Reduce the Time of Shutting Down in Windows XP

Windows XP is by far one of  the most commonly used operating systems even today. The main reason behind this success of XP is its user friendliness and flexibility towards almost all applications round the globe. It supports almost each and every software and due to all these features it has its immense success today. But each and every invention in this planet has come with both advantages as well as disadvantages and this regard Windows XP is also not an exception. Inspite of all its qualities the main thing that annoys the user is that it takes a huge time for shutting down. Here we will try to solve this problem and reduce your annoyance to this highly successful invention by forcibly making Windows XP to shut down faster than usual.

Why does it happen??

Actually the reason behind this annoying behavior of Windows XP is due to one or many applications hanging up to about 20 seconds while the operating system tries to shut down. To solve this problem we have to make changes in the registry editor and so to keep on the safe side it is better to create a backup and then continue with the procedure.

The steps to follow :

1. The first and foremost step in the journey is to go to “Start” and then navigate to “Run“.
2. In the window that appears type “regedit” and then click on “OK“.
3. The registry editor opens up. In this window search for “HKEY_CURRENT_USER“. On double clicking on it some more options open up and from them we have to go to ” Control Panel “.
4. A double click on the above option makes a lot more of folders to come in your view. From these new folders choose “Desktop” and then click on it.
5. The Desktop folder opens up on the right hand side of your screen. Then search for “HungAppTimeout” and double click on it. A new window appears and inside this your job is to change the “Value data” from default 5000 to 1000. Once finished click “OK“.
6. Next job is to search for “WaitToKillAppTimeout“. On double clicking it, in the new window that opens up change the “Value data” from default 20000 to 1000 and then hit “OK“.
7. The next step needs you to navigate to  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE  again on the left side of your screen.
8. Double click there and then go through the mentioned path :  System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control\WaitToKillServiceTimeout
9. On a double click a new window appears and there set the “Value data” to 1000 and click “OK “.
10. Next we need to go to the option “HKEY_USERS” on the left side of our screen.
11. On reaching the option given in the preceding step follow : DEFAULT \ Control Panel \ Desktop and search for “HungAppTimeout“.
12. After finding it set the “Value data” to 1000 and click ” OK “.
13. Scroll down to ” WaitToKillAppTimeout ” and set the ” Value data ” to 1000 and click ” OK “.

Your job is done. The values set are not mandatory but can be changed according to the will of the user. Next time your Windows XP shuts down it will take much lesser time.