ME and SHutdown/restart

[Novaric]

I did my first build quite awhile ago ( about 4 months i think) and i've had this problem the whole time. I know its probably not good for the computer so i really need your help on this:
I go to shut down or restart windows and my computer exits windows and hangs on a totally black screen. If i choose restart i just hit the PC's restart button and its not a big deal. But when i want to go to bed ( it has an SK-6 in it, i could NEVER sleep with it on), the shutdown doesn't work. It exits windows, goes to a black screen ( like its about to turn off) and the computer just keeps running even though its just a black screen. So, i end up turning it off at teh power strip, which i'm guessing isn't too good for its innards.

So, any ideas on how i can fix this? I think its a known ME error, but i'm not positive. I doubt its a hardware conflict because i've had no other conflicts in any other areas. I'll post the system specs just in case.

Athlon 1.4 @ 1.1 ( I haven't ordered ASII)
IBM Deskstar 40 GB 7200 RPM HD
MSI GeForce 2 Pro 64 MB
Soundblaster Live!
Philips 12x8x24 CD-Burner
52x CD-Drive

 

[pigmode]

I don't have a solution, but is there a very fine line of color at the top of the screen? It would happen occasionally, and a reset>shutdown would work.

 

[bacillus]

try disabling creative dos emulation in device manager & see if your problem disappears!