TTT: Windows Task Manager

Sometimes a program will stop responding (such as Internet Explorer), while you have work open in other programs. The Windows Task Manager lets you choose a specific program to end, while leaving other programs alone.

To use the Windows Task Manager:

1. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete while logged in
2. Click on Task Manager
3. In the window that appears, click on the Applications tab near the top
4. A list of running (and not responding) programs appears – click on the program you want to end
5. Click on End Task at the bottom of the window

Note that ending a program this way will not save any changes, just stop the program from running.

The Task Manager has more tabs (Processes, Performance, Networking) that provides quite a lot of “under the hood” computer information if you are interested.