I've checked this forum and done quite a bit of research but here's the problem. My brother runs an older style Pentium computer with no connection to the internet. He started to run a "Band in the Box" program and his computer freezes on shutdown. I've done ctrl-alt-del but the only thing running is Explorer and Systray. If he doesn't run the Band in a Box program, he doesn't have a problem shutting down. I'm going to run a clean registry program, anti-virus, spyware program just in case there's something left over from the previous owner. I'm even considering installing the Win98 Shutdown PATCH. Any suggestions on what else I can try?Run your  clean registry program, anti-virus, spyware program. It can't hurt. The Win98 shutdown patch was specific for CERTAIN circumstances.

Since this is a previously owned machine, the best solution would be to format and reload an OS.

Good luck.  I did reload the os last September but I didn't format. I cleaned the registery, and scanned for viruses and trojans which proved negative. It's still freezing on shutdown but only after I use a certain musical program. Do you SUPPOSE format will help?How much RAM is installed in the computer? Enough to handle the program? Processor?

[glb]Flame[/glb]update directx.......to 8.1..and update SOUND drivers.......  a corupted wav file /driver may cause this......to re-install a system its best to format the drive......in case the mbr > is damaged?