Windows in the Enterprise: How to avoid 'end process' messages

[Windows in the Enterprise]

Title: Windows in the Enterprise: Technology Strategies in Action

January 27, 2005 Published by  TechTarget Windows in the Enterprise: Technology Strategies in Action Issue Sponsored By:   >  Wise Solutions, Inc.     Customize MSIs with InstallTailor Do you find you're receiving more applications already in MSI format, but they still need customization for your organization? How can you quickly and easily create transforms (.MST) to prepare packages for distribution? With InstallTailor, now offered at no charge to you from Wise Solutions. Download InstallTailor today.     How to avoid 'end process' messages [ by Scott Simon, Contributor, myITforum.com ] When an application stops responding with the "not responding" message, Windows XP pauses for a short while before prompting a user to shut down the application. Choosing to end the process in Task Manager prompts the user with even more messages. A simple registry hack allows XP to kill a hung process automatically, eliminating this problem altogether. Step 1: To make the change only for you: Open REGEDIT and browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER To make the change for all users: Open REGEDIT and browse to HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT Step 2: Open the Control Panel key Open the Desktop key Step 3: In the right pane, select the AutoEndTasks value Change the value to 1 to automatically end hung applications A value of 0 is the default and prompts the user for the next step Step 4: Reboot the system for the setting to take effect. Instead of rebooting, kill the explorer.exe process in Task Manager, then click File on the menu and select New Task (run). Enter explorer.exe in the dialog box and press Enter. This will force Windows to stop and, upon restarting, reread the registry. This article first appeared in myITforum, the premier online destination for IT professionals responsible for managing their corporations' Microsoft Windows systems. The centerpiece of myITforum.com is a collection of member forums where IT professionals actively exchange technical tips, share their expertise, and download utilities that help them better manage their Windows environments, specifically Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS). It is part of the TechTarget network of Web sites. To register for the site and sign up for the myITforum daily newsletter, click here ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Scott Simon is a senior network services administrator at Resurrection Health Care in Chicago. You can contact him at [EMAIL PROTECTED] MORE INFO:  >  Wait for and optionally terminate a process  >  Windows 2000 Support Tools: Task Killing Utility (Kill.exe)  >  Windows 2000 Support Tools: Task List Viewer (Tlist.exe)  >  Making your Script Wait for a Process Contact Us Sales For sales inquiries, please contact us at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Editorial For feedback about any of our articles or to send us your article ideas, please contact us at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Free E-Newsletters! Select e-newsletters you would like to receive via e-mail! SearchWinSystems: Administrator Tips SearchWinSystems: Updates on new site content Not a Member? We'll activate your membership with your subscription. ABOUT THIS E-NEWSLETTER This e-newsletter is published by TechTarget, the most targeted IT media and events company. Copyright 2005 TechTarget. All rights reserved. To unsubscribe from "Windows in the Enterprise: Technology Strategies in Action": Go to unsubscribe: http://searchTechTarget.techtarget.com/u?cid=502459&lid=430805&track=NL-36 Please note, unsubscribe requests may take up to 24 hours to process; you may receive additional mailings during that time. A confirmation e-mail will be sent when your request has been successfully processed. Contact Us: TechTarget Member Services 117 Kendrick Street, Suite 800 Needham, MA 02494