Conrail,
Welcome to the HP Forum.
You might have actually answered your own question -- the customization may have added a program that is not quitting when it should and is keeping the notebook from shutting down as it ought.
It is not all that uncommon -- some programs are not meant to be in the Startup and so cause problems if they are started too soon, for example, during startup or login -- other programs that are running in the background might hang and not stop properly when it is time to shut down the system.
Startup Programs - msconfig
Using Microsoft System Configuration (Windows 8)
If that is the problem, you might be able to track down the program with more or less work depending on how you have set up your login, your start screen (Tiles), whether you allow stuff to run in the background, and which programs you have on your Desktop.
Stop those programs you know are running > close browsers, stop games, etc. >
Right-ClickTaskBar> Task Manager> check the obvious list under Processes
The "Background Process" list is a bit harder to decipher, although if you find something you added as part of your customization it might actually jump out at you as this one is not like the others in the list. If you do find something of this sort, you may need to remove it.
How to stop a Background process that does not belong?
- Short term: You can kill the process. How you get rid of a process long term depends on where you added "it".
- Is "it" a shortcut on the Desktop? Delete the shortcut and see if that stops the program from churning.
- If the process is due to a Tile on the Start Screen, you might disable the Tile (switch it Off) or even remove the Tile from the Start Screen.
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If the Task Manager is not giving you enough detail, you can open the Resource Monitor:
Task Manager> Performance> bottom of window Open Resource Monitor
Reference:
How to Use the New Task Manager in Windows 8
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In particular for Windows 8.1, you must have all your Windows Updates current.
First:
- Create a Restore Point: Create a Restore Point – Win7 OR Create a restore point Win8
- If you are freaked out by Automatic Windows Updates sneaking up on you (who isn't?), then set your Windows Updates to Notify. You can then always create your own manual Restore Point, check the list, only install Important Updates (never install Optional Updates), and only install Updates on your schedule. Always Reboot the system after installing Updates -- Windows loves a reboot.
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If all else is in Order, that is your Windows Updates are installed, your processes are in order, your Drivers are Updated / Current on your notebook, you might try the following to reset the device drivers:
· Create a Restore Point: Create a Restore Point – Win7 OR Create a restore point Win8
· Close all your programs and Shut down the computer
· Disconnect everything (little Unifier for the keyboard / external mouse can stay)
· Perform the Hard Reset for your notebook model
· Boot the computer and log in
Reminder: Hard Reset is just a device Reset. The Hard Reset procedure does not wipe out your files nor does it destroy your Windows setup in any way. It just "clears the cobwebs". Depending on the cause of the problem, this kind of "reset" can fix a variety of computer glitches.
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Reference / Reading:
Improving System Performance without Adding Memory (Windows 8)
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