0

I have a runaway windows task, if I were running it as a logged in user I would use Process Explorer (procexpe.exe) and look for the related cmd.exe and kill it there, but this one is running with a user who is not logged in.

I can't figure out how to kill it.

Improve this question
8
  • 1
    It still shows up in process explorer -- though you might be forced to launch it with admin privies.
    – Billy ONeal
    Jan 2, 2011 at 19:30
  • 1
    Any particular version of Windows?
    – Moab
    Jan 2, 2011 at 19:34
  • but this one is running with a user who is not logged in What? How? If the user logs out, their processes should end. If it is still running, then it must be a hung process that cannot be killed, so a reboot would have been required.
    – Synetech
    Jan 4, 2014 at 16:40
  • Did you try task manager/process explorer with admin privileges?
    – Daniel R Hicks
    May 12, 2014 at 0:39
  • @Synetech - He says it's scheduled task. If so defined will run whether or not the user is logged in.
    – Daniel R Hicks
    May 12, 2014 at 0:40

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

Try taskkill - (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725602(WS.10).aspx)

Taskkill

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows XP

Ends one or more tasks or processes. Processes can be ended by process ID or image name. Taskkill replaces the kill tool.

Examples

To end the processes with process IDs 1230, 1241, and 1253, type:

taskkill /pid 1230 /pid 1241 /pid 1253

To forcefully end the process "Notepad.exe" if it was started by the system, type:

taskkill /f /fi "USERNAME eq NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" /im notepad.exe

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    @fixer1234 Updated to add some relevant details.
    – Christopher
    Jun 28, 2016 at 16:21
0

I have a runaway windows task, if I were running it as a logged in user I would use Process Explorer (procexpe.exe) and look for the related cmd.exe and kill it there, but this one is running with a user who is not logged in.

I can't figure out how to kill it.

Run Process Explorer in admin-mode (i.e., with elevated privileges)—you’ll need to enter admin credentials. That way, you will have access to the processes from other users, then you can easily find and kill it (also, you can enable the CPU History column to see the CPU graphs of all processes which will probably help make the errant process stick out like a sore thumb.

Alternately, Task Manager will suffice for this as well; just click the [Show processes from all users] button at the bottom of the Processes tab (figure 1). Click the column-header to sort by originating user-account to make it easier to find any unexpected processes. Of course, you’ll need to add the User Name column (figure 2) for it to be of much use:

  1. Switch to Processes Tab
  2. Select View → Columns
  3. Check the [User Name] box
  4. [OK]

Figure 1: Screenshot of all-users button in Task Manager

Screenshot of all-users button in Task Manager

Figure 2: Screenshot of User Name column in Task Manager

Screenshot of User Name column in Task Manager

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.