How to stop or kill a process in Windows XP or Vista?
February 26th, 2007 by Brian
(Most Recent Threat: VirusHeat Removal Instructions and IE Antivirus Removal Instructions)
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Stopping a Process in Windows XP or Vista
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Stopping a Process in Windows XP or Vista
Why would you need to kill a process in Windows XP or Vista? We sometimes need to stop a process to diagnose a system problem, such as removing Spyware or computer viruses. One of the easiest yet most efficient way to accomplish this is to use the built-in Task Manager in Windows XP or Vista. Here’s how you do it:
- Press “Alt+Ctrl+Delete“, then click on “Task Manager“. You can also launch the Task Manager instantly if you press Ctrl + Shift + ESC simultaneously. This is much easier than accessing it from Ctrl + Alt + Delete or the taskbar. It works for both Windows XP or Windows Vista.
- Select the process that you want to stop, then click on “End Process“.
It’s advised not to stop a system process. Stopping a system process can cause the computer to hang or freeze up.
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Jesse Says
Honestly, if the person didn’t know this already, they shouldn’t be playing with this at all.
Feb 27th, 2007 at 11:45 am
JIMMY Says
I THOUGHT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP.
Feb 27th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
steve Says
does free spyware removal exist? all I see is free scan.
Mar 2nd, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Peter Says
I bought SPYWARE DOCTOR and it apparently removes all the infection , reboots and then runs itself again when it restarts to confirm the removal worked…
Yeah.. it wasn’t free…
running it now and will update with my comments once completed..
Mar 8th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Peter Says
ok.. it found 9 more infections.. hmm.. it found them before as well.. spyaxe.. and another trojan. it’s rebooting now.. but the main thing is it seems to have gotten rid of spydawn anyway.. and that was the purpose of the exercise… so .. for spydawn. it works well..
Mar 8th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
peter Says
OK.. ALL GONE.. so.. at least that’s a confirmed alternative but at a price.. for me… worth it…
although, I still am waiting for an explanation why it got through in the first place when I had all the features including the immunization..
Mar 9th, 2007 at 2:43 am
Will Says
Contrary to what you say about causing system instability, it depends entirely on what you’re terminating. If it’s a system process, then yes, expect system hang ups. But most of the time, XP or Vista will prevent you from terminating these processes anyway.
Mar 11th, 2007 at 6:34 am
ross Says
when i use the CTRL ALT DELETE function “spydawn.exe” is nowhere to be found in my processes tab. i can’t find it… is there any way else to remove this “SpyDawn”?
Thanks
Mar 17th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Self Remover Says
just remove fyxkaah.dll - it is the bad one…. it is too much.
Mar 23rd, 2007 at 7:32 pm
mike Says
Here is what can really help somebody… How do you find and kill whatever process is taking up all the CPU if task manager won’t even work due to the CPU being all used up? Without task manager, you can’t even find which process is taking up the CPU power, let alone terminate it.
Apr 23rd, 2007 at 1:44 pm
David Says
How do you get rid of the pop up from the task bar from SpyLocked.
Apr 25th, 2007 at 11:19 am
larry kirkish Says
how do i get the spylock icon off my task bar?
Apr 26th, 2007 at 4:40 am
Chet Says
Stop process first. Then what? I followed your instructions and stop all the suspecious processes. Now what should I do? Please help! Thanks in advance!
Apr 30th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Casey Says
All I want is this SpyLocked off of my computer. Someone please help me. I’m not very smart when it comes to these kinds of things. I already know about task manager. Duh. I want it deleted from my computer.
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Tine Says
tine Says
I have just suceeded in deleting the annoying Spylocked 3.6(mine was a dxovx.dll), by following Kevin Binkleys instructions in this link
http://www.xp-vista.com/other/how-to-unregister-dll-files
Thank you!
See the instruction underneath:
Kevin Binkley Says
after I located the .dll file (in my case it was oyopu.dll) I did a system wide search (from the start menu) for that particular file. it was located in the system32 folder. I dragged it to my desktop and renamed the file extension to .doc. The program will continue to run after you change the extension which prevents you from deleting it at this point. Once you re-start the computer the program is no longer able to run and you can now delete it.
(After this step, I furthermore deleted the spylocked 3.6.exe through the task manager. - Tine)
May 4th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Anthony Quinn Says
This was driving me crazy keeps appearing as a pop up every 30 seconds.
What i did was a system restore
Go into all programes then accessories then system restore set your date before you were infected it worked for me no icon on task bar.
Anthony
May 4th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Bart Says
How do you “stop the process” mentioned, and how do you determine which .dll file (eg.dxovx.dll or opoyu.dll) that Kevin mentions?
May 5th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Rebecca & Ryan Says
Thank you Anthony Quinn - you’re a life saver!!
May 17th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
arem Says
thank’s for the full instructions of removing the spyware on my coputer it was abig helped for me..
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:53 am
Gordon Says
Following Anthony Quinn’s lead, I just used System Restore and SplyLocked seems to have disappeared. May never know what damage it did, but nothing apparent yet - I have AOL Spyware and AVG and Windows Defender kept telling me that my computer was running normally.
But I’m glad to have got rid of it - it was a pain!
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:09 pm
matthew Says
somebody plz help me hiks… it’s 4am n im stil stuck with spylock ver 4. in task manager “spy down” cannot be found. what i must do hiks… plz help me
May 23rd, 2007 at 3:56 pm
mahbz Says
Ok guys, ive used spybot search and destroy, and its gotten rid of everything, mostly, the little icon still shows!!1 and that freaking pop sound..dammit!!! does this mean the zlob file is still there or the spylocked file is still remaining? or both….plz help.
May 31st, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Emma Says
ok im gonna sound real dense but my tast manager box does not look like one in diagram so how do i stop process ?
my lil bro went on my pc and now i have spylock eeuydc.dll and loads of zlob trojans,,,,, feelin pretty clues anf frustrated pls HELP
Jun 5th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
ganon Says
Hey I got this spylocked stuff and after googling it I turned off my computer…BIG MISTAKE!!! Now it’s completely screwed up and I can’t even do anything it keeps saying windows explorer is shuting down…Now I have to reinstall Vista…So what ever you do don’t turn off your computer.
Jun 6th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Jonathan Says
I have the eeuydc.dll one too and it won’t let me delete it…any help?
Jun 6th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
thaa Says
I Remove that crap today (pjkxcoxq.dll).
First i change the name on pjkcoxq.dll to .doc
then i restarted my computer and removed it. then i did the
same think with the .exe files. and then i downloaded spyhunter to check were all the files in Regedit were and deletet those to.
Jun 8th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Ann Johnson Says
I need help with getting rid of virus.
Jun 13th, 2007 at 6:37 am
m.huijbrechts Says
try HiJackThis.com its a simpel program that lets you see what is running on the pc and you can delet the things you dont whant,and a restore(backup)
its a free program so no problem i think
Jun 18th, 2007 at 7:23 am
Giovani Galicia Says
First of all I hope you all fixed your problem if not please follow Anthony Quinn’s advised and mine. I did exactly what he said, however in my case the little window keep poping out every 5 seconds so I had to persist in going to system restore. Even though it did not work for the first time I keep persisting and It work just fine. Do not worry anymore JUST GO TO SYSTEM RESTORE. “The worse mistake that one can ever make is to be afraid of doing one.” Thank YOu
Jun 24th, 2007 at 6:19 am
Driger Says
Actually I don’t have that process! WHAT THEN!!!!!
Jun 25th, 2007 at 3:49 am
paul :) Says
omg it worked… thank u!!!!
Jun 29th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Kelvin Says
Firstly I like to thank everybody who added a response here. I also had a problem with this spylock. What I did was follow some suggestion of downloading SpyHunter and started to delete the files indicated one by one. It is a lot of trouble, but I managed to rid every single file associated with this program.
Jun 30th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Steve Says
I wanted to get rid of VirusProtectPro, but can’t seem to find VirusProtectPro.exe. Is it under another name?
(This post should be posted on http://www.xp-vista.com/spyware-removal/virusprotectpro-removal-instructions )
Jul 1st, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Kizie Says
Ok so this spylock is on my aunts computer and its so goddamn annoying!! That stupid little box that keeps telling me i’ve got a virus and all my passwords and things are being hacked. Little help would be nice, have searched through the task manager but can’t seem to find anything out of place as such. If anyone could help that would be fantastic!!
I’m normally quite good at sorting out computers but this one’s got me stumped!
Jul 3rd, 2007 at 10:19 am
Chris Says
Hi there,
I need help now!
I have this demon virus it gives me a pop up box saying two things
“Windows can not start click here to search for a fix”
“Click here to resart windows”
I click and nothing fixes it, the pop up box stops me from doing anything on the deasktop or start menu! I also have the VirusProtectpro 3.3 in the back ground asking me to register or pay $49.95 to fix the problem. I have read this thread yet if i cannot get rid of this blocking pop up then I can go to system restore etc!
What can i do, I have had this new lap top all of three days and this happens. Hope there is hope for my issue please help
Jul 3rd, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Aaron Says
Ok.
So I downloaded that spyhunter thing that they recommended on here.
Does using that program get rid of everything, or do I still have to go through the files they listed and delete them?
Aug 5th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Brian Says
Aaron,
The tool should remove the spyware automatically, but it requires to pay for removal so I would recommend you to try the manual removal steps first.
Aug 6th, 2007 at 6:21 am
niran Says
how do i delete this bothering icon…
its always giveing me messeges that my PC haveing
a spy wares heres the picture
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2416/20947086ya3.png
Aug 10th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Pubudu Says
please advice me how can i link with xp machine and vista machince. i have slight problem with vista. my admin computer has dial up conncection with internet. those days i used to connect with the internet with my second machine. but later i have installed vista version for my second machine. untill then i can’t go internet sharing. please advise me.
thank you.
Aug 18th, 2007 at 5:00 am
Michele Says
i have just gotten rid of spy shredder (I think) and am still stuck with ultimate defender. I went to stop process and none of them matched what your list said. Now what? help please! Michele
Aug 22nd, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Gene Says
OK, so i’ve got this virusprotectpro on my system and cannot remove it.
I’ve clicked onto this page to learn how to stop a process, but when i brought up the task manager there weren’t any processess which had the name of the rogue process - so i cant pick the correct ones to stop?
Can anyone help please?
Aug 28th, 2007 at 11:27 am
rio3d Says
ok sure, everyone and their grandmother can hit “ctrl alt del” no problem. you just gave 4th grade advice. it works great for simple windows processes…. BUT what you fail to explain is how to kill the specific process in questiom “virusprotectpro” which does NOT show uo in taskmanager.
:/
since i cant close it, does that mean i shouldnt even bother trying??? as mentioned by…
” Jesse Says
Honestly, if the person didn’t know this already, they shouldn’t be playing with this at all.
Feb 27th, 2007 at 11:45 am “
Sep 3rd, 2007 at 1:25 am
Christine Says
Thanks to Prayer and Anthony Quinn I did exactly as you suggested except I ran the computer in safe mode and I restored the system to almost 3 weeks before I got the virus.
Sep 3rd, 2007 at 8:23 am
mick Says
need help big time….the Registry Editor files have been totally removed unsure how to restore?
it appears we also have the winantipro 2007 virus…and my son tried to delete the virus by removing the files!
when you reboot under admin. the registry files are still there but it doesn’t allow you to restore the computer when in reg. mode nothing comes up…but we can still get online by using task mgr…but it doesn’t help to down load updates because can’t get to window files…any help would be appreciated.
Sep 7th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
mark Says
what works best to kill winantivirus 2007. this thing is bad.
Sep 11th, 2007 at 7:24 am
faisal Says
smarter than expected.
whut do i do, when am not able to go to the task manager!??
i get a error mssg sayin “task manager has been disabled by your administrator”
Sep 12th, 2007 at 5:01 am
Hitesh Says
Hi
How can i stop some process in the windows xp which use the memory and still we are not using this process…for example yahoo messagner….i m not running the messanger but still running in background and use the memory..so how can i kill the process permanently….and how can i improve my xp performance………
Sep 21st, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Hitesh Says
How can i find the unregister dll file
in windows xp
Sep 21st, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Gervis Says
I have AntiVirGear and with some spywear programs most of it was removed, but still have the little red shield that looks like Windows Security Alerts icon. I tried the manual removal and while doing the unregistering .dll files, file jrpkmgh.dll I get the message “jrpkmgh.dll was loaded, but the DllUnregterServer entry point was not found.” All other .dll’s were not found. I certainly would appreciate any help I can get.
Sep 26th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
cheri Says
i have winantivirus pro 2007 has anyone a real removal on this one.
Sep 28th, 2007 at 11:29 am
marc Says
I tried everything,but I still have that sheet :AntiVirGear.Somebody try to help me with another explication?This sheet it’s on my machine for 3days.
Oct 9th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
ShaDe Says
you what it is basic. but some viruses disable the taskmanager. so how you stop a process if there is no taskmanager… sometimes a virus minimize a taskmanager at a time you open it.
Nov 7th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Dan Says
to replace the locked taskmanager you can use “process manager” from SysInternals, the adware doesn’t block that one!
(http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx)
then using autoruns (which tells you what is and will run and in what part of your system at a given time) you can disable the process or kill it altogether (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx) using the free versions of lavasoft’s anti-adware program or spyhunter, you can find the directories in which the files are and delete them accordingly. you have to mess around unregistering dlls and blocking cookies afterwards, this approach is kind of messy if you’re not entirely sure what you’re doing, but it’s free and it works!
Feb 10th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
huhhuh Says
just remove the files in the folder that helped me
Feb 25th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Kat Says
What do I do if it says my Task Manager has been disabled by the administrator?
Feb 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Bob Says
i just wanted to know, which processes could i kill for my computer to run just that bit smoother. cause it seems i have a lot of processes, im running vista ultimate.
jsut the main things that vista runs automatically that i don’t need and would help my computer run a bit smooth.
e-mail is raiden_gray_fox@hotmail.com
thanks in advance
Mar 1st, 2008 at 5:38 am
ben aloysius Says
Learnt a whole lot of information. I had the problem of Virus Heat inundating my screen suddenly without warning.
It was daunting as Virus Heat came on while I was watching a porn page.
This porn page too came on w/o my invitation.
At that moment of weakness, I did not have the sense to get out immediately.
Learnt about ‘end process’ here . . . went back got rid of Virus Heat . . . and came back to download the recommended application above.
It was trying indeed t read some of the comments that were generously sprinkled with spelling errors and colloquial phrases.
However, am thankful and grateful for the information.
Mar 3rd, 2008 at 5:54 am
Kevin Says
Spydoctor is a joke. It does not remove that trustedantivirus alert. I have tried it numerous times by using the intelliscan and the full scan. the alert still appears. The only time it does not appear is when i am on any spyware website. Spydoctor is suppose to be number one according to the consumer report site and Pc magazine. None of those spyware programs are effective.
Mar 7th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
jeamel Says
hey guys.how can i get rid of this kind of virus?? can anyone help me and explain to me what to do??
Mar 27th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Steven J. Says
Please help, My task manager is locked, how can i unlock it?
I have Finals coming up and this put a REAL BIG damper on my life.
Please Help
Mar 29th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
jamie Says
Anthony Quinn genius
thanx sooo much for tellin me to restore my computer dunit and now it all gd no popup no lag no virus heat
=]
Mar 29th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Marc in Eire Says
don’t know if somebody said this allready. I had the prompt in the taskbar popping up for 2 days every 30 seconds telling me to buy virusheat software. this prompt is working of a .dll file. in my case baoohy.dll. to find out wich one is doing this go to search in start menu-type in .dll all of them will come up. sort them by date modified, go to the day when it first popped up. it should be there, and it sits in the system32 folder now move it to your desktop and rename it to a “.doc” file. restart computer. delete the file on the desktop. look for it it is gone and no more prompt in taskbar. live is good.
Mar 31st, 2008 at 5:29 am
Steven J. Says
I Have many .dll files on the same day as the virus what should i do?
Apr 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Wally Thompson Says
WinReanimator has disabled my taskmaster !!! So I can’t use that option.
Also disabled my internet connection .. so can’t read mails or download ’stuff’ to help.
Having to do downloads at office and take home printed versions of instructions.
Apr 8th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Lisa Says
My coputer has winReanimator and all i have 2 do is go to start then go to programs and i uninstall it but the pop up thing keeps coming up and i want my computer cleared.wat do i do?
Apr 8th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Allen Says
I try to to the system restore to an earlier date and everytime it restarts it said that it failed
Apr 8th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Larry Says
I believe that the XP anti virus 2008, has to be th most aggravating thing I have ever run across. I did not even register the product and yet it constantly interrupts my work and appears in my window complete without prompt…………LDW
Apr 12th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Jack Says
Spyware found one entry in registry - deleted it.
Spyware found two files in the ProgramFiles/netproject directory.
Unable to delete files
found two processes in task manager - unable to end processes - kept spawning. Found Tine’s posting.
Returned to directory - renamed files with .xxx extension. Then deleated both.
Killed Processes
Rescanned - no sign
Rebooted - rescanned - gone!
Thanks All!!!
Apr 19th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Merv Says
this new one visus heat…. just got it through a power serge…. the instructions on here say to remove the program but on add and remove there is nothing on it for that…. tried to end the process but there aint even a process for it
Apr 25th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Brandy Says
I have virus heat on my laptop, presently, the problem with stopping the system processes, is that it has disabled my task manager.
Apr 28th, 2008 at 12:02 am
sandeep Says
HI
on the internet surfing i got WinAntivirus pr ver 3.7
it came automatically and stored and now when i work on my computer it constantly interrupts my work and appears in my window it constantly interrupts and appears in my window whenever i playing games etc.
Apr 28th, 2008 at 7:53 am
philip Says
i want to end a process on my pc but it is not working with the end process method. what to do ?
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:15 am