You can experiment with unchecking some boxes and restarting your computer until you pinpoint the problem. When you see the list of programs that automatically launch when Windows starts, look at the check boxes next to each program: a check in the box means to start the program, and an empty box means you do NOT want the program to start with Windows. The System Configuration Utility window opens. Click the Windows Start button, then click Run.Ģ. Not sure which programs are causing the conflict?ġ. For each program you want to close, highlight it/click it once and then click End Process. From the Applications tab, highlight each application you want to close and then click End Task.Ĥ. From the Windows Task Manager, open the Applications tab. From the Windows Security window, click Task Manager or Start Task Manager. Press and hold the CTRL and ALT keys, and then press the DELETE key. If you are still having memory or device problems, try the following steps:ġ.

If you end a required process by mistake, restart your computer, and the system should re-enable it. If you are unsure what a process does, do not end it. Do not end EXPLORER.EXE, or anything with SYSTEM, SYSTRAY, or SERVICE in its user name. If you are unfamiliar with the listed processes, follow these rules:

You may need to restart your computer to restore full functionality. Avoid ending system processes if possible, and be cautious when terminating system processes: you may disable necessary components of your system. Warning: If you use the End Process feature to close a program, you will lose any unsaved data in that program. The Windows Task Manager can close programs that the system tray cannot.

Solution 2: Temporarily disable background programs on Windows from Task Manager. Right-click the program's icon in the system tray (next to the clock), and choose Close, Exit, or Disable. Solution 1: Temporarily disable background programs (short version). It can also help you determine if there is a conflict with third-party software that's running on your system. This can resolve problems where your system is running slowly or two programs are trying to use the same device. How do I reduce the number of programs that run in the background in Windows?Ĭlosing programs running in the background on your computer can free up system resources for your other programs.

How to close all open windows at once