Windows 10: TaskHost preventing shutdown and trouble with Windows Updates

New laptop. Windows 11 23H2. On shutdown request TaskHost manager message about something not closing - chose shutdown anyway. On reboot and new shutdown request, same thing, this time with 2 messages from TaskHost. Some threads mentioned this being coupled with problems with Windows Update.Went to settings/Updates - searching for updates gets searching ring with no results. Clicking on Update History nets also search with no results.Tried running Updates Troubleshooter - hangs on searching for pending restart. Microsoft lists this troubleshooter as ready for replacement, but no GetHelp yet re

:)

 

TaskHost preventing shutdown Win10

I am experiencing the TaskHost message preventing shut down in Win 10.

I found these instructions in this community dated 2013 so not relating to W10.

Hi
Thanks for contacting Microsoft Community.
Windows, while shutting down, checks for any open programs. If there is any, it sends a request to the program to close and wait till the program closes safely, to prevent any loss of data. But, Windows waits for some specified
If you are sure that none of the programs are visibly open, you can try the following steps:
Press Windows key+R. Type regedit and pres enter. If UAC prompts, click Yes. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE->expand System->expand CurrentControlSet->click Control (do not exapnd this). When you click (or select) Control, you can see
WaitToKillServiceTimeout. Double click it to edit the value. Set the value to 500 or less than that. Click Ok and close the Registry Editor. Now restart the PC. If the issue persists, restart again and check.
Be careful while accessing registry as incorrect values/deleting any unknown keys may prevent Windows from booting and will require repair.
Reply if the issue is not solved.
I checked my value and found it to be 5000 ie 10 times.

Would following this advice be a possible be appropriate for W10? What else can I try?

 

Mystery app preventing Windows 10 shutdown after update.

After much searching, and trying many, many suggestions, this is what eventually worked for me:-

Run Windows System File Checker
Your Windows PC comes with an in-built system file checker utility program. It can scan your system files and let you know if there is some corruption over there for which you get smashed
with the error message “Task Host Window Preventing Shutdown”. You must follow these simple steps here to run the Windows System File Checker,

• Press the Windows Logo Key + X from your PC
• From the drop-down list select the Command Prompt(Admin)
• Click on Yes if prompted for permission. It will open the elevated command prompt on your system
• Now, type in the following command and press the enter button
• sfc /scannow
• Then, wait until the System File Checker continues the process of scanning. Press Y if the program asks for permission to apply the fixes for your missing system files
• Finally, Restart your PC once again and check if you can get over the problem there

I found the above on a list of several suggestions, which are on the following link, but the above was what removed the problem for me.

This App is Preventing Shutdown in Windows 10 [SOLVED]

 

Mystery app preventing Windows 10 shutdown after update.

This what I posted earlier, and what worked for me, (still working).

After much searching, and trying many, many suggestions, this is what eventually worked for me:-

Run Windows System File Checker
Your Windows PC comes with an in-built system file checker utility program. It can scan your system files and let you know if there is some corruption over there for which you get smashed with the error message “Task Host Window Preventing Shutdown”.
You must follow these simple steps here to run the Windows System File Checker,

• Press the Windows Logo Key + X from your PC
• From the drop-down list select the Command Prompt(Admin)
• Click on Yes if prompted for permission. It will open the elevated command prompt on your system
• Now, type in the following command and press the enter button
• sfc /scannow
• Then, wait until the System File Checker continues the process of scanning. Press Y if the program asks for permission to apply the fixes for your missing system files
• Finally, Restart your PC once again and check if you can get over the problem there

I found the above on a list of several suggestions, which are on the following link, but the above was what removed the problem for me.

https://silicophilic.com/this-app-is-preventing-shutdown-in-windows-10/