Task Host Window

MaggieDale · May 6, 2025

Hello - During shutdown, my desktop hangs and I keep getting the following popup window. "Task Host Window" "Task Host is stopping background tasks."
( \Microsoft\Windows\DeviceDirectoryClient\RegisterUserDevice )

Any help with this annoyance would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

Harleygjc · May 6, 2025

I had this happen to me recently,what solved it for me was,when you goto shutdown,instead of using the menu option,press and hold the power button until the system shut off,the next time you shutdown via the menu you should be fine!

MaggieDale · May 6, 2025

I'll give it a try!

antspants · May 6, 2025

Harleygjc said:
I had this happen to me recently,what solved it for me was,when you goto shutdown,instead of using the menu option,press and hold the power button until the system shut off,the next time you shutdown via the menu you should be fine!

I’ve read the same fix on various forums

MaggieDale · May 6, 2025

Thanks, guys, I'll give this a try this evening and report back.

Edwin · May 6, 2025

In the Registry, go to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
change the WaitToKillAppTimeout string value to 2000

MaggieDale · May 7, 2025

Edwin, tried "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
change the WaitToKillAppTimeout string value to 2000" but cannot find "WaitToKillAppTimeout" in Desktop.
Please see screenshot
Also tried "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control" don't see it there either.

Thanks

antspants · May 7, 2025

Maggie, hi & welcome here.

You can create the “WaitToKillAppTimeout“ value in the registry if it isn’t there.

1. Press “Win + R”, type “regedit`”, right click and open regedit as Admin”.
2. Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
3. In the right pane, create a new “String Value” and name it “WaitToKillAppTimeout”.
4. Double-click it and set a value in milliseconds 2000
5. Click “OK”, close the Registry Editor, and restart your computer for the changes to take effect

antspants · May 7, 2025

MaggieDale said:
Also tried "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control" don't see it there either.

What do you want to modify in there?

The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control registry key contains essential system settings that influence startup behaviour and device configuration. It includes subkeys that manage various aspects of Windows.

- Class: Stores information about device setup classes.
- CoDeviceInstallers: Lists class-specific co-installers.
- DeviceClasses: Contains details about device interfaces.

This key plays a crucial role in ensuring Windows boots correctly and manages hardware efficiently. Has nothing to do with the Shutdown Processes that I am aware of.

MaggieDale · May 7, 2025

antspants, thank you for the welcome.
I'm trying to rid my PC of a popup warning each time I shutdown,
"Task Host Window" "Task Host is stopping background tasks."
( \Microsoft\Windows\DeviceDirectoryClient\RegisterUserDevice )
I'm not a programmer by any means, and although familiar with the registry, I surely don't want to make things worse! I would just like to get rid of this annoyance.

antspants · May 7, 2025

MaggieDale said:
antspants, thank you for the welcome

It’s good to help you here.

Maggie if you create that WaitToKillAppTimeout registry entry, things should improve. Creating the key is basically harmless and what you create, you can also delete if you ever have to. Just take notes.

Maggie do you have any Logitech products, like a mouse, Keyboard, Headphones etc, and use the Logitech software?. Edwin, from memory wasn’t there an issue at shutdown that Logitech software caused?

MaggieDale · May 7, 2025

antspants, a Logitech mouse for sure, the keyboard is ancient and wired. I have never had problems with the mouse prior.
I did find this here somewhere, ( How To Fix "Task Host Is Stopping Background Tasks" In Windows ) but at this point, I'm getting a lot of options.
Like always I was hoping for a simple fix!

Edwin · May 7, 2025

antspants said:
@Edwin, from memory wasn’t there an issue at shutdown that Logitech software caused?

Not that I recall...

Edwin · May 7, 2025

Here's my entire Speedy Script:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Copy To]
@="{C2FBB630-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}"
 
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Move To]
@="{C2FBB631-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1"
"HungAppTimeout"="1000"
"MenuShowDelay"="8"
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="2000"
"LowLevelHooksTimeout"="1000"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse]
"MouseHoverTime"="8"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoLowDiskSpaceChecks"=dword:00000001
"LinkResolveIgnoreLinkInfo"=dword:00000001
"NoResolveSearch"=dword:00000001
"NoResolveTrack"=dword:00000001
"NoInternetOpenWith"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="2000"

The entries you may not like are the MenuShowDelay and MouseHoverTime!

antspants · May 7, 2025

MaggieDale said:
Like always I was hoping for a simple fix!

I believe the simplest fix is that registry key, WaitToKillAppTimeout.
I have it in my registry, I created it because I am impatient.

MaggieDale said:
a Logitech mouse for sure

Did you install Logitech Software for it?

Edwin, found it. Probably not related but I wondered

Something running, that apparently isn’t running, that’s preventing a restart.

Hi. Maybe someone could tell me how I might be able to identify what “t” is. If I abort the restart process and enter task manager, there is no reference in it that relates to any “t” Are there other avenues I could take to see what this “t” might be? This has been going on for probably 2...

www.elevenforum.com

MaggieDale · May 7, 2025

Edwin, can I copy and paste script? I can't remember how to do this!

Edwin · May 7, 2025

antspants said:
Edwin, found it. Probably not related but I wondered

Ah! Yes, I remember! Probably not related.

Edwin · May 7, 2025

MaggieDale said:
Edwin, can I copy and paste script? I can't remember how to do this!

Absolutely!
Paste it into Notepad, then save it as a .reg file, then run it, and Restart your machine.

antspants · May 7, 2025

MaggieDale said:
Edwin, can I copy and paste script? I can't remember how to do this!

Select all the text
Paste the text to notepad
Go to "File" > "Save As".
Choose a location to save the file (e.g., Desktop).
In the "Save as type" dropdown, select "All Files".
Type the file name with the .reg extension (e.g., MyRegistryEntry.reg).
Click "Save".

Don’t forget to add the “.reg” to the end of the filename before you save the file.

To run, right click and run as admin. However Windows should ask for permissions to run it anyway.
Just allow all.

MaggieDale · May 7, 2025

Great! Thank you so much! I will give this a try next days off and report back.

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