I have a problem shutting down Vista home premium after a sleep session. I can shut the computer down with no PROBLEMS at all unless it has gone to sleep and then been awaken. Even if I accidentally put the computer to sleep and then right away try to shut it down it just hangs at the "shutting Down" page. This is a 3 month old HP pavilion m9717c and has done this since new.
You may want to contact HP about this problem since its probably under warranty.

I just turn those problem modes off and run 'always on' myself or 1st lessen the severity of the mode to see if that helps.Don't use "sleep" FEATURE. M$ was never able to make it 100% flawless.Sleep and Hibernate, both, are the Kiss of Death.

When you're done with your computer, shut it down.
That's one thing in Windows that usually works.

It will work even better if you use this shortcut to facilitate a quicker SHUTDOWN.

%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f

I've been using this Quick Shutdown shortcut, on hundreds of PC's, since XP was first released.
This shortcut also works on Vista and Windows 7.

Give it a GO, Mate!

Shadow 

THANKS, I'll give it a try!