Ctl-Alt-Del opening Task Manager multiple instances

[Guest]

Hi.
I have searched and searched and I cannot seem to find a way to stop this.
Sometimes if a program hangs and doesn't respond within a minute or so I will
hit ctl-alt-del to bring up task manager and close the application. Then I
noticed that often if I hit ctl-alt-del and held it down for a few seconds
the program actually starts responding or at least pops up an error message
which allows me to close the program and go on about my business. The only
problem is that when I do that sometimes windows xp will open like 50+
instances of taskmanager. When it does this my cpu usage shoots to 100% and
often my whole system freezes.

Is there a registry tweak to only allow one instance of Task Manager?

 

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[Sharon F]

Hi.
I have searched and searched and I cannot seem to find a way to stop this.
Sometimes if a program hangs and doesn't respond within a minute or so I will
hit ctl-alt-del to bring up task manager and close the application. Then I
noticed that often if I hit ctl-alt-del and held it down for a few seconds
the program actually starts responding or at least pops up an error message
which allows me to close the program and go on about my business. The only
problem is that when I do that sometimes windows xp will open like 50+
instances of taskmanager. When it does this my cpu usage shoots to 100% and
often my whole system freezes.

Is there a registry tweak to only allow one instance of Task Manager?

By holding the keys, you are sending 50+ requests. The solution is to press
Ctrl+Alt+Del one time, calling for one instance of task manager. It is only
coincidence that makes it seem like holding the keys is doing any good. The
program is not doing a hard freeze. It appears unresponsive because it is
working hard - either at the task it has been asked to perform or at
resolving its own error condition.

Better approach to this problem. Analyze the problem the programs is having
and take steps to resolve. Look for clues to resolve the trouble the
program is having. Note any error messages that appear on the screen while
running the program. Look in Event Viewer for errors that coincide with the
time of the freeze. Try to determine what actions within seem to trigger
its problem. Look for program updates. Explore the online resources for
that program to see if what you're experiencing is a known problem with a
known solution.

 

[Guest]

Hi Sharon,
Thanks for your response but I am quite certain that holding down
ctl-alt-del does actually bring the computer out of a freeze. The only reason
I know this is because I have tested it to make sure. I have let the computer
sit frozen for up to 2 minutes or more and gotten no response. When I hold
down the ctl-alt-del it will suddenly unfreeze though sometimes it only
unfreezes for a second or two and then freezes again. Every time it takes
appx 4 seconds of holding ctl alt del for the system to respond. If it
happened at random times I would agree that maybe it's a coincedence. But I
have tried holding other keys (ie: Esc, Alt F4) and none of them affect the
system when it's hung. However, 95% of the time when I try ctl alt del it
unfreezes.
Is there any way to set a limit on the number of instances of task manager
that can be open at once?

 

[Sharon F]

Hi Sharon,
Thanks for your response but I am quite certain that holding down
ctl-alt-del does actually bring the computer out of a freeze. The only reason
I know this is because I have tested it to make sure. I have let the computer
sit frozen for up to 2 minutes or more and gotten no response. When I hold
down the ctl-alt-del it will suddenly unfreeze though sometimes it only
unfreezes for a second or two and then freezes again. Every time it takes
appx 4 seconds of holding ctl alt del for the system to respond. If it
happened at random times I would agree that maybe it's a coincedence. But I
have tried holding other keys (ie: Esc, Alt F4) and none of them affect the
system when it's hung. However, 95% of the time when I try ctl alt del it
unfreezes.
Is there any way to set a limit on the number of instances of task manager
that can be open at once?

Well, you're welcome to feel whatever way you want but the fact remains --
holding the keys down is sending repeated messages to open Task Manager.
The system is only doing what you request. I know of no way to limit that.

There are some settings in Accessibility Options that tell the system to
ignore repeated keystrokes. That might reduce the number of the Task
Managers that appear. I'm not confident that using Filter Keys will result
in a single instance.

 

[petremure]

Try using Process Explorer from Systernals.com, it's more capable than Task
Manager.