looking for a process killer

[LuDean Marvin]

I have an unruly program that just does not get along with anything
else. To humor it, I'd like to find a process killer that, with a
click or two of a mouse, will automatically shut down all processes
except systray and explorer. Anyone know what program can do this and
where I can get it?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi LuDean,

Forcibly killing processes is not the best way of closing the applications.
If an app does not terminate correctly, contact the manufacturer to fix the
problem.

**WARNING**: As said above, forcibly killing tasks is not at all
recommended, and is to be used only as a last resort.

EndItAll utility from PCMag (not a freeware)
http://www.google.com/search?&q=enditall

Or you can write your own WMI script. Example:

- - -
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

Set colProcessList = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
("Select * from Win32_Process")

For Each objProcess in colProcessList
If objProcess.Name <> "explorer.exe" Then
objProcess.Terminate()
End If
Next
- - -

This terminates all the running applications (except explorer.exe
instances). Copy the code to Notepad and save as killproc.vbs and run it.

**WARNING**: As said above, forcibly killing tasks is not at all
recommended, and is to be used only as a last resort.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I have an unruly program that just does not get along with anything
else. To humor it, I'd like to find a process killer that, with a
click or two of a mouse, will automatically shut down all processes
except systray and explorer. Anyone know what program can do this and
where I can get it?

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

I have an unruly program that just does not get along with anything
else.

I wouldn't run a program like that.

To humor it, I'd like to find a process killer that, with a
click or two of a mouse, will automatically shut down all processes
except systray and explorer.

Not a good idea. This would render the system useless for the rest of
that Windows session due to the lack of services etc. Note also that
"Systray.exe" is of little importance only since Windows 95 and in
most cases, that tool does not run in the background since the
notification area is provided by the Windows shell (Explorer.exe).

"Windows System Tray Icons"
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;310578

Anyone know what program can do this and where I can get it?

If WinXP Pro, use "Taskkill.exe" in order to kill that "unruly" task.
Run "Taskkill.exe /?" for help.

 

[LuDean Marvin]

To Ramesh:

I don't want to use the process killer to shut down the unruly
program. I want all other programs to be shut down so they won't
conflict with the unruly program.

To Detlev:

The unruly program I'm running is Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. It
takes everything my machine has to run. If something else is running
in the background, it causes frequent crashes. However, the time it
takes to find and individually close down every process gets to be a
real drag.


|I have an unruly program that just does not get along with anything
| else. To humor it, I'd like to find a process killer that, with a
| click or two of a mouse, will automatically shut down all processes
| except systray and explorer. Anyone know what program can do this
and
| where I can get it?
|
|

 

[LuDean Marvin]

Oh ya... Ramesh... I forgot to thank you for the tips. I'm going to
give the VBS script a try.


|I have an unruly program that just does not get along with anything
| else. To humor it, I'd like to find a process killer that, with a
| click or two of a mouse, will automatically shut down all processes
| except systray and explorer. Anyone know what program can do this
and
| where I can get it?
|
|

 

[LuDean Marvin]

Hmmmm... how would I modify the script to leave Explorer AND Systray
running?

| Hi LuDean,
|
| Forcibly killing processes is not the best way of closing the
applications.
| If an app does not terminate correctly, contact the manufacturer to
fix the
| problem.
|
| >> shut down all processes except systray and explorer
|
| **WARNING**: As said above, forcibly killing tasks is not at all
| recommended, and is to be used only as a last resort.
|
| EndItAll utility from PCMag (not a freeware)
| http://www.google.com/search?&q=enditall
|
| Or you can write your own WMI script. Example:
|
| - - -
| strComputer = "."
| Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
| & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer &
"\root\cimv2")
|
| Set colProcessList = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
| ("Select * from Win32_Process")
|
| For Each objProcess in colProcessList
| If objProcess.Name <> "explorer.exe" Then
| objProcess.Terminate()
| End If
| Next
| - - -
|
| This terminates all the running applications (except explorer.exe
| instances). Copy the code to Notepad and save as killproc.vbs and
run it.
|
| **WARNING**: As said above, forcibly killing tasks is not at all
| recommended, and is to be used only as a last resort.
|
| --
| Regards,
|
| Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
| Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
|
|
message
| | I have an unruly program that just does not get along with anything
| else. To humor it, I'd like to find a process killer that, with a
| click or two of a mouse, will automatically shut down all processes
| except systray and explorer. Anyone know what program can do this
and
| where I can get it?
|
|
|

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

To Detlev:

The unruly program I'm running is Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. It
takes everything my machine has to run. If something else is running
in the background, it causes frequent crashes. However, the time it
takes to find and individually close down every process gets to be a
real drag.

Can't check this at the moment, however, I'm positive that my son runs
that game expansion pack on his machime w/o any problems. See if there
are updates available at the manufacturer's homepage.

 

[Malke]

To Ramesh:

I don't want to use the process killer to shut down the unruly
program. I want all other programs to be shut down so they won't
conflict with the unruly program.

To Detlev:

The unruly program I'm running is Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. It
takes everything my machine has to run. If something else is running
in the background, it causes frequent crashes. However, the time it
takes to find and individually close down every process gets to be a
real drag.

Your proposed "solution" is not a good one. What you should do is:

1. Look for patches on the game mftr.'s website.

2. Make sure your computer has *more* than the game's system
requirements; if it doesn't then upgrade your hardware.

3. You can manually shut down other programs that are running and that
should be enough. You don't need to close "every process"; if you
really do in order to run the game, you don't have enough hardware
power.

Malke

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

Set colProcessList = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
("Select * from Win32_Process")

For Each objProcess In colProcessList
If objProcess.Name = "explorer.exe" or _
objProcess.Name = "systray.exe" Then
'Do nothing
Else
objProcess.Terminate()
End If
Next


--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hmmmm... how would I modify the script to leave Explorer AND Systray
running?