Windows 7 RTM Cannot Be Shut Down on Multi-CPU/Multi-Core CPU Machines

Customers having problems with the Shut Down process of Microsoft’s latest iteration of the Windows client can now turn to the company for a possible resolve. The software giant informed that in certain scenarios users of Windows 7 RTM that attempt to Shut Down, or put their computer into Sleep mode, won’t be able to do so. According to the Redmond company the issue is associated with machines that sport multiple CPUs or multi-core CPUs.

“You have a computer that is running Windows 7. When the system is under heavy load, you may encounter one or more of the following problems: the hotkey on your keyboard does not work. For example, you press the hotkey to control the brightness of your computer screen. However, the level of brightness does not change. Windows 7 stops responding when you shut down the computer or put the computer into Sleep,” Microsoft explained.

The software giant has yet to explain the exact cause of the problem. However, it appears that the issue is Windows 7-related, despite Microsoft saying that “this problem frequently occurs on computers that have multiple processors or that have a processor with multiple cores.” Essentially, customers that buy modern machines, such as the new, Windows 7-pre-installed computers that are currently on store shelves worldwide. Both the 32-bit and the 64-bit flavors of Windows 7 are affected according to Microsoft.

Fortunately enough, the company is currently offering a fix designed to address this problem. Affected users can grab a hotfix from Microsoft, but they need to bear in mid the fact that the resolve is set up to take care only of the problem described here and nothing more. Windows 7 customers that have not experienced any issues shutting down or putting their computers into sleep mode need not apply the hotfix.