Windows 7: really force quit application

I downloaded a file in Firefox. After downloading the download manager scanned the file for virusses first. This is done automatically in Firefox's download manager. During this scan Firefox (and the download manager) froze. I looked in the Task Manager and for both processes had 'not responding'. So I tried to terminate Firefox through Task Manager but it still wouldn't close. It kept showing windows 7's rotating circle. I finally rebooted the system and did a harddrive check. Luckily it was ok after shutting down manually.



But how can I REALLY force an application to quit? Even if quitting an application through Task Manager doesn't do it?

If Firefox is minimized there will/should be a window on your task bar..click on it and close window...has worked for me when games etc have stopped working.

No, that didn't work either. I first try to close the firefox window and that of its download manager. When that doesn't work I open Task Manager and try to quit the Firefox process. Normally that works, but in this case it still wouldn't quit Fir efox.

Hi jiggy1965,

When you say you quit the application through Task Manager, did you end the task? Or did you end the process? If you navigate into the 'Processes' tab in the Task Manager, and find the associated process, right click on it and select 'End Process Tree'. This will usually immediately end the application.

Now, once you've done this, there's a slight change that Explorer has hung and that the remnants of the application will still be visible. What I mean by this is that if there's a white window stained on the desktop, you might like to restart 'Explorer.exe' in the Task Manager.

Have I answered your question?

Thanks,
Harvey Meale

Fire up the task manager then go to the processes tab then look for firefox.exe then click end process, click yes to the warning then it gone. It will work fine after as well.

Well, that's what I usually do if something freezes and I can't close its window. I goto Task Manager and Applications first and quit the application. If that doesn't work I go to Processes, for example click on Firefox and choose End Process. Haven't triend End Process Tree. What's the difference? Anyway, both End Application and End Process didn't work. I got the popup warning me of I really wanted to do that, clicked ok but the windows hour glass (now rotating circle in Windows 7) kept on working and there was nothing I could do to quit Firefox. Both the Firefox application and Firefox Download Manager kept on being present in Task Manager as 'not responding'. Finally I just rebooted the computer. Which I don't really like to do. Was wondering why quiting applications/processes in task manager isn't always working and if I can force the app/process anyway?

Hi jiggy1965,

I'm sure you'll find that if you end the process tree, the application will be forcibly shut down. Really, all it does is ends all associated processes. Give it a go next time.

Thanks,
Harvey Meale

As an alternative to hard reboot, try these ways to kill firefox.

5 Ways To Kill Not Responding/Frozen Windows Apps | Free Downloads, Software Reviews, Security Solutions, Troubleshootings and Tips and Tricks

You can also try tinkering with the addons and uninstalling, then reinstalling firefox.