Is there a problem when shutting down a Windows 11 system?
Is there a problem when shutting down a Windows 11 system?
Hi All,
I've been facing some unusual problems with my Windows 11 computer. After shutting down or rebooting, the power stays on but all hardware stops functioning—screen is blank, keyboard and mouse lights turn off, yet power, GPU LEDs, and fans remain active. To complete the shutdown, I have to keep pressing the power button, as the reset button isn't working (it does in other situations). When I restart, the system jumps straight into BIOS by pressing the power button again. I need to press F1 to enter BIOS and leave it there to boot.
Here are the details of my setup:
- System: Windows 11 OEM
- Security: Norton 360
- Motherboard: Asus Prime Z790-A
- CPU: i9-13900K - No Overlocking
- Storage:
- Samsung SSD 980 PRO 1TB (System Files)
- Samsung SSD 980 PRO 2TB
- Western Digital wd4005fzbx-00k5wb0
- GPU: EVGA RTX 3070 XC3 Ultra 8GB
- RAM: 64GB total (2 x 16GB kits of G.Skill DDR5 Trident Z5 RGB C36, 6000 MHZ)
- Power Supply: EVGA Super Nova P5 850W Platinum Fully Modular
- Cooler: Noctua NH-U12A
- I tested shutting down in safe mode and everything worked.
This issue started on the day I assembled the PC. It occurs intermittently—sometimes only once after the first month, sometimes twice or more in the second, and even more in the third. It doesn’t happen every time. I’ve reinstalled Windows 11 multiple times due to this problem.
Could anyone help me figure out a solution?
Thanks,
Ben
Do you have the most recent BIOS for your motherboard? Occasionally, a miscommunication between Windows and BIOS can occur, and resetting the BIOS to defaults might resolve the issue. Here’s the latest Intel Management Engine Interface Driver link: https://www.asus.com/motherboards-c...lp...790-A-WIFI
Curious about what happens if you shut down from safe mode. Would let me know if any drivers are affected. It seems it takes three restarts just to enter safe mode. From Desktop, go to Settings/System/Recovery, then Advanced Startup, click Restart Now. This opens a blue menu where you select Troubleshoot, then Advanced, then Startup Settings. Click the restart button and pick Safe Mode (any number will work). The PC will restart into safe mode. Did you try using a different RAM setup just to be sure?
Hi Colif, I attempted to shut it down in safe mode and everything worked fine. I want to add more to my earlier post—I encountered this problem from day one when assembling the computer. This issue doesn't occur every time. I've reinstalled Windows 11 several times because of it. It seems the frequency changes: once a month during the first install, twice to three times in the second, and six to ten times in the third, etc.
Try a clean boot and observe if it alters the behavior – follow the guidelines carefully and ensure no Microsoft services are disabled or Windows fails to load.
This process doesn’t remove files, it simply halts non-Microsoft applications during startup. It’s straightforward: after a few restarts, run the stopped programs to pinpoint the culprit.
Startup programs may interfere with shutdown sequences; they shouldn’t prevent the PC from powering off.
Safe mode reduces hardware stress and excludes drivers, making it possible to identify the issue more easily.
Investigating which one is responsible could involve checking Driverview (http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.html) – it inspects installed drivers without installation.
When using it, navigate to the view tab, hide all Microsoft drivers, and save the list.
Take a screenshot including driver names and their creation dates, then share it on an image-sharing platform for further review.
I notice something potentially clear... if any component interacts with the BIOS could be involved.
Could you use any outdated hardware?
Hi Colif,
I followed the steps and performed a clean boot, then restarted normally without any issues. Please see the attached screenshots of all non-Windows drivers below.
Screenshot-2023-10-16-215631 from ImgBB
Image Screenshot-2023-10-16-215631 also hosted in ImgBB
ibb.co
Kindly confirm if the link is functional
No outdated hardware, everything is around 2 years old.
If it functioned well after a clean boot, it might be one of your startup applications. Are there any Asus programs currently active? I suspect armorycrate is running slowly, becoming less frequent over time. Restart the programs gradually, reinstating them one by one only after confirming they are no longer active.