Fast ways to clean up a Windows problem (sometimes)
These are old tricks but worth repeating since I find that many average PC users don’t know them. If you’re having a problem, try logging off and then back on. It’s quicker than turning the computer completely off and then turning it back on, which is the next recommendation I will mention for clearing up a problem. Windows can often repair itself with a restart.
If it’s a particular program that has crashed and is hung, try closing it with the Windows Task Manager. I give the details about how to do this at vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/taskman.htm. In Vista, you can’t open Taskmanager with the old three-finger salute, Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Instead, use Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
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Comments
Ctrl+Alt+Delete opens Taskmanager in XP unless it has been disabled. Have you disabled the “Alerter” service? Kellys-Korner (http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_t.htm) gives a Reg file for enabling TM. Scroll down to “Task Manager - Control/Alt/Delete - Doesn’t work”.
“Have you disabled the ‘Alerter’ service?”
Ah yes, that’s the culprit - I had forgotten about that. As a matter of fact, I don’t even have an Alerter service, a side-effect of uninstalling the Client for Microsoft Networks. A stand-alone PC doesn’t need it anyway. For security reasons, I figure I’m better off without out (potential vulnerabilities, etc.).
Continuing with the Task Manager saga… As mentioned on this page:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_t.htm
It says that you can access Task Manager by clicking on the “Task Manager” button in the shutdown dialog after pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete - I had also forgotten the button.
When you said “Ctrl+Alt+Delete opens Taskmanager in XP unless it has been disabled,” did you mean that this key sequence opens it directly on your system, or the shutdown dialog, where you can then click on the “Task Manager” button as mentioned?
I have always been able to open Task Manager directly with Ctrl+Alt+Delete in an XP machine. I just did it again on my XP laptop. I have read that you get different behavior if you are on a domain. Since I am always stand-alone or in a workgroup I can’t vouch for that. Sys ops can also disable the ability with a policy control from the group policy editor. It is typically disabled in public access places like libraries.
“always been able to open Task Manager directly with Ctrl+Alt+Delete in an XP machine.”
Interesting… I can’t say for sure, since I’ve customized the settings in this PC in a variety of ways, but before starting this discussion, I would have said that the shutdown dialog (with a Task Manager button) is what appears by default with Ctrl+Alt-Delete.
“I have read that you get different behavior if you are on a domain. Since I am always stand-alone or in a workgroup I can’t vouch for that.”
Same here.
“can also disable the ability with a policy control from the group policy editor.”
True, but I haven’t done that. If I find more, I’ll let you know.
OK, maybe I’ve found the answer. You’re a knowledgeable guy, Dean, so I was really puzzled. I pulled out my copy of Ed Bott’s book on Windows XP and found this:
“If you’re using the Welcome Screen to log on to Windows, You can open the Windows Task Manager at any time by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete. If you’re not using the Welcome Screen or are joined to a Windows domain, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and then click the Task Manager button in the Windows Security dialog box. ”
I had completely forgotten about this nuance. I always use a log-in screen. And, of course, you can always use Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
“If you’re not using the Welcome Screen … press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and then click the Task Manager button in the Windows Security dialog box.”
Aha! That’s it - I don’t use the Welcome screen. Instead, I use the old-style login dialog, like Windows 2000. In Control Panel/User Accounts, I’ve unchecked the “Use the Welcome Screen” and “Use Fast User Switching” options. It hadn’t occurred to me that this would alter the behavior we had been discussing.
“I had completely forgotten about this nuance.”
Indeed, there are so many in Windows.
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“In Vista, you can’t open Taskmanager with the old three-finger salute, Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Instead, use Ctrl+Shift+Esc.”
The “three-finger salute” (Ctrl+Alt+Delete) doesn’t work for Task Manager in XP either. Instead, it brings up the Log On | Log Off | Shutdown dialog (don’t know about Vista). Of course, right-clicking on the Task bar (in XP anyway) also displays a Task Manager option.