The reason behind this issue isn’t clear, but the most likely contenders are either a Windows (Windows Update) bug or corrupted application files. Windows updates are known to introduce weird bugs, so this might be caused by a Windows bug. In this scenario, there isn’t much that you can do. However, if the problem is specific to a third-party application, then the issue might be a corrupted file. These cases are usually resolved after a reinstall.
Method 1: Use Command Prompt
The easiest solution is to use the command prompt to terminate a process. There are certain commands that can be used to do the same thing, i.e., terminate a process. Here are the steps for stopping processes:
You can run this command for all types of processes and see if this works for you.
Method 2: Enter Safe Mode and Reinstall
If the problem occurs when you try to terminate a third-party application process, try to uninstall and reinstall the application to see if that resolves the issue. Here are the steps for getting into Safe Mode and then reinstalling the application: Note: Make sure you have the application installer downloaded on the system before getting into Safe Mode.
Your computer should start in normal mode. Check if the problem is resolved or not.
Method 3: Use Process Hacker
Process Hacker is a free tool designed to monitor system resources, debug software, and detect malware. However, we are only concerned with its ability to monitor the running applications. Process Hacker is considered an alternative to Task Manager and Process Explorer. This means that it can terminate processes just like Task Manager. Using Process Hacker to terminate processes has worked for many users. Here are the steps for downloading and using Process Hacker to stop a process:
Repeat these steps for all the applications you want to terminate (the ones that Task Manager couldn’t). If Process Hacker can’t terminate the processes, there isn’t much you can do.
Method 4: Use Process Explorer
Process Explorer is another free tool that can be used to explore the processes running on your system. This tool gives a detailed view and allows the editing of permissions as well. If Process Hacker didn’t work, you might try Process Explorer to see if this helps you terminate the application. Follow the steps below:
This should solve the issue. If you are still having issues, do the following:
Method 5: Use WMIC
WMIC stands for Windows Management Instrumentation Console. This utility can be used to terminate processes as well. You can use WMIC and its commands to terminate processes from the command prompt. Some users found this helpful in getting rid of the problematic application. Here are the steps for using WMIC commands:
This should resolve the issue for you.
Method 6: Reboot
If nothing else worked, then this is your only choice. There are some processes that cannot be terminated, especially if you are dealing with system processes. This isn’t a solution, but it’s an option you are left with. A simple reboot will usually resolve the issue, and you will be able to use the application normally once the restart is complete.
