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I have a program - keyboard layout program. Starting when I start my computer. I have deactivated startup items. I can't find the - keyboard layout program - since it has not installed a shortcut on 'start menu'.

This program is running in background - in my win 7 computer - BUT IT doesn't show in task manager, or in startup items.

Screenshot of preferences when I look at the language input settings.

enter image description here

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  • Your question is not clear. Its not possible for a program to be running on Windows and for process or service NOT to be listed. Lets start with a screenshot of said program.
    – Ramhound
    Oct 16, 2013 at 14:27
  • I probably sound like a dumb man. Perhaps so. BUT I DON'T READ FINNISH! This seem to me - beeing my main problem. - I've btw kept my finnish settings 1. since they work. 2. since I like finnish language. And plan to learn it (I know 5 languages, but not finnish).
    – r4.
    Oct 16, 2013 at 14:45
  • Please clarify your comment. But you can simply select the keyboard in question and hit Remove.
    – Ramhound
    Oct 16, 2013 at 14:47
  • OK. If you open 'add input language'. Do you find setting 'workman' or is this only on my computer?
    – r4.
    Oct 16, 2013 at 14:49
  • 1
    You say "BUT I DON'T READ FINNISH!". If there is any Finnish on the screen you selected Finnish as a display language. This is different from the setting of keyboard layout. Check "Clock, Language and Region" and check which language is selected as display-language.
    – Rik
    Oct 16, 2013 at 15:00

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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My typical approach to trying to locate an unknown background program running on Windows 7 or Windows 8:

  1. Go to Start -> Run (or press the key combination Windows Key+r) and type services.msc and click OK

  2. Look down the list of services to see if any look familiar (product name, type of program, intended purpose, etc.)

  3. Try to stop a service that you suspect might be the problem, as long as it doesn't contain "Microsoft" or "Windows" in the name, or give you a warning that it might make your system unstable if you stop it, or stop other services along with it. Don't stop things like "Desktop Window Manager", "Netlogon", "Workstation", "Plug and Play", etc.

  4. If you can't locate the background task under Services: go to Start -> Run (or press the key combination Windows Key+r) and type taskmgr and click OK

  5. In Task Manager, go to "Processes" (Windows 7) or "Details" (Windows 8).

  6. Look for tasks that have executable names that contain some sort of indication of the program you might be looking for. If you aren't sure about an executable, you can right-click on it and select Open File Location. This will open up Windows Explorer in the directory where the executable resides. Look at the name of the folder -- does it look familiar? Do you recognize the product name or vendor name?

  7. In general, if the executable is in C:\Windows or a subfolder thereof, it's a critical system task by Microsoft, and shouldn't be terminated. You can try, but back up your work before you do so, because it may make your system unstable. Alternatively you might just get an Access denied error if you try to stop a critical system process.

If all of these steps fail, then the program you're looking for is not actively running; it may simply apply some settings and then exit. To locate programs of this sort:

  1. Go to Start -> Run (or press the key combination Windows Key+r) and type msconfig and click OK.

  2. Click the Startup tab. Look for programs listed there that might be your culprit.
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  • Procmon and Autoruns are both helpful programs to do what allquixotic describes.
    – Ramhound
    Oct 16, 2013 at 14:33
  • Kind of you to help. But now I've updated my question. Tried some of your tips already.
    – r4.
    Oct 16, 2013 at 14:43

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