiting for a restart, on your Desktop, press Alt + F4, that should bring up the shut-down dialog, are you able to choose the option to update and restart from there, to get that update installed to see if that resolves the problem.

If above suggestions do not work, and your computer is frozen- You can usually shut it down- by holding the computer/laptop power button down for 7-10 seconds... This is only a last resort, to get out of the -> sleep 'while unstable'-wake-sleep-wake cycle.... after you turn it back on by tapping the power button, when it comes up, consider opening a command prompt (cmd) as administrator, and run "chkdsk /f /x" (answer y to the question, type exit), then reboot-- when it comes back up, please check windows updates...