Quick Tip: Restart Windows From Task Manager
For those times when Windows completely freezes and you can't even open the start menu, you can also restart your computer from Task Manager instead of just powering the machine off.
Doing a hard reset isn't as healthy for your computer's internal components, this method would be preferable if possible.
There are two ways you can bring up Task Manager:
- Hit Ctrl+Alt+Del and click on Task Manager.
- Hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc to bring up Task Manager
Once you are in Task Manager, you can restart a hung process in the processes list, or you can click on Shutdown \ Restart to restart your computer.
Pretty simple tip, but very useful
Mysticgeek is the resident IT expert at How-To Geek and a huge rock music fan. When he's not writing about Microsoft Office, he's probably writing at his personal blog. This article was written on 05/7/07 and tagged with: Windows
Subj: Restart windows from task manager
I think this is a very useful procedure. It is however unclear to me, how to restart a hung process.
1. How do I know which of the listed processees hung the system up
2. What exactly do I do then? (click on that process, roll down the 'shut down' options and hit
restart???)
An email answer would be appreciated. Thank you WHS
this doesn't work on vista…any ideas?
To WHS and
bigminisachin1231,
Thanks for your quick reply, but after trying some things I have come to the conclusion that the example shown in the How to Geek Quick Tip regarding this subject only applies to XP Task Manager and not to Vista´s task manager. I guess that´s a plus for the XP OS, and for us Vista users another out of luck situation.
Interesting … I would think Vista would have this option. Unfortunately I don't have Vista installed right now … I bet The Geek has a solution. Which version of the 5 versions of Vista are you running? Also, did you install SP 1 yet?
mysticgeek
I have Vista - Business installed on my Toshiba laptop and I don´t have the SP1 installed as of yet since I am waiting to install it when it becomes public I understand early next month. Let´s hope you are right and The Geek works his magic on this one. Thanks for your concern.
************************************* UPDATE ******************************************
For Shut Down to appear on the task manager you will need to have the Welcome Screen enabled for logging in … Also, if you are logging on to a domain more than likely it will not appear … unless your system administrator allows for it.
We are also looking into a solution for this in Windows Vista. Stay Tunned!
i have windows vista and used task manager to end a few backround processes to make another program run better and now i cannot remember whether the instructions were to restart the computer so that the backround processes will still be in tact or if i should shut it down and restart???? help please…..