KK1L said:
With my new laptop with WinXP Pro SP2 installed I am only given a few
seconds to choose to save/discard changes made to files open in running
applications when a shutdown/reboot occurs. This did not happen with
any of my previous machines and I am annoyed that I am not given time
to save my files when a reboot occurs.
For example I have an Excel session open and auto update decides to
reboot my system. Suddenly I am given a choice to save or discard my
work. By the time I decipher and start to act on the message the
application is closed.
There are occasions as well where request a restart and did not realize
I had unsaved work open in an application. The same thing happens.
I have not been able to find any help for this delema after a couple
hours of searching help files and using Google.
Hi (what's your name?
First, I've seen the other replies, re: Windows Update stuff.
Second, the words "new laptop" jumped out at me and I was wondering if it
came with WinXP-pro-SP2 pre-installed, and maybe there is some pre-set
option somewhere related to battery conservation that forces a shutdown?
(I'm using a desktop computer, so cannot check laptop options.
Third, I was able to duplicate the described problem with not having enough
time to act on a "save or discard" message, as described later.
Fourth, in Start> Help and Support, I came across something called
"Shutdown Event Tracker" which might help you investigate your problem:
[begin quote:]
Shutdown Event Tracker overview
Shutdown Event Tracker provides a simple and standard mechanism you can use
to consistently document the reasons for shutting down or restarting your
computer. You can then use this information to analyze the root causes of
shutdowns and develop a more complete understanding of your system
environment.
To record a shutdown or restart reason, you enter it into the Shut Down
Windows dialog box. The Shut Down Windows dialog box is displayed as part of
the shutdown sequence, or when restarting a system after a sudden shutdown.
Windows provides predefined reason options. You can also add custom reason
options. The information you provide here is recorded in the system log in
Event Viewer. For more information on Event Viewer, see Event Viewer
overview.
By default, Shutdown Event Tracker is disabled for Windows XP. For more
information about enabling Shutdown Event Tracker, see Enable Shutdown Event
Tracker. For more information on disabling Shutdown Event Tracker, see
Disable Shutdown Event Tracker.
[:end quote]
shutdown.exe = Windows REMOTE Shutdown Tool
Results of my experiments with the Command Line shutdown.exe program:
Start> Run> CMD
cd \
shutdown /?
Usage: shutdown [-i | -l | -s | -r | -a] [-f] [-m \\computername] [-t xx]
[-c "comment"] [-d up:xx:yy]
No args Display this message (same as -?)
-i Display GUI interface, must be the first option
-l Log off (cannot be used with -m option)
-s Shutdown the computer
-r Shutdown and restart the computer
-a Abort a system shutdown
-m \\computername Remote computer to shutdown/restart/abort
-t xx Set timeout for shutdown to xx seconds
-c "comment" Shutdown comment (maximum of 127 characters)
-f Forces running applications to close without
warning
-d
[p]:xx:yy The reason code for the shutdown
u is the user code
p is a planned shutdown code
xx is the major reason code
(positive integer less than 256)
yy is the minor reason code
(positive integer less than 65536)
- - -
I opened NotePad and typed the universal test code: asdf
Start> Turn Off Computer> Turn Off
When ordinary shutdown was activated, I first got this message:
Notepad
/!\ The text in the Untitled file has changed.
Do you want to save the changes?
[_Yes_] [No] [Cancel]
I waited, and after 5 seconds, I then got this message:
End Program - Untitled - Notepad
/!\ The system cannot end this program because it is waiting
for a response from you.
To return to Windows and check the status of the
program, click Cancel.
If you choose to end the program immediately, you will lose
any unsaved data. To end the program now, click End Now.
[End Now] [_Cancel_]
- - -
Note: After canceling the shutdown, 2 systray icons were missing, that did
not get added back when Explorer restarted.
Screen capture of "End Program" message worked, but I could not activate
MSPaint, until after cancel, and then could paste the capture.
- - -
Next, tried: Start> Run> shutdown -i
for the GUI "Remote Shutdown Dialog" thingy
Added my computer name to Computers field. In comment field: Test This!
There was a checkmark in "Warn users of the action"
Display warning set for 20 Seconds
- - -
Warning countdown message:
System Shutdown
(X) This system is shutting down. Please save all work in progress and log
off. Any unsaved changes will be lost. This shutdown was initiated by
COMPUTER7\Richard
Time before shutdown: 00:00:20 <--this number was counting down
Message
Test this!
- - -
(Note: I was unable to screen capture the warning countdown message, so I
set the timer for 200 seconds so I could type a copy of the info.)
- - -
Tried: shutdown -s
Got warning message, but 30 seconds timer, got NotePad save message, and
5 more seconds later, the end program dialog. Cancel button worked.
- - -
Tried: shutdown -f
got NotePad, and end program dialogs. Canceled.
- - -
Tried: shutdown -s -f
Got 30 second countdown, NotePad message, 5 more seconds, Poof! Shutdown!
- - -
Back on: tried that again, and pressed spacebar to answer YES to save the
NotePad document, the save dialog appeared with *.txt suggested as the
filename, but 5 seconds elapsed before I could think of a filename...
The computer shutdown.
- - -
Back on: Trying again, prepared to QUICKLY name it "asdf". The *.txt was
highlighted, but letter keys only made an inactive "bonk" sound, and POOF!
- - -
Back on: Tried out the "shutdown -s" which has the 30-seconds countdown,
and had no problem saving the NotePad document before countdown completed,
and the shutdown proceeded.
- - -
Back on: Tried same again, but during the 30 seconds countdown, tried:
Start> Run> shutdown -a
That ABORTED the shutdown countdown and the warning message vanished.
- - -
KK1L said:
Thanks guys. So I take it there is no switch you know of somewhere in the
bowels of XP which enables/disables/delays closing an application with
extreme prejudice? There must be one somewhere. Maybe there is something
controlled by another application on this image. I will ask on a different
forum internal to IBM.
I understand the auto update options and do have control of them.
Thanks for trying to help. I do appreciate it.
The "-a" abort switch with the shutdown command worked during the countdown
while the keys worked. What you are seeing seems to be more like above with
the forced shutdown where even though I got the option to save the NotePad
document for only 5 seconds, it didn't work even when I moved quickly.
Right-click desktop, click Properties, click Screen Saver (tab).
Click the Power button, and check all your settings on all tabs.
Something else you might check:
Start> Run> %WinDir%\system32\gpedit.msc
Group Policy
\Local Computer Policy
\Computer Configuration
\Administrative Templates
\System
\Scripts
Run shutdown scripts visible [Not configured]
Explain: "Shutdown scripts are batch files of instructions that run when
the user restarts the system or shuts it down. By default, the system does
not display the instructions in the shutdown script.
If you enable this setting, the system displays each instruction in the
shutdown script as it runs. The instructions appear in a command window."
Group Policy
\Local Computer Policy
\Computer Configuration
\Administrative Templates
\System
\Error Reporting
\Advanced Error Reporting
Report unplanned shutdown events [Not configured]
Explain: "If you do not configure this setting, the user will be able to
adjust this setting via the control panel, which is set to 'upload
unplanned shutdown events' by default."
- - -
Note: Sometimes, the Pause/Break key can pause displays in command windows.
Most paused displays can be resumed with spacebar.
Start> (all)Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Event Viewer> System
click Source column header, scroll down and look for USER32
Shutdown related Event ID's 1073, 1074, or 1075.
That's all I can think of. Let us know if you find a solution.
HTH. (Hope This Helps.
--Richard