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Use Task Manager to Stop Unresponsive Programs

SUMMARY: Keep malfunctioning Windows XP software from slowing your computer to a halt.

If an application hangs in Windows XP, you may be able to stop it manually by opening up Task Manager. Note that you should only do this if you have tried everything else to restart the software in question. Also, closing software using Task Manager may erase all unsaved data in the program in question.

To pull up the Task Manager, try one or more of the following:

1) Right-click on an empty area of the Windows XP toolbar and choose "Task Manager".
2) If that fails to work, press CONTROL-SHIFT-ESC.
3) If that fails to work, try CONTROL-ALT-DEL.

If Task Manager starts, click on the "Applications" tab. Right-click on the program that is not responding and choose "End Task". Follow the instructions if prompted. You may have to force an application to stop two or three times.

Task Manager is a last resort, but if your computer or a software program hangs, it may be the only way to restore access to your machine without a reboot.