Applies to

Problem

Solutions

This is one possible reason why Windows NT (and Windows 2000) may hang on shutdown.
To make NT stop waiting in this situation, do the following minor registry edit:

1. Open regedt32.exe.
2. Open the Hkey Current User key.
3. Open the registry key for "\Control Panel\desktop".
4. Set the entry for "AutoEndTasks" to 1. To do this with the resource kit utility reg.exe, type the following: reg update "hkcu\control panel\desktop\autoendtasks"=1 \\servername.

Notes:

• Always make a backup copy before editing your registry.
• This must be done for each user that logs onto a system. The setting can be changed for the default user key so new users gain this setting by default.