There are many reasons why a computer seems slow during the shut down process, from many programs running in the background to something as potentially dangerous as a virus (or several) attacking your system. Of course, you should always scan your computer for any problems on a regular basis anyway, but a slow shut down process can be your first indication of a problem that needs further investigating.

Since there are so many reasons why your PC could be slowing down, there is no one right answer without investigating further. I suggest heading over to the CNET community to read their forum thread called Why does my PC take so long to shut down? It’s an informative read on the many possible reasons for this issue.