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Then network with us--Accent on Computers. 203-625-7575.
March 7, 2008
Quittin’ Time!
Dear Larry,
Why can’t my Windows shut down when I tell it to? It always seems to be saying
End Task this and End Task that!
R. F.
Dear R. F.,
Once again, the truth of the matter is, it’s probably not Windows. Remember,
Windows oversees the programs and processes that run on your computer, but it
would never try to interfere with them unless you gave it your permission.
When you click Start, Shut Down, you’re essentially asking Windows to close up
shop. But to do so, Windows must first ask the tenants to leave the building.
You see, Windows is like your computer’s landlord, and you’re asking it to shut
down the building and lock the doors. In order to fulfill that request, Windows
must first call each of the tenants (i.e., the programs running on your
computer) and ask them to finish what they’re doing, turn out the lights in
their respective offices, and vacate the premises.
Most of the time, Windows tells each program it has to end and each program in
turn responds in a timely fashion and says, “Okay, I’m outta here.” However,
some programs are stubborn or don’t bother to pick up the phone or find
themselves too busy to be bothered by urgent requests to leave their offices.
When that happens, Windows presents you with a message indicating which program
is giving it trouble. It then asks for your permission to physically evict the
program from the building (that’s right, to end its task) so that it can finally
finish up.
You have two choices: Instruct Windows to kick the unruly party out or wait and
see if it eventually gets around to quitting for the day. Unfortunately,
programs that become unresponsive rarely wake up it seems, and often times, it
simply makes sense for you to select End Task so that Windows can successfully
move about its business.
On the other hand, if the misbehaving program is one in which you’ve created or
edited some work, and forcefully ending the program might cause that work to be
lost, that’s a different story. In that case, it might make sense to give the
program the benefit of the doubt and see if it comes around to asking you if you
want to save your work before it quits.
That being said, once everyone in the building is accounted for and all the
offices are empty—well, only then will Windows bolt the doors and turn off the
power.
This is Larry Schneider, logging off.
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