Hanging on for dear life - Windows 7 won't let you shut it down

[rcmaehl]

Sources:
ZDNet (quote source)

Bleeping Computer (MS response source)

 

Summary:
A bug of unknown origin is preventing users from shutting down Windows 7. I guess Windows 7 doesn't want you to leave.

 

Media:

 

Quotes/Excerpts:

Quote

A weird bug of unknown origins has been hitting Windows 7 computers...according to multiple reports. Windows 7 users have been reporting that they are receiving a popup message that reads "You don't have permission to shut down this computer". The cause of the bug remains unknown at the time of writing. The good news is that they've found at least least one temporary workaround and one unofficial fix to resolve the issue.

Step 1: Create another admin account.
Step 2: Log into that account (or another admin account that was already on the system).
Step 3: Log back into the default admin account.
Step 4: Shut down or reboot normally.

A more permanent way to go around this bug has been put forward by several users on Reddit and by IT support firm Quick Heal.

Step 1: Press Windows+R to open the Run window.
Step 2: Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
Step 3: In the Group Policy Editor window go to: Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options.
Step 4: In the right panel of the Security Options option,search and double-click on "User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode."
Step 5: In the new window, select Enable.
Step 6: Reopen the Run window, but this time type "gpupdate /force" and press Enter. This will update all group policies.
Step 7: Restart or shut down your system normally.

Windows 7 reached official end of life (EOL) on January 14, 2020 and is not scheduled to receive new fixes. Last month, Microsoft made an exception to this rule when it provided a fix for a bug that broke wallpaper display. Microsoft will most likely need to make a another exception and deliver a second post-EOL update pretty soon.

Quote

BleepingComputer asked a Microsoft spokesperson for comment and was told that they are investigating the issue. “We are aware of some Windows 7 customers reporting that they are unable to shut down without first logging off and are actively investigating”, a Microsoft spokesperson told BleepingComputer.

 

My Thoughts:

Hmmm, I've seen this issue on Windows 10 where normal users were unable to open built in Microsoft UWP Apps, but never on Windows 7, and never in regards to shutting down a computer. Hopefully Microsoft will be releasing a patch for this but I'd love to see them say no because Windows 7 is EoL. Regardless, what an interesting bug.

[greenmax]

Just turn the pc off with the button on the case or the psu switch.

[rcmaehl]

3 minutes ago, greenmax said:

Just turn the pc off with the button on the case or the psu switch.

[givingtnt]

I.. I have a solution : 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I have another one that actually works non-destructively; I switched to Linux Mint.

[mr moose]

How long until people claim "MS did this on purpose to force upgrades"?

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it's just a bug or exploit from some other software that wasn't tested on 7.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

2 minutes ago, mr moose said:

How long until people claim "MS did this on purpose to force upgrades"?

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it's just a bug or exploit from some other software that wasn't tested on 7.

And I wouldn't put it past MS to actually have done it on purpose although it isn't likely.

[GilmourD]

What about "shutdown /s /t 0"?

[jagdtigger]

2 hours ago, mr moose said:

How long until people claim "MS did this on purpose to force upgrades"?

Honestly no-one should be surprised if it turns out it was intentional..... (its well within their MO)

Edited February 9, 2020 by jagdtigger

[Beskamir]

Considering that W7 no longer has support I think people should be forced to update or switch to something that has support for their own good.

[mr moose]

18 minutes ago, Beskamir said:

Considering that W7 no longer has support I think people should be forced to update or switch to something that has support for their own good.

I don't care about their own good, but if their systems become repositories for bots further messing up the internet for the rest of us then I care. And yes, windows 7 pc's will now be at a higher risk of bot infection due to the fact it is no longer maintained at a domestic level. 

[Master Disaster]

It seems a bit odd that en masse Computers suddenly enable a group policy setting. TBH this sounds more like someone testing an exploit than anything else.

[Chunchunmaru_]

Seriously no one checked the event logs?

[RejZoR]

2 hours ago, mr moose said:

I don't care about their own good, but if their systems become repositories for bots further messing up the internet for the rest of us then I care. And yes, windows 7 pc's will now be at a higher risk of bot infection due to the fact it is no longer maintained at a domestic level. 

Not to mention Windows 10 really isn't bad at all these days. Early on, sure it had tons of really dumb shit, but today, it's far beyond reliability of any other Windows. Back in WinXP, Vista and Win7 days I basically had to reinstall OS clean pretty much ever yhalf a year coz there was always some dumb shit breaking for no logical reason. Windows 10, I now have it installed on my PC for months and it just works. No issues, no weird bizarre problems. And I keep it fully updated with every update. Hell, the "forced" updating isn't even annoying and a lot of big updates now just hang there and wait for you to manually confirm them. They also solved stupid forced driver installs which don't seem to annoy me anymore. So, all in all, Win10 really matured and is a solid OS that I actually really like using.

[RejZoR]

40 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

It seems a bit odd that en masse Computers suddenly enable a group policy setting. TBH this sounds more like someone testing an exploit than anything else.

Getting Sasser/MSBlast vibes all over again

[Nicnac]

Here’s me running win 7 cause I’m too lazy to upgrade lol. The days where I played around and excessively fine tuned my systems are kinda over. Now I just want to switch it on for a couple games and then forget about it

[TechyBen]

4 hours ago, mr moose said:

I don't care about their own good, but if their systems become repositories for bots further messing up the internet for the rest of us then I care. And yes, windows 7 pc's will now be at a higher risk of bot infection due to the fact it is no longer maintained at a domestic level. 

Is your router updated? Is your car? Your wifi adapter? Your phone? Your smart watch/bluetooth headphones/mouse/etc? As I bet we could find an exploit on any or all of them you have not patched. But fine, say other people need to stop using their products or buy new ones. "I'm alright Jack" right?

[TechyBen]

3 hours ago, Master Disaster said:

It seems a bit odd that en masse Computers suddenly enable a group policy setting. TBH this sounds more like someone testing an exploit than anything else.

Or the exact thing Windows 10 updates do?

[Murasaki]

[insert 2020 a space odyssey jokes]

[Commodus]

9 hours ago, jagdtigger said:

Honestly no-one should be surprised if it turns out it was intentional..... (its well within their MO)

I think Hanlon's Razor applies: never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity.

 

I'd say either Microsoft left a serious bug in Windows 7, or a recently updated third-party app is playing havoc.

[jagdtigger]

26 minutes ago, Commodus said:

I think Hanlon's Razor applies: never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity.

I would agree if this werent their umpteenth "stupid mistake" to make ppl ditch w7....

 

[Doobeedoo]

"I can't let you do that Dave" 

[Dominik W]

And once again, Microsoft has to release a free update lol. Maybe it's there way of saying "upgrade to Windows 10, it's better."

[jagdtigger]

12 minutes ago, Dominik W. said:

And once again, Microsoft has to release a free update lol. Maybe it's there way of saying "upgrade to Windows 10, it's better."

With their non-existent internal testing it really isnt.....

[Murasaki]