Optimization: Speed up your PC's start and shutdown times

Speedup Your PC 2 - video powered by Metacafe

If your PC constantly pauses during shutdown because of hung processes, this quick video shows you how to make a few registry changes that shorten Windows timeout for killing frozen apps, and make Windows end them itself (without waiting for you to hit the "End Now" button.) Editing your registry, of course, isn't something to be done lightly or without a backup, and runaway processes that happen that frequently are more the problem than Windows' ability to close them on its own. In short, proceed with caution.