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I have an old hp-compaq nx8820 computer and it cannot be shut down by software command, neither in windows or linux (I use dual boot). It usually gets stuck during the final stages of the shut down process. So that I have to shut it down manually by pressign the power button.

When trying to start up the coputer, very often it - on a very dim screen - gives the message 'Cannot find smart card' and cannot boot. This happens mostly when trying to start at short period of time after shut down. After 10-20 minutes it will usually start. It's like it needed to cool or something, but on the other hand it can run for days without any problem, without heating.

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This starting and shutting down problem is the only one I can see.

A few times it wouldn't start at all (even after a full night rest) - until I opened the laptop to look for something obviosly wrong. Could not find anything but after that the computer started. Pure luck maybe, but the same happened a second time.

I wander what the cause may be.

George C
2013-10-30 10:09:03
In fact after a while disconnecting and reconnecting that small internal battery had no effect and the computer would not start with the same mesasge: which is in fact "Connect smart card to reader".I read on hp forums that this is caused by the motherboard and that a solution is to exercise pressure on the left bottom side of the laptop or close to the touchpad during startup.I have verified this and it works indeed if pressure is put on the left bottom side. This makes the computer both start and shut down proprly.Some people say that a connector of the wifi card (under the touchpad) may be loose. That was not true in my case.
George C
2013-10-21 12:13:18
Aa indicated in the answer received from Hovsep A, the solution would be to reset cmos battery and flush BIOS.I read that this can be done by disconecting briefly the battery. So, I did that. Now the computer shuts dows when ordered and also starts/boots without the previous problems.(For some reason restart does not work.)
George C
2013-10-30 10:10:50
that stopped working - see new answer
Hovsep A
2013-10-21 08:26:23
reset cmos battery, flush BIOSperhaps motherboard problem1) open Device manager2) Find smart card 3) Open properties4) Click disable hardware 5) Restart computer.
George C
2013-10-21 12:14:02
Thank you. I have reset as indicated in my answer.