WindowsXP Unkillable Processes

[Chris]

Alright, I keep running into programs that quit
responding but are unable to be killed with task
manager. Attempting to kill them just doesn't do
anything. It wouldn't be a problem except that it also
causes any additional instances of the application to
also not work. The only way I've been able to figure out
to fix the problem is reboot. However, circumstances
make frequent reboots undesireable. I found a site that
described a similar problem in Unix and said that the
solution was to terminate the parent program, but killing
explorer did not resolve the problem. Is there any way
to fix this? Thanks in advance.

 

[Malke]

Alright, I keep running into programs that quit
responding but are unable to be killed with task
manager. Attempting to kill them just doesn't do
anything. It wouldn't be a problem except that it also
causes any additional instances of the application to
also not work. The only way I've been able to figure out
to fix the problem is reboot. However, circumstances
make frequent reboots undesireable. I found a site that
described a similar problem in Unix and said that the
solution was to terminate the parent program, but killing
explorer did not resolve the problem. Is there any way
to fix this? Thanks in advance.

Since you didn't tell us what programs are misbehaving, it is impossible
to give you a specific answer. Programs that don't want to quit are
often viruses or spyware. Please do the first steps of Windows
troubleshooting: 1) scan with current antivirus ("current" means a
version not earlier than 2002 but using updated virus definitions); 2)
remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy (www.security.kolla.de) and
Ad-aware (www.lavasoftusa.com). Be sure to update these programs before
running, and it is a good idea to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode;
3) delete temporary and Temporary Internet Files; 4) stop unnecessary
services/programs from starting with Windows - see www.blackviper.com
for services info and www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm for
programs info - 5) look in Event Viewer for clues.

When you are sure your computer is clean, if you need more help please
repost. Include some information about your system, the names of the
misbehaving programs, and what you've already done to troubleshoot the
problem.

Cheers,

Malke

 

[Guest]

I've got the same problem Chris described
I just bought a new Sony Vaio computer and have experienced the same problems Chris described. Some of the programs that have frozen up on me are: MS Word, MS PictureIt Publishing and Kodak

Sometimes even trying to do a "Restart" doesn't work; I have to turn the machine off at the power source, then back on
I looked into some of the advice you gave Chris, but still experience the freeze-up condition

Any more thoughts? Thanks

----- Malke wrote: ----

Chris wrote

Alright, I keep running into programs that qui
responding but are unable to be killed with tas
manager. Attempting to kill them just doesn't d
anything. It wouldn't be a problem except that it als
causes any additional instances of the application t
also not work. The only way I've been able to figure ou
to fix the problem is reboot. However, circumstance
make frequent reboots undesireable. I found a site tha
described a similar problem in Unix and said that th
solution was to terminate the parent program, but killin
explorer did not resolve the problem. Is there any wa
to fix this? Thanks in advance

Since you didn't tell us what programs are misbehaving, it is impossibl
to give you a specific answer. Programs that don't want to quit ar
often viruses or spyware. Please do the first steps of Window
troubleshooting: 1) scan with current antivirus ("current" means
version not earlier than 2002 but using updated virus definitions); 2
remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy (www.security.kolla.de) an
Ad-aware (www.lavasoftusa.com). Be sure to update these programs befor
running, and it is a good idea to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode
3) delete temporary and Temporary Internet Files; 4) stop unnecessar
services/programs from starting with Windows - see www.blackviper.co
for services info and www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm fo
programs info - 5) look in Event Viewer for clues

When you are sure your computer is clean, if you need more help pleas
repost. Include some information about your system, the names of th
misbehaving programs, and what you've already done to troubleshoot th
problem

Cheers

Malk

 

[Malke]

I've got the same problem Chris described.
I just bought a new Sony Vaio computer and have experienced the same
problems Chris described. Some of the programs that have frozen up on
me are: MS Word, MS PictureIt Publishing and Kodak.

Sometimes even trying to do a "Restart" doesn't work; I have to turn
the machine off at the power source, then back on. I looked into some
of the advice you gave Chris, but still experience the freeze-up
condition.

Any more thoughts? Thanks.

----- Malke wrote: -----


Since you didn't tell us what programs are misbehaving, it is
impossible to give you a specific answer. Programs that don't
want to quit are often viruses or spyware. Please do the first
steps of Windows
troubleshooting: 1) scan with current antivirus ("current" means
a version not earlier than 2002 but using updated virus
definitions); 2) remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy
(www.security.kolla.de) and Ad-aware (www.lavasoftusa.com). Be
sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good
idea to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode; 3) delete temporary
and Temporary Internet Files; 4) stop unnecessary
services/programs from starting with Windows - see
www.blackviper.com for services info and
www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm for programs info - 5)
look in Event Viewer for clues.

When you are sure your computer is clean, if you need more help
please repost. Include some information about your system, the
names of the misbehaving programs, and what you've already done
to troubleshoot the problem.

I repeat: do *all* of the "first steps in Windows troubleshooting. Then,
when you are sure your computer is clean, if the problem is still
occurring, post back. Again, I repeat "include information about your
system (not just the brand such as "Sony Vaio", but the processor
speed, amount of RAM, whether it is a desktop or laptop) *and* what
you've already done to troubleshoot the problem. That doesn't mean you
say "I've done some stuff"; it means you tell us *exactly* what you've
already done so we don't repeat advice and can move on.

Random freezing can also be caused by hardware: machine overheating, bad
power supply, bad RAM, bad hard drive, shorts on the motherboard from
old drives. If you do eliminate software as the cause - by doing the
first steps above - and the problem remains, then it is time to look at
hardware diagnostics. Here are some generic hardware troubleshooting
steps:

1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing); 2) test
the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test run
for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from
the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for
the devices you have in the system; 5) test the motherboard with
something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. Testing hardware
failures often involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good
parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable
opening your computer, take the machine to a good local computer repair
shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

Cheers,

Malke