Cannot Logout or Reboot: Logout Times Out

Question

Over the past few days I have been unable to reboot or log out in a "normal" fashion. Every time I try it quits all the apps, then sits for a minute, then informs me that logout timed out, because the application (fill in the blank) could not be quit.
The application in question changes. Sometimes it is iChat, sometimes Safari or something else. But those applications HAVE QUIT. They aren't running any more.
This last time I was able to get back to Finder and ran Activity Monitor, and the named application (it was Safari) was not running. There were no processes associated with Safari in the "All Processes" list.
Anyone know why applications that aren't running are stopping me from rebooting, and how to fix this? I have to manually power off the computer every time (holding down power button), and I know that can't be good for the machine!

Answer 1

I had the same problem AFTER an upgrade to my iMac G5.
The solution for me was to ensure my *ONE AND ONLY USER was actually an Admin*. It appears that the upgrade 'degraded' my user to Standard (common enough problem with upgrading to Leopard that the fix is a headliner on Apple Support page for Leopard install). So, I suspect that the issue that corrupted my user also caused the inability to log out, restart or shutdown.
Steps to fix:
I followed instructions on updating my user to Admin again. See here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306876
*If your system is set up to ASK for login*, you should be fine with the instructions. HOWEVER, there was a problem with the solution, however.
+I had my system set up NOT to login, rather it goes direct to Desktop. So, I never had the chance to login as ROOT and set my user to Admin.+ So, I had this work around:
After a hard restart and boot into the Leopard install DVD, I followed the instrcutions to create a ROOT password. Very easy.
Then, I restarted and booted into the Leopard installation on the HD
Upon reaching the desktop, open System Preferences
Click on Accounts
Click on LOCK to change status
Sign in as user ROOT (with newly created password)
Create new ADMIN account (call it whatever you want)
IMPORTANT: Update settings to allow for change of users from the top, right of screen (+this is important because it is what allows you to change users, since a LOG OUT does not work+)
Change to new user
Open Sys Prefs
Click Accounts
Change my ORIGINAL user to Admin (might have to UNLOCK again)
log out
log in as Original user (now admin)
Go to sys prefs
Click Accounts
Delete other Admin user
After all of this, everything was normal.
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