Task Manager not killing processes!!

[seth500]

I don't know what it is but this has been an ongoing problem for me with win7 x64 when I shut down an application or one crashes the program seems to close but is still running in task manager. For instance firefox does this all the time the current release and priors, I'll close it and then reopen it only to tell me that firefox is already running! So you open task manager and attempt to kill the process and you get nothing. What is causing this and is there a fix? It's driving me nuts!

 

[tannim]

Not sure what is causing it for you, but I prefer to use Process Explorer Process Explorer instead of windows task manager. It seems to do better with killing them.

 

[brianzion]

hi there
when you close the process down do you refresh the task manager?

 

[brianzion]

i use this program Free Extended Task Manager download link >> http://www.extensoft.com/?p=downloads_cnet_freetaskmanager

website >>Extensions for Windows - The Unofficial Windows Upgrade

 

[seth500]

Thanks guys for the reply's, I read some pretty nasty things about task manager in the Microsoft support forums so I'm gonna try these other programs to kill processes. It could be that my firewall with all it's security features is preventing task manager to operate fully, duh I know why it won't kill Firefox-outpost security suite has a feature on it that prevents applications from manipulating it unless you make a special rule for the program that you want to interact with it...I'll be an s.o.b.

 

[palaceguard247]

I just had the same problem (this is actually the 3rd or 4th time in fact). I'm running Windows 7 and Firefox 8. While I don't have a fix for the problem (i.e. the cause), I do have a solution that seemed to work for me.

1 Open taskmgr.
2 End process tree for "firefox.exe" (I know, it doesn't work but do this step anyway.)
3 End process tree for "explorer.exe" (this will make your screen blank except for your wallpaper since you just killed windows explorer.)
4 ctrl+alt+delete and re-open taskmgr.
5 Click "File" -> "New Task (Run...)"
6 In the field to the right of "Open:", type "explorer"
7 Click "OK" (or, press enter)

This will restart windows explorer and when I re-opened taskmgr, Firefox was no longer listed and I was able to restart Firefox.

Hope this helps. Merry Christmas.

~palaceguard247

 

[search53]

Firefox is particularly offensive when it comes to dirty exiting. Process Explorer (recommended above) works beautifully. It's even "endorsed" by Microsoft (rather than fix the problem, they point people in the direction of Process Explorer)

 

[palaceguard247]

Process Explorer looks great, I'm glad it was brought to my attention. However, I didn't have any luck killing the Firefox process through that either. That's not to say it won't help others and it does look like a nice application to have anyway.

 

[search53]

You must have a strange problem. I've killed Firefox quite literally hundreds of times over the years with ProcExp without any trouble at all.

 

[Sylveon Fetish]

I'm having the same problem. In Fact, Nox App Player froze on me and now I cannot kill the process. Process Explorer won't kill it either.

Any other suggestions?

 

[torchwood]

Hi Sylveon,
please run

sfc /scannow (note the space)

Reboot

open the app, then try killing it.

Wouldn't hurt to run your AV/antimalware progs just in case.

Roy

 

[lehnerus2000]

Command Prompt or PowerShell

I'm having the same problem. In Fact, Nox App Player froze on me and now I cannot kill the process. Process Explorer won't kill it either.

Any other suggestions?

I have experienced this a few times.
I usually just reboot my PC.

Have you tried killing the process using the Command Prompt (or PowerShell)?
Taskkill
Using the Stop-Process Cmdlet