Windows 7 32bit HP won�t shut down!

A friend has a problem shutting down Windows.
This is what I have done so far;
When I try to shut down it hangs on Shutting down.
What I have done so far to solve Windows 7 slow/won�t shutdown
Started the pc in Safe Mode the pc shuts down without any problems
Restored to a previous Restore Point in Safe Mode
Uninstalled various unwanted applications and toolbars
Did all the usual Disk Cleanup, run Auslogic Boot Speed, removed temp files, defragged the hard drive and cleaned and defragged the registry
Restarted in normal mode
Launched msconfig
Removed applications that did not need to start at Windows Startup
Performed a Clean Boot
Clicked the General tab, and Clicked Selective Startup
Under Selective Startup unchecked Load Startup items
Clicked the Services tab, checked the Hide all Microsoft Services box, and then Disabled All services except the Antivirus software
Clicked Apply
Clicked OK, Clicked Restart.
Problem solved
But after restart and try to shut down again there is a yellow exclamation mark on the Shutdown button indicating that there are Windows Updates to install! If I click Shutdown the problem returns, I have to shut down windows by pressing the power button. When I power on again and try to install Windows Updates it hangs on �creating a restore point�.
Have had a look at the Event Manager which produced this list which loaded all drivers except mostly the ones ending with @ nettun.inf, @netrasa.inf, @netavpna.inf, @netrasa.inf etc. these are mostly to do with internet connection, although there are no problems connecting to the internet. Too many �Did not load drivers� to list here as it is a 130 page Word document! Device Manager does not show any problems with any of the drivers!
So I have come to the conclusion that there is a problem with Windows Updates, which is stopping Windows to shut down but can�t figure what it is. Will running the �Automatically diagnose and fix common problems with Windows Update Fix it� from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058be a good idea? Any suggestions welcomed. Only problem is I cannot get to the broken pc easily or quickly so I may not be able to act on any suggestions any time soon.

Put all the services etc stuff back to normal.

Run an sfc /scannow from elevated command prompt.

Turn off auto updates

clear out auto updates cache using disk cleanup (run in admin mode)

run the tool you linked to.

Reboot again.

Run ALL updates manually until there are NO updates to install

turn on Automatic updates.

See how that goes.....

Failing that check WindowsUpdate.log, that ought to get you very close, but try the above first it usually fixes most of these problems and doesn't involve reading verbose log files.

Thanks Pipexer, will do as you suggest as soon as I can get to my friends pc and will post back.

May need specific instructions on how to clear out auto updates cache using disk cleanup as I cannot see a check box for the auto updates cache in the cleanup dialogue screen! I have looked on my pc which is also running Win 7 as the broken pc.

Does System Restore function properly if manually launched? Are there any restore points available from a date prior to your problems?

Boot to "Safe Mode With Networkking", download, install and update MBAM, taking care to uncheck the "Free Trial....." option.
Run a full scan and see what turns up. Post a logfile here if anything does.

As I pointed out in my opening post, I did boot in Safe Mode and restored Windows to a previous point and then shut down as normal. It was in normal system boot the it hangs when shutting down. I will run MBAM once I can get my friend to do so or I will have to wait for when I can go to her house to try again.

There is a Microsoft support article on clearing out windows updates, it basically involves removing a folder in Windows\ but you would be better to read the full support article first.

Did you run sfc /scannow?

Run the Windows Update Readiness tool (as well as sfc/scannow). http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx... This will probably fix it.

To all helpful posters, Pipexer, Deadbeat and jimsym my apologies, but I cannot do any of the helpful suggestions until I can get to my friend's house, which could be some time!
Thank you all for your contributions they are very much appreciated. I just get frustrated when I try to help someone and they don't arrange a day and time for me to attend so I can try and help them.
Many apologies

In reply to a post by scopio:

..... I just get frustrated when I try to help someone and they don't arrange a day and time for me to attend so I can try and help them.....

I know the feeling only too well.

Finally got to the broken pc!
Clicked the General tab, and Clicked Selective Startup
Under Selective Startup checked Load Startup items
Clicked the Services tab, unchecked the Hide all Microsoft Services box, and then all services were enabled
Clicked Apply
Clicked OK, Clicked Restart.
Run sfc /scannow > No intergraty violations were found
Run Malwarebytes 11 malware were found and removedMalwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.75.0.1300
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: v2013.05.12.02

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 x86 NTFS (Safe Mode/Networking)
Internet Explorer 9.0.8112.16421
Rebecca :: REBECCA-PC [administrator]

12/05/2013 11:48:14
mbam-log-2013-05-12 (11-48-14).txt

Scan type: Full scan (C:\|)
Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM
Scan options disabled: P2P
Objects scanned: 293823
Time elapsed: 27 minute(s), 8 second(s)

Memory Processes Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Detected: 11
HKCR\CLSID\{11111111-1111-1111-1111-110011341191} (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCR\TypeLib\{44444444-4444-4444-4444-440044344491} (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCR\Interface\{55555555-5555-5555-5555-550055345591} (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCR\CrossriderApp0003491.BHO.1 (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{11111111-1111-1111-1111-110011341191} (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{11111111-1111-1111-1111-110011341191} (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{11111111-1111-1111-1111-110011341191} (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{11111111-1111-1111-1111-110011341191} (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\PreApproved\{11111111-1111-1111-1111-110011341191} (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCR\CrossriderApp0003491.BHO (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCU\SOFTWARE\INSTALLEDBROWSEREXTENSIONS\215 APPS (PUP.CrossFire.SA) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Detected: 1
HKCU\Software\InstalledBrowserExtensions\215 Apps|3491 (PUP.CrossFire.SA) -> Data: Vid-Saver -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Files Detected: 1
C:\Program Files\Vid-Saver\Vid-Saver.dll (PUP.GamePlayLab) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

(end)

Run Automatic diagnose Windows Update
Run Windows Update Readiness tool
Still Windows hangs on shutting down
Problem persist!! But not in Safe Mode!
Would a Windows 7 repair solve the problem?

Win7 32bit will often display "Waiting to close background programs" on shut down (I often get that if I shut down soon after video editing with Sony Vegas and it only lasts for a few seconds.) It's possible that for some reason that message is not being displayed due to a background process preventing a normal shut down. Might be due to a currupt OS or program file...

I would be inclined to run a HitmanPro scan http://www.surfright.nl/en just to check that Malwarebytes hadn't missed anything.

Run HitmanPro - No Identified threats (Traces 0)

Just lost for solutions to the shutting down problem!

check windows event log (both application and system) for any strange errors at the time the shutdown "hangs".

Are you getting the mouse click options of sleep, restart, shut down, etc. from the GUI? Very infrequently they do fail to appear on my Win7 machine and I have to shut down by pressing the power button for a few seconds. If that does happen though I get a boot message on start up from bios telling me that the OS didn't shut down properly and do I want to start the OS normally. After that things are fine except for trying to diagnose problems with Win7 which can be a nightmare!

Success at long last!
Run Malware byte and Hitman Pro and deleted some malware remnants.
Run Automatic diagnose Windows Update
Run Windows Update Readiness tool
Still Windows hang on shutting down
UPDATES ARE DOWNLOADED (ONE AT A TIME) McAfee reported that computer was at Risk but it wouldn�t let me turn on the Real-Time scanning or update it, when I restart by pressing the power button and start it again the update showed as installed!
After having a good look at the Event Viewer for Windows Applications and System there were some errors related to McAfee! I uninstalled McAfee and an IE toolbar from SweetPacks and HEY PRESSTO I shut down Windows with no problem!
All the functionality from the Start > sleep, restart, shut down, etc. from the GUI do now work! Problem solved!
Installed AVG Free and created a Restore Point.

McAfee strikes again!

I had exactly the same problem and having read all the possible cures read to the bottom and just tried removing my Virus checker (in my case, Avast). Success! The computer will now shut down sucessfully, even after uploading several Windows updates. One of those updates was Microsoft Security Essentials, which claims to do all that other free Virus Checkers do. So perhaps, it was MSE and Avast that were incompatible. For the moment I'm sticking with MSE as my virus checker and Windows Firewall as my firewall. Let's see how that works.

In reply to a post by nicwright:

...So perhaps, it was MSE and Avast that were incompatible. For the moment I'm sticking with MSE as my virus checker and Windows Firewall as my firewall. Let's see how that works.

I always understood that having more than 1 antivirus product running on a PC was a BAD idea and cause assorted unexpected problems.

You understand right!

Biggest problem that can happen is that you open a file and one of the AVs starts to scan it because it has been opened. The act of doing this triggers the other AV to scan because the file has again been opened. This has the effect of opening the file so first AV scans again. Ad inifinitum - infinite loop that just burns resources.

Obiously if they are clever and well behaved then they will avoid this - but it doesn't take much of a coding error to cause major issues.