This System is Shutting Down - Virus

Every time you log into Windows you get the message: 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.....  and your given about 1 minute before the computer shuts down completely.

This can be caused by a Virus. Usually the virus has caused a required Windows program(called a service) to stop working correctly. As a result the Windows Computer thinks it can no longer run properly and forces it to shutdown. The 1 minute delay is just a nice feature that lets you save your work before Windows finishes shutting down.

The Instructions below are going to show you tricks on how to stop the computer from shutting down and give you a few tricks on how to get your computer running long enough in order to remove the virus.

First Step - How to Stop this Message?

When the message first pops up saying "This System is Shutting Down" you need to type the abort command to stop it from shutting down. The abort command is: shutdown -a

Windows XP - Click Start, Click Run, and type "shutdown -a" and then Click OK. You do not want to type the quotes, just type shutdown -a

Windows Vista & 7 - Click Start, then in the Search Box of the start menu type "shutdown -a" and then Click OK. You do not want to type the quotes, just type shutdown -a

Second Step - If the Shutdown message keeps coming back! Try the steps below.

If the message "This System is Shutting Down" keeps popping up even after you use the abort command shown in step 1. Then you need to try Windows Diagnostic Startup mode.

Windows XP - Click Start, Click Run, and type msconfig and then Click OK. A window will open called System Configuration Utility. On the general tab of the Utility you want to choose Diagnostic Startup - Load basic devices and services only. Then reboot your computer like normal. Once your computer reboots, you should not longer get the message "This System is Shutting Down".

Windows Vista & 7 - Click Start, then in the Search Box of the start menu type msconfig and then Click OK. A window will open called System Configuration Utility. On the general tab of the Utility you want to choose "Diagnostic Startup - Load basic devices and services only". Then reboot your computer like normal. Once your computer reboots, you should not longer get the message "This System is Shutting Down".

NOTE: to switch your computer back to normal startup mode. Just repeat the steps above. Then on the general tab of the System Configuration Utility, choose "Normal Startup - Load all device drivers and services", click OK and reboot like normal. Your done.

Third Step - If the Shutdown message still Pops Up! The steps below will work, but requires a lot of time.

If the message "This System is Shutting Down" keeps popping up even in Diagnostic Startup Mode. You will need to keep using the abort command in step 1 to stop the shutdown. Then you will need to Scan with Antivirus and Antispyware to remove the virus. ASG recommends you use an Antivirus or Antispyware that has an option for Quick Scan. Using a Quick Scan will usually take about 20 minutes at the most to complete. Hopefully after the Quick Scan completes, the virus is damaged or removed enough that you will no longer get the message "This System is Shutting Down" after you reboot.

If you still continue to get the message. Just keep scanning with more Antivirus and Antispyware programs using the quick scan to try and remove the virus. Once the virus is removed you should no longer get the Shutdown message.

If you find this method to be too much, ASG highly suggests reinstalling Windows if you want the fastest resolution.

If you need more Help! ASG has additional Instructions for Removing Viruses and Spyware. Click here for those instructions.

Here are a few Antivirus & Antispyware programs that offer Quick Scan's: A-Squared Antimalware, MalwareBytes, Antivir, SuperAntispyware, SpywareTerminator.

Here is a list of more ASG Tested and Approved Free Antivirus and a list of Free Antispyware