shutdown fails

[skymera]

recently my XP machine hangs at shutdown.

it passes 'Saving your Settings'
but then stops at 'Windows is Shutting Down'

i want to update my BIOS but i cant as i have to hold down the magic button for 5secs to turn it off.

anyone know a way to make it restart without turning off?

my keyboard is still active at this point is there any sys request keys like in linux?

[ubutufan]

I have read a lot of posts on this weird XP behaviour. Notably the IE7 and especially the updates are blamed. I am not sure myself.
You might want to (in case you have IE7 installed) to remove it. that will get you back to IE6 because IE7 lies above the IE6.
Alternative solutions I have read are to try from command line
Go start>run, type cmd and then type shutdown -r -t
You need to be logged in as administrator
Let us know if it works

[skymera]

yeah i did find the problem.

my theme!
dont know how but i changed to Royale Noir and that hung it

im back to suckish XP style and all is good