Is safe to end process on windows task manager?

[PEV]

Hi again guys

Occasionaly my screen completely freezes up but usualy comes back to life after an annoying wait of several minutes. On the very rare occasion it doesnt clear after some minutes I have to resort to turn off at the box and re boot up. I was told at some time by someone (not on this forum) press ctrl alt and delete. When I do this I get Windows task mamager up with the option of 'ending process' but then I get a warning of consequences of of ending process. I dare not act for fear of messing up my sysytem. Can anyone advise on this warning also any tips on avoiding freezing up PC or is this just an occasional tantrum from almost any PC? By the way the problem seems to occur more than most times (but not exclusively when I'm watching video clips.

Ray

[RandyL]

Hi Ray.

Ending processes or applications via task manager is safe. Processes are set to automatic, manual or disabled. What they are set as will determine whether or not they run at bootup or when called upon by an application. Stopping them via task manager is just temporary.

 

I don't know about your freeze problem but someone may ask how much RAM you have.

 

I see you have XP. Try pressing ctrl alt and delete twice to restart your PC.

[KenB]

I have to resort to turn off at the box

This CAN have a detrimental affect.

You are better to use Task Manager as Randy suggests.

[PEV]

Thanks Ken and Randy will try your suggestions.

Ray

[ukbobboy]

Stuff that causes your PC to freeze

 

Hi PEV

 

Both guys are right, when you use Task Manager to end a process you are not doing anything to harm your system just closing down the problem application.

 

Now, some of the type of things that causes your PC to freeze, apart from a hardware problem, are:

 

1) Low RAM memory, your PC is shuffling things around in memory and paging stuff to and from your HD.

 

Obvious cure, add more ram memory up to a maximum of 4GB.

 

2) Too many applications open or too many instances of the same software open, e.g. multiple browser tabs open.

 

Despite what software makers say, in the real world you can never achieve what they indicate on their packaging or in their advertising blurb, therefore work with a smaller number of open windows.

 

3) Buggy applications, i.e. all versions of Microsoft Word have a tendency to freeze for a few minutes.

 

Sometimes there are work-arounds available to avoid these problems, doing some Internet research may furnish a resolution.

 

Hope this helps

 

 

UK Bob