Suggestions for Task Manager

[wwaag]

I want to be able to quickly shut down selected background processes. Right now, I use Windows Task Manager but have to shut down one task at a time. There used to be software called Enditall by PCMag, but it's no longer available unless you subscribe. Any shareware or freeware to be recommended? Thanks in advance.

wwaag

[teegee420]

I found a really old version of Enditall here. It's not as robust as the last version I used, but it might tide you over until you find something better.

[daamon]

I have EndItAll2 - depending on the answer to this:

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1547058#1547058

I may be able to upload it for you.

[redwudz]

I'm unclear why you would have major problems running OS processes while doing much of anything. I don't have all that fast of computer, but I was running Bitcomet, DL'ing from a news server, encoding with SUPER and VirtualDub both, besides surfing the net at the same time, with no problems. If you are using a modern computer, you shouldn't have to shut down half the OS just to capture, or whatever you need to do. If you have a Canopus card as mentioned in your computer details, I see even less need.

But still, if you need to shut down everything, you likely have other problems.

Sorry for the rant. These problems don't come up that often except in really underpowered systems. Here is one possible' successor to EndItAll; TaskPower 2. You should be able to get it here: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1853852,00.asp The price appears to be minimal.

[wwaag]

Thanks guys. Downloaded the original version. How large is Enditall2. Small enough for an e-mail attachment?

wwaag

[daamon]

How large is Enditall2. Small enough for an e-mail attachment?

746Kb ZIP file - pending approval from admin.

[wwaag]

redwudz

No offense taken. My reason, pure and simple, are unexplained hard crashes. E.g. in Vegas which is very stable, occasionally a complete lock-up during render. In Canopus' Momentodvd, I was completely unable to preview without the same lock-up occurring. After getting rid of my "non-system" background processes, no problems. An added benefit is that encoding is about 15% quicker. So that's the reason.

Don't mind paying for the PCMag software, but somewhat concerned that you don't get a trial download. Other forums have reported problems with Taskpower 2 and some video editing programs.

wwaag

[redwudz]

Not a problem. It appears, though, you have a problem with your system. I can understand shutting down processes, but I would try to find out why a process is causing problems. When I used Norton System, I had problems with it wanting to examine each and every thing I did, and doing this it was slowing down the whole system. Probably I could have fixed it with some settings, but I just deleted it and replaced it with a different program.

You probably already have done this, but you should be paying particular attention to your running processes. Task Manager gives you a fairly good view of how much memory they use, though not a lot on how much CPU power they use or how much HD access they use.

And you never want to ignore the possibilities of Trojans or virus or even just the common adware programs causing problems. What you describe, and thank you for that, doesn't seem normal to me. That makes me think you have a hidden problem. Maybe a hardware problem, but more likely a software problem. I'm not so sure your solution lies in killing running tasks, but you definitely need to see what they are doing, especially if they seem to be the root of your problem.

As much as I hate to say it, sometimes a fresh install of XP is one of the better 'cures'.

But keep us updated.

[guns1inger]

If you have to forcably kill some processes in order to have other processes run smoothly and stably, you have other problems with your system. I would be looking at whether or not it is time to make a clean sweep and format for a new install as Redwudz suggests.

[teegee420]

How large is Enditall2. Small enough for an e-mail attachment?

746Kb ZIP file - pending approval from admin.

Please let us know if it's feasible. I'd like to have a better version just in case.

[daamon]

@ wwaag & teegee420:

Sorry guys: https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1547158#1547158

[Soopafresh]

FSautoStart will create a batch style app for you that will stop specific processes and services, THEN run your program executable for you. Then once you exit, it will restart the processes and services you stopped.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/FSAutoStart.shtml

[TooLFooL]

there's a free program called "process explorer", i think pcmagazine.com has it. check it out, i'll try to find it...

EDIT: here it is, take a look at this...
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

[wwaag]

Thanks for the responses. FSautoStart seems to be what I've been looking for. It works very nicely.

I agree with some comments suggesting that there is probably something "screwy" with my system and I should probably do a clean install. It's been almost 2 years now. I'm planning to put together a new system this fall around Intel's new Conroe processor and am trying to just "limp along" until that time, since a clean install would be a pretty length process.

wwaag