Processes Hung in Windows [Solved]

pdr · Jun 29, 2011

Last night I slid the mouse too fast and clicked by mistake so had FF5 downloaded and installed.

This morning, (and on deadlines wouldn't you know it,) I opened WordPerfect and AVG started up a scan as usual, but it froze Word Perfect so that all I have is an eggtimer and nothing.

My email I can use and I am here on AW moving around the websites, but I cannot even close WordPerfect. I need to be pounding out my 1200 words for my editor right now and can't. Anyone any idea what happened and how to fix it?

Words of one syllable, and explain everything in simple, baby talk basic language please because I am a hopeless technophobe and know nothing!

alleycat · Jun 29, 2011

Have you brought up Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Delete) and seen what processes are running and what's taking up CPU/memory usage?

Have you considered just closing down and restarting the computer? It should close any hung tasks. I'm not sure about Word Perfect, but Word will try to save a copy of whatever file is up even if the computer is suddenly shut down.

pdr · Jun 29, 2011

Er..

no, of course not. Didn't know how! will do so.

Ah ha! AVG running, inbox and AW running, shows 2 WP12 not responding. How did i get two of them?

I have attempted to End Task one but it isn't responding! Sigh!

alleycat · Jun 29, 2011

Did you try to End Task using the Processes window, or the Application window (notice the tab at the top of Task Manager)?

Again, I would think about doing a "normal" shut down and see if Windows can close these applications. It sounds like rebooting wouldn't be a bad idea anyway.

pdr · Jun 29, 2011

Haven't a clue!

Which is which? Told you I don't know a thing about computers and have no idea where any of those things are. A class would be useful if I could find one with an expert who actually sits down and points out these basics, Haven't so far. Haven't had one useful computer class ever. The tutors all assume you know the names of everything. Cries of explain are met with 'You'll soon pick it up!' Hah!

However your cntrl, alt delete advice brought up a little window saying which was running and which wasn't and at the bottom of that was an end task. I used that it but didn't work. Have just tried again. It now has closed WP.

So if tomorrow when I open up the computer and the bloody thing starts the scan and freezes WP I know what to do! Many Thanks for that.

Oh and I have discovered that cntrl, alt delete brings up the Task Manager! Hah! I have learnt something useful to pass on to my fellow technophobes. Rep points for that and your help.
.

alleycat · Jun 29, 2011

I edited my post above. Why don't you just try restarting the computer (Start > Shutdown > Restart). Give it time to close any "not responding" tasks (within reason, it shouldn't take more than five minutes to shut down and begin restart).

And, for a little additional education, the "End Process" in the Processes window (rather than the Application window) will usually end a task immediately (just be sure that's what you want to do). You kind of have to know what processes are what; usually that's fairly easy with an application.

pdr · Jun 29, 2011

AH ha!

Thank you, have learnt something else. I found my way into Processes but was totally terrified by the acronyms.

When I can get over my panic and have time to look through them carefully and calmly I'll find out what each acronym means.

I don't think anyone under fifty can have any idea how terrifying computers can be. I didn't grow up with PCs, which are like transistor radios and can be bashed about. My father installed one of the first business computers which took up one entire room, a special temp and humidity controlled room please note. It had experts to work it and it only used binary codes. No one was allowed near it!

I find them utterly confusing, bewildering and incomprehensible. Their illogic is infuriating and they don't work through processes the way I think. They force me to work their way which is so difficult and frustrating. I waste hours trying to make them work because I can't understand their processes. I mean why stop the darned thing with a start button? Why not a stop button and a start button?

alleycat · Jun 29, 2011

Someone once did a humorous list of "illogical" things about Windows.

"Let's see, to shut down the computer you click Start . . . "

Ever so often, bring up task manager and learn to identify which tasks are applications (these are usually the ones using the most CPU or memory and will have your name as the User).

I'm be willing to bet you have several things running in the background that don't need to be (because you've never edited Startup). But, that's for another time.

pdr · Jun 29, 2011

BUT

what do you mean by application?

I keep hearing about apps but don't understand what they are and if some are applications which make things work then what are the others and why have 'em?

alleycat · Jun 29, 2011

Applications are your working programs (the programs you use to do things with), things like Word Perfect, Firefox, Outlook. There are other processes that the system (or background applications) uses to keep things working.

pdr · Jun 29, 2011

Right!

Got it at last.

Now I regard with deep suspicion the other processes.

alleycat · Jun 29, 2011

How many total processes does it show running?

There are going to be a lot of processes running that are needed. Windows uses them to do all sorts of things.

pdr · Jun 29, 2011

Got it!

And I even found the correct number at the bottom of the window, before I started counting.

It says 47!!!! This seems extraordinary when I only have WP, Firefox and Mozilla open and being used.

alleycat · Jun 29, 2011

It depends. Forty-seven is not extraordinarily high, but you probably do have a few things running in the background that you don't need.

pdr · Jun 29, 2011

And as...

I haven't a clue as to the acronyms and their meanings I can only ask if there is a dictionary/ translator somewhere where I can look 'em up.

Sigh! More time wasting over bloody computers. I am tussling with how to use Twitter and join LinkedIn and maybe bloody Facebook if I can get the privacy settings altered my way. All because the Small Press editors who are reading my novels need to know that I can help market myself and my writing.

And that age is no bar to using technology - loud groans of agony here, because it is really - but I'm not going to let it even if it kills me!

Thank you again for all your help. If you know of where I can find translations I'd really love (nope! wrong word!) need to know.

alleycat · Jun 29, 2011

There are websites that lists what processes do (such as Process Library), or you can always put the full name of the process in a Google search. Don't be too concerned if you look up a process and see a note "Possible trojan"--a lot of legitimate programs can be used as trojans, but that doesn't mean the one running on your computer is. You generally don't need to be too concerned about that if you have a good firewall up and regularly run scans, unless something unusual is happening with your computer (for example, a redirect to another website).

Would you like me to give you some more ideas? Not to do anything with right now, but just to get more familiar with your computer.

pdr · Jun 29, 2011

Now...

that's an idea, worth a virtual magnum of champagne.

It's not easy trying to sort things out with a book in one hand and I really don't have a great deal of time to spend on anything other than farming, writing, research reading and surviving.

It's all these things that pop up at you and use jargon when things go wrong.
A simple naming of parts might be the best place to start.

I would appreciate your help.

Processes Hung in Windows [Solved]

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