14 DAY TRIAL // Customers running Windows 7 and experiencing delays when shutting down, restarting, or logging off will need to deploy Service Pack 1 in order to resolve the issue.
I’ll be honest, this glitch has been driving me crazy, and I don’t doubt the fact that I’m not the only one. According to Microsoft, the problem impacts not only Windows 7 but also Windows Server 2008 R2.
The Redmond company has not released an update or an automated fix, and with Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 now available I doubt that they ever will.
Essentially, Windows 7 machines can freeze for a few seconds when users want to shut them down. Customers can also experience problems when restarting Windows 7 PCs, or when they try to log off the computer.
“In this scenario, the logoff process stops for about six seconds. Additionally, you receive the following message: 1 program still needs to close: (Waiting for) Task Host Window,” the software giant said.
One way to expedite the log off, restart or shut down process is to manually tell Windows 7 to ignore the error and move on. Such an action will minimize the delay, but its repetitiveness alone makes it extremely annoying.
“This problem occurs because the TaskHost.exe process stops handling messages during system shutdown, during system restart, and during system logoff,” the company explained.
Customers running Windows 7 RTM or Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM that do not want to upgrade to SP1 will need to deploy a hotfix in order to resolve this glitch.
KB 975777 details the “1 program still needs to close: (Waiting for) Task Host Window” issue and provides affected customers with the download link for the hotfix.
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM Build 7601.17514.101119-1850 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM are available for download here.
Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.