I take back what I said. The solution posted in this thread solved half the problem.

Windows 2K shutdown goes through two distinct stages: 1) Shutting down apps, unloading the current user profile, and logging off that user. 2) Terminating all of the background services, clearing the caches, and shutting down the system.

Stage 1 is recognizable because your desktop wallpaper is still visible as it logs you off. Stage 2 is after your wallpaper disappears and you're staring at a blank light-blue screen with only your mouse pointer.

The solution posted to this thread so far fixed stage 1 of the slow shutdown. Stage 2 is still a problem on my system. It used to be just a couple of seconds, but it's currently something like 10-15 seconds now. Total shutdown time is not as bad as it was before the fix, but not as good as it was pre-SP3.

Anyone have any more ideas? I don't see any services that are being funky, but I really don't know how to check logging for system shutdown timing. How does one troubleshoot what's the slow link in the chain?