How to use Task Manager to end programmes

ATTENTION:
This FAQ/FYI is intended for Windows XP users only; it is not intended for users
of Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition.

HOW TO USE TASK MANAGER TO END PROGRAMMES

You can access the Windows Task Manager by pressing CTRL + ALT + DELETE on
your keyboad.

Figure 1.

Now the Windows Security tool will open - click "Task Manager"

Figure 2.

The Windows Task Manager provides information about programmes and processes
running on your computer. It also displays the most commonly used performance
measures for processes.

You can use Task Manager to monitor key indicators of your computer's
performance. You can see the status of the programs that are running and end
programmes that have stopped responding. You can also assess the activity of
running processes using as many as fifteen parameters, and see graphs and data
on CPU and memory usage.

In addition, if you are connected to a network, you can view network status and
see how your network is functioning.

If you have more than one user connected to your computer, you can see who is
connected, what they are working on, and you can send them a message.

The Performance tab displays a dynamic overview of your computer's performance,
including:

• Graphs for CPU and memory usage.
• Totals for the number of handles, threads, and processes running on your computer.
• Totals, in kilobytes, for physical, kernel, and commit memory.

Figure 3.

The Processes tab shows information about the processes running on your
computer.

Figure 4.

For this tutorial, you will need to sort the processes by User Name. It is
assumed you know what your user name is, it is your Windows login screen name.
If you don't know what that is, then you should stop now and find someone that
does know it and can help you.

Sort the processes by clicking the User Name column header.

Figure 5.

You should now see all of the processes that are being run in your user name.

Figure 6.

It is important that you DO NOT stop the EXPLORER.EXE process.

Figure 7.

Select items in the Image Name column one by one and click the "End Process"
button at the bottom of the window.

Figure 8.

Occasionally there is a process that will not exit. In these instances, right
click the trouble-maker and select "End Process Tree" from the pop-up menu.

Figure 9.

When you have ended all the processes in your user name EXCEPT Explorer.exe -
exit the Task Manager by clicking the little X in the top right corner.

Figure 10.

You should now have the most free resources that are easily obtained.

Final Thoughts:

You may also benefit from removing items from your start-up by using the Windows
Configuration Tool.