Shutdown disc activity

XP Home

Lately, since I upgraded my browser, I get a 15 or 20 sec delay with a lot

of disc activity after I click "Turn off Computer" on the Start menu.

This is before the Turn off Computer dialog box comes up. The "Shutting

down" delay with blue screen that comes after clicking "Turn off" in the

dialog box is about the same as before.

So what activity is taking place between clicking "Turn off" in the Start

menu and getting the "Turn off" dialog box?

My browser is already closed before I begin shutdown, and it is not set to

empty its cache when closed.