Shutdown XP Faster

Start Regedit.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control.
Click on the "Control" Folder.
Select "WaitToKillServiceTimeout"
Right click on it and select Modify.
Set it a value lower than 2000 (Mine is set to 200).

Solution for power down/system shutdown

Many people have been having problems with their system not automatically
closing down when they 'turn off' their PC. This is because of the APM
setting which is not enabled. To enable it, right click on my computer
goto properties select hardware and click device mangager.
Click view and then on show hidden devices. You should see the NT ATM /
Legacy Interface mode with a red cross on it. Double click it and on
the screen that appears at the bottom choose enable from the drop
down menu.

Your PC should now automatically switch off completely on shutdown.