Can't shut down your Windows 7 PC? Try this

Windows 7 » Fix

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by Teodor Nechita 

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windows 7 fix shutdown issue

Despite officially being at the end of its life, Windows 7 is showing issues from the last update that Microsoft has delivered.

The last round of Patch Tuesday updates were also the last ones that would ever include Windows 7. Unfortunately, that update brought a really nasty bug that would replace a user’s wallpaper with a black screen.

Microsoft then released a series of off-schedule updates that would act as last-minute fixes for Windows 7. However, these came with their own fair share of issues.

For example, users have been reporting that they cannot shut down their Windows 7 PC since they are faced with the following error message:

You don’t have permission to shutdown and restart this computer 

As you can imagine, this is quite a serious issue, since not being able to restart your PC comes with a whole world of problems.

What makes matters worse is that this isn’t an isolated case since many more users are facing these problems and many don’t know what to make of it:
Is it a virus or Window 7 issue. Even we are facing it

How do I fix my Windows 7 shutdown issue?

Users found various workarounds to this issue, which involved enabling User Account Control (UAC).
  1. Press Windows + R
  2. Type in gpedit.msc
  3. Go to Computer Settings
  4. Choose Windows Settings
  5. Go to Security Settings
  6. Choose Local Policies
  7. Select Security Options
  8. Select User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin approval and enable itUser Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin approval
  9. Press Windows + R
  10. Type in gpupdate /force
  11. Reboot your PC

Note: This fix only works for users of Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise versions

For more information on how to enable User Account Control, check out this detailed guide.

By following these steps, you should now be able to restart and shut down your Windows 7 PC as normally. Alternatively, you could also uninstall the last update you applied to it.

No word on whether Microsoft will fix this issue, nor if anyone has figured out what is causing it. The only certain thing is that the problem came after installing the last WIndow s7 update.

For more information on the subject at hand, don’t hesitate to reach for the comments section below.

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Teodor Nechita

Teodor Nechita Shield

Eager to help those in need, Teodor writes articles daily on subjects regarding Windows, Xbox, and all things tech-related. When not working, you may usually find him either at the gym or taking a stroll in the park, trying to find inspiration for the next articles he may write.