I have exactly the same problem. In fact it gets worse. If I force the shut down I find that on restart a full file system check is forced and I am getting file system corruption!!!
My workaround is to log off before I shutdown. I log off and get a message that an unknown program is running and I force the logoff. Then I shut down. This seems to avoid the problem of file system corruption. However it means that shutdown has an annoying 2 minute wait (for the program to be terminated during logon) then I have to shut down. Another workaround is to press the restart button on the computer. If I do this there is no annoying 2 minute wait and no file system corruption. It amazes me that hitting the red button is less problematic than doing an orderly shutdown. So there are several problems here 1. I run kalarm and terminate it correctly. This results in a problem shutting the system down and at best a 2 minute delay. Problem #1. 2. The name of the offending program that is delaying the shutdown is not displayed. You only get "unknown". Problem number #2. 3. There is a 2 minute delay after you choose to force termination of the program. Problem #3 4. File system check forced on restart. Problem #4. 5. File system corruption detected on restart. Problem #5. This is the flakiest linux install since Slackware with Linux 0.99 which was flaky mainly due to the X driver. -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1053783 Title: Ubuntu 12.04 - Stalled shutdown after having had KAlarm opened; with package info. To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-session/+bug/1053783/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs