My old computer, which died two years ago, ran on windows 98 se. Things worked on it. I was usually able to end programs or restart it when I wanted to, without much hassle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My current computer uses windows XP. I have no control. Ctrl + alt + del seems to be a distant memory for me; if my system locks up, I CANNOT restart it using any keyboard commands known to me. It does not respond. I always have to hold down my PC's power button or flip the power bar switch.

 

 

 

If that's not enough, there are cancel buttons. Cancel buttons do not work when you need them to. EVER. I can hit cancel to close a window in photoshop, sure. But cancel any program that is doing something (installing, updating, connecting to a server, etc)? No freaking way. I can only end the program in the task manager, and even that takes way more time and/or attempts than should be necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My question is, why does Windows XP suck so much? Why is ctrl+alt+del useless and attempts to cancel tasks completely futile? Why!?

1. - PC specs?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. - dont end tasks in task manager - end processes.

Is it denying you right? That can be a problem with your rights on the computrer (administer or limited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it just not reacting quickly?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any more detail plx0?

If you know the process name, just go to the processes tab and end it manually there - a lot faster because it won't try to save any info or start Docter Watson / error reporting junk, instead it will just dump all the RAM the program was using.

Don't go off your nut yet, but it may be a virus.

 

 

 

A lot of virii use this technique for people who aren't as good with computers so you cant access task manager via pressing ctrl, alt delete.

 

 

 

However here is how to access task manager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. open my computer.

 

 

 

2. Go to tools and folder options.

 

 

 

3. make sure you can view hidden files and folders.

 

 

 

4. Click on your hard drive (usually c:)

 

 

 

5. Click windows

 

 

 

6. click system 32.

 

 

 

7. Go down to 't' on copy the file 'taskmgr' to you desktop. You guessed it, its task manager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now to see if its a virus i might need a bit more info.

 

 

 

1. Is there in programs that keep opening by themselves?

 

 

 

2. Go back to your WINDOWs folder and click the hidden folder prefetch. See if there is a file there something like 'msupdate[Caution: ExecutableFile]'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try this.

 

 

 

Also try running a scan with AVG if you can obtain it =)

No. I guess I didn't make it clear when I said "I CANNOT restart it using any keyboard commands known to me."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This means that no keystrokes have any effect. None. Ctrl+alt+del, Esc, Windows Key, Alt+tab, etc. Nothing short of holding down the computer's power button or cutting power to the computer will shut it off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT: Also, no, this is not due to a virus. It has always been this way since I've used Windows XP, even after I format and before I connect to the internet. I have not had any detectable virii anyways.

Yes, I had that too. (and I guess everyone has)

 

 

 

When I'd press Ctrl+alt+del and tried to shut a proces down, it would take like 3 minutes to even come up with the "End Process" dialog. Then I'd have to do it like 5 times to actually take any effect, damn annoying.

 

 

 

And when my computer locked up, never did a keycombination work, it was always reset-button.

 

 

 

I guess it's just a [cabbage]ty OS. Which it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No problems like that with Kubuntu, when I press Ctrl+alt+esc, It kills the window. When I use kill -27 for example, it kills the process, it just works. Can't say the same with Windows XP. :x

Try Killbit by Merjin (creator of lovely Hijack-This. Google it? His url ISNT Merljin.org anymore if i recall) if it's the keys that are not functioning. Then you can try just using the killbit shortcut on desktop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, alas only a bandaid but maybe it'll lead clues to the problem.