You cannot use the shutdown command to shut down or to restart Windows Server 2003 remotely (834100)

SYMPTOMS

When you use the shutdown command to try to shut down or to restart a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer remotely, the computer does not shut down.

For example, when you type shutdown /s /m \\ computer_name /t 003 from a remote computer, you may receive one of the following error messages:

computer_name: The computer is processing another action and thus cannot be shut down. Wait until the computer has finished its action, and then try again.(21)

Device is not ready

CAUSE

This problem may occur if you use Remote Desktop Connection with the /console switch to open the console session (session 0) of the Windows Server 2003-based computer, and then you use Log Off to end the connection. For example, the problem may occur if you follow these steps in the order listed:

Use Remote Desktop Connection to connect remotely to the console session of the Windows Server 2003-based computer. To do this, click Start, click Run, type mstsc /console in the Open box, and then click OK. Type the computer name, and then click Connect.
After the console session opens, click Start, and then click Log Off to log off the console session.
From a command prompt, type shutdown /r /m \\ computer_name /t 003 from the remote computer to restart the computer remotely.

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time     Version         Size      File name
   ------------------------------------------------------------
   07-Jan-2004  00:58    5.2.3790.116    540,160   Winlogon.exe

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:

Disconnect the console session instead of logging off. For example, click the Close button in the console session, and then when you receive the following message, click OK to confirm the action: This will disconnect your Windows session. Your programs will continue to run while you are disconnected. You can reconnect to this session later by logging on again.
Use Remote Desktop Connection without the /console switch to connect to the Windows Server 2003-based computer.

To shut down the server remotely after this problem has already occurred, use Remote Desktop Connection to reconnect to the server, and then use the Close button to disconnect from the server. You can then use the shutdown command to shutdown or to restart the server remotely.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to use Remote Desktop Connection with Windows Server 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

814585 HOW TO: Connect clients to Terminal Services in Windows Server 2003

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates