killing stubborn processes


C

cokedude

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Sometimes I have a very stubborn process that I can not kill with task manager, taskkill, or wmic. This usually happens to chrome or firefox. The best guide I have found has been this. Does anyone have any other ideas for killing stubborn processes?

No window opens when Firefox is clicked on, but runs in the background for each time it is clicked. Cursor repeatedly flickers or spins after opening. | Firefox Support Forum | Mozilla Support

support.mozilla.org support.mozilla.org

1. Try to kill with task manager.
Does not work.

2. Try to kill with taskkill. taskkill does point out there is an issue with a parent process. So also try to close that.
Does not work.

Code: 
C:\>taskkill /f /t /PID 10296
ERROR: The process with PID 10296 (child process of PID 11824) could not be terminated.
Reason: Access is denied.

C:\>taskkill /IM firefox.exe /f /t
ERROR: The process with PID 10296 (child process of PID 11824) could not be terminated.
Reason: Access is denied.

C:\>taskkill /f /t /PID 10296
ERROR: The process with PID 10296 (child process of PID 11824) could not be terminated.
Reason: Access is denied.

C:\>taskkill /f /t /PID 11824
ERROR: The process "11824" not found.

3. Try to kill with wmic.
Does not work.

Code: 
C:\>wmic process where name='firefox.exe' delete
Deleting instance \\GHOST\ROOT\CIMV2:Win32_Process.Handle="10296"
ERROR:
Description = Access denied

One other interesting thing I found while google searching is this. It gives you the ability to look at all your columns in wmic.

Code: 
wmic process where name="firefox.exe" get /format:htable > c:process.htm

Does anyone else have any suggestions?
 

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@cokedude

Maybe I don't understand the question.
Just "close" Firefox.

You understand that Firefox needs to run all those other instances?
 

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Ghot said:
@cokedude

Maybe I don't understand the question.
Just "close" Firefox.

You understand that Firefox needs to run all those other instances?
Click to expand...

I have attempted to close it. It is not closing properly. Sometimes programs do not close properly. That is the case.
 

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cokedude said:
I have attempted to close it. It is not closing properly. Sometimes programs do not close properly. That is the case.
Click to expand...


Maybe start by opening a Terminal as Admin and running sfc /scannow
...and then running Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth


It sounds like there may be some other issues involved.
If the ONLY program that's hard to close is Firefox, then you may have a FF problem.
If there are other programs that also don't close easily, then you probably have a larger issue.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

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    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26100.4351 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦24H2 ♦♦♦non-Insider
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    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
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    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
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    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
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    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
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    up to 2048 x 1536
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    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
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    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
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    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 15 years?
Did you try taskkill /IM firefox.exe /T /F
Or whatever the application exe
Not /f /t

www.elevenforum.com

Kill Process in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to kill a process in Windows 11. A process is an instance of an app or task that is being executed. Each process running in Windows is assigned a unique decimal number called the process ID, or PID. If you notice a running process is reducing your computer's...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

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cokedude said:
I have attempted to close it. It is not closing properly. Sometimes programs do not close properly. That is the case.
Click to expand...

What is "not closing properly" supposed to mean? Provide a detailed description.
 

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pepanee said:
If you're trying to stop Firefox from running in the background
Click to expand...
That option is not in Firefox.
Must be a real old result as it is not called options anymore it is now called settings.
 

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