Extremely Slow Computer Shutdown (WinXP with iTunes7)

Question

I am running WinXP Media Center 2005 (SP2) on an Intel Pentium D-950 with 2 gig RAM. Prior to installing iTunes 7, the duration of the shutdown procedure could be measured in seconds. However, now that iTunes 7 has been installed, the shutdown process takes more than 3 minutes. BTW, if I uninstall iTunes7, then everything goes back to normal. Do you have any ideas for fixing this issue?
Intel Pentium D 950   Windows XP Pro   Media Center 2005 SP2

Answer 1

i think we'd better check to see if it's a systemwide issue on the MCE machine, or if it's associated with a specific user account.
(i'm leaning away from the MCE conflict theory just at the moment, because i haven't seen the flood of reports i'd expect with a general conflict like that ... we'll revisit it if necessary, though.)
let's try some experiments.
head into your user accounts control panel and create a new user account with full administrative rights. (there's help documentation on how to do that at the left of the control panel screen.) while you're in that control panel, switch off "fast user switching" in your logging-on preferences.
now log out of the old account and log into the new account.
(experiment a)
first try shutting down the PC from inside the new account.
does it shut down slowly, or in a more rapid fashion than the usual user account?
if it shuts down rapidly, let's try another experiment.
(experiment b)
launch the PC. go into the new user account. launch itunes. eventually, you'll see a blank library screen. don't be alarmed, your music is in the other library in your other user account.
shut down itunes.
(by launching and shutting down itunes, we will have created itunes preference files, and various other things that weren't there before.)
now try shutting down the PC again. is it still a rapid shutdown, or has it slowed down again for you?