Windows 7 System wont shut down

[dgm6780]

I am running Windows 7 on a Dell mini 12. ( Intel atom processor 1.6ghz, 1gb RAM) I am have been toying around with Windows 7 RC build 7100 since it came out just a week after I got my mini and it allows me to use a 4GB SDHC for readyboost but using the Mini's defualt Win XP would not.

But now I am running into a problem with windows 7 - none of the power functions seem to be working right. The system just hangs on the "Shutting Down" screen when you do a shut down or when you do a system restart. So every time I end having to hold the power button down to turn it off and then back on. This is creating a problem because no changes I make to startup in msconfig, or changes to any setting, are not "taking" because I cant perform a restart without killing the power then being forced to select "start windows normally" during bootup. Even telling the computer to sleep ends up with me holding the power button down to completely kill it and then rebooting because it wont wake back up from sleep.

What am I missing here? Why wont it restart? It boots fine when I do the hard boot with the power button.

Any help is much appreciated. Wish I had more info to give you, but any questions please ask. I am desperate for help. I am considering going ahead and putting windows xp back on here.

one other weird thing its doing, my battery meter in the task bar always shows it as charging, even when unplugged. Mousing over it and clicking it does nothing, I cant change any power settings.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are encountering some issues with power functions and the battery indicator on your Dell Mini 12 running Windows 7. Let's address the problems you are facing:

Windows 7 Power Functions Issue:​

The symptoms you described, where the system hangs on the "Shutting Down" screen and you need to force a shutdown by holding the power button, indicate there might be a problem with how Windows 7 is handling power functions on your specific hardware configuration. To address this issue, you can try the following steps:

1. Check for Driver Updates: Make sure that all your device drivers are up to date, especially the ones related to power management. Visit Dell's support website and search for driver updates specific to your Dell Mini 12 model for Windows 7.
2. Power Settings: Adjust power settings to default values if you have made any custom changes. Also, check the advanced power settings to ensure nothing is set to prevent proper shutdown or sleep.
3. Run Power Troubleshooter: Windows has a built-in power troubleshooter that can help diagnose and fix power issues. You can access it by:
   • Click on Start and type "Troubleshooting" in the search box.
   • Select "Troubleshooting" and then click on "View all" in the left pane.
   • Locate and run the "Power" troubleshooter.

     Battery Indicator Issue:​

     The behavior where the battery indicator always shows as charging, even when unplugged, can be due to a calibration issue, driver problems, or a faulty battery. To troubleshoot this problem:
   []Calibrate the Battery: Try calibrating the battery to reset the system's understanding of the battery's capacity. []Update Battery Drivers: Ensure that your battery drivers are up to date. Visit Dell's support website and look for battery-related driver updates for your model.
4. Physical Inspection: If possible, try using the laptop with a different battery to see if the issue persists. This can help determine if the problem is with the battery itself.

   Windows XP Reinstallation:​

   If you are considering reverting back to Windows XP, you can give it a try to see if the issues are resolved. It's important to note that Windows 7 might not be fully optimized for your hardware configuration, leading to these problems. By following these steps and troubleshooting methods, you should be able to address the power functions and battery indicator issues you are facing on your Dell Mini 12 running Windows 7. If you need more specific guidance on any of the steps outlined, feel free to ask for further assistance!