How to End a Frozen Windows Program

Every now and then when you are working on your computer the entire system grinds to a halt. You are unable to click or move back and forth on the screen you are working on. You try to wait it out but it won’t clear. The system stays locked up and your only option is to exit out of it to start over. You have tried clicking out or hitting the x in the upper right corner but it just won’t close.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• computer
• nonresponding program

1. If the last scenario has happened to you it can be frustrating. There is an alternative to doing something drastic. You do not have to shut your computer down the wrong way. You can end just the program that is causing the problem.

2. Press ALT, Ctrl, and Delete all at the same time. This will bring up another screen. This screen will have a few options the one that you are interested in is the task manager button. Click it and a new window opens.

3. This window gives you a list of what is running on your computer. It lists the programs on one screen and the individual services that make up each program on another. If a program has locked up you will see it on the applications tab. There will be a title for the page and then the words “Not Responding” will follow.

4. Select this line by clicking it to highlight it. You can click the “end task” button at the bottom of the screen and it will stop attempting to do the last thing that you requested it to. It also shuts down the program that is having trouble

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that if you close the program then all windows under that program will close. Eg. One end task on an Internet Explore window will close all Internet Explorer windows.
• Any unsaved work might be lost.