Win98SE on a network

This is a known issue w\ Win98. Even after applying the MS shut down patch, some PC's will continue to have this problem. Your best way to work around this problem is to use the command line shutdown command. The next time you want to shut down, please do it this way instead:

Make sure that all programs are closed or shut down first.

Press \ Click the Start button

Choose Run

In the Open: dialog box (if it?s not there or in its arrow down menu) type:

c:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows

Choose the OK button.

Then it will shut down right away.

Add it as a shortcut to the user's desktop and put command in the command line dialog box. You can also add shortcut keys to it as ctrl+alt+s. Hope this helps!

Is this a peer-to-peer network? If not, there's no reason that one computer shutting down should hang the others. Turn off master browsing if this is NOT a peer-to-peer network.

If this IS a P2P (peer-to-peer), then the computers have to browse each other for shares. One computer going down can, and will, momentarily affect the others.

Take a look at these articles from Microsoft for tips on troubleshooting 98 shutdown problems.

Problems Shutting Down Windows 98 Second Edition (Q238096)

How to Troubleshoot Windows 98 Shutdown Problems (Q202633)

I would add that you should use MSCONFIG on the Run line and remove startup items until you determine the one(s) that are causing the hang. This has worked on several occassions for me. You can then determine whether the offending program or driver is needed and update it if appropriate. Good Luck.

Thanks to everyone who participated. We now have the problem under control. I used the following to fix the hang.
c:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows

Again my thanks