Tip of the week # 460
19 September 2015

Fast way to close a program that isn't responding (Microsoft Windows) ^*

If a program on your computer stops responding, Windows will try to find the problem and fix it automatically. If you don't have any unsaved work it's sometimes faster to force the program to stop, using the Task Manager. I assume most of you use CTRL + ALT + DEL to access it? Or perhaps you right-click the taskbar and start it from the drop-down list? Well, until earlier this week I didn't know that there is a direct way to launch the Task Manager.

Here's how:

Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC.

Simply select the program that isn't responding and click End Task.

Thanks for the tip, Dominic. I've added it to the shortcut archive (available by clicking on the orange Shortcut of the week link on our home page, inc/shortcut_archive.pdf) so the bragging rights will last a lifetime!

^* Unless stated otherwise, these tips were written for Microsoft Office 2010.