Task manager - Can't end processes (Access Denied)

you can use this simple tool: 

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ultmprokill/

it worked for me. 

Greetings

The problem at hand is the creation of a so called "Zombie Process", it happens when a process is calling to a driver that fails to complete it's task hanging the entire process. This also causes the I/O to close not allowing messages from the OS to be read, thus causing the "Access Denied" error. There is no real fix for this, except for maybe updating drivers and software. Microsoft can update it's drivers to handle such errors, and to my understanding it has, but at it's core, this is a software error. The correct people to go to in such an error, are the developers of whatever program became "zombified". 

I'm going to say this problem has nothing to do with drivers. I have this problem with Star Trek online and the related Arc game launcher occasionally. Most recently the problem is launching the Arc game launcher, when it tries to connect to the login server, fails and times out. Now this I have no problem believing is a problem on Cryptic/PerfectWorld's end. However when I quit the launcher, the Arc.exe program is left over in my task manager and cannot be killed by any means short of restarting the computer. I have the same problem after game patches occasionally when launching the actual game and it cannot connect to the patching on demand server. The game client will usually hang there and then report it cannot connect to the on demand patching server, however the game client is still left over in my task manager and nothing short of a reboot will make it go away. 

In either case the call to the graphics and/or sound drivers have already been made and the program is already running so I am doubting this is related to driver calls. Perhaps to a communications driver/process call since it seems to happen both times durring communications? However if I run the program in a different manner, in this case currently I am running the STO game client and bypassing the Arc launcher and it seems to connect and communicate with the game fine in this manner so again I am having a problem seeing how this is related to even a communications driver call. 

Perhaps this is related to a windows communications security protocol becoming hung causing these timeouts? In any case I have notified STO of my issues also, but as neither company is willing to provide any feedback about the issue or even that they are aware of it, it seems like a dead issue and all we can do as lowly consumers is hope big brother who runs our computer and makes our software eventually accidentally fixes is apparently.

Hi HyperXII,

Thank you for posting this question in Microsoft Community Forums!!

I see that you aren’t able to end tasks in Task Manager.

I will certainly guide you in the right direction to get the issue fixed.

But before we continue to the resolution, could you give us more information?

1.     Do all the game processes point to a single task?

Here’s what you can try:

Method 1: Perform Safe Mode and Clean Boot.

Step 1: Follow the steps given in the link below to check if the issue occurs in Safe Mode.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-including-safe-mode

Choose Safe Mode as the Startup Setting.

If you still can’t end the processes, continue to perform Step 2.

Step 2: Clean Boot

Follow the steps given in the link below to perform Clean Boot.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Check if you are able to end the processes in Clean Boot.

Note: Please go through step 3 of the Kb to keep the computer in normal startup after fixing the issue

Method 2: Re-install the games and check if the issue continues.

Step 1: Uninstall the games and check if you are able to end the tasks.

Step 2: Follow the link below to get help to install the games.

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall/

Please get back to us with the results.

If you have any further questions about Windows, write to us anytime.

We are happy to help!!

Regards,

This isn't a solution to the problem, this is a band-aid fix. An administrator should not under any circumstances get an "Access is denied" message. A UAC prompt would be fine, but not allowing an administrator to terminate a process is unacceptable. I am also having this problem with games, and isn't a fix to have to restart the computer to kill a process.

The problem at hand is the creation of a so called "Zombie Process", it happens when a process is calling to a driver that fails to complete it's task hanging the entire process. This also causes the I/O to close not allowing messages from the OS to be read, thus causing the "Access Denied" error. There is no real fix for this, except for maybe updating drivers and software. Microsoft can update it's drivers to handle such errors, and to my understanding it has, but at it's core, this is a software error. The correct people to go to in such an error, are the developers of whatever program became "zombified".

Guys! is all about shitty drivers! Get over it and test your system through.

Go back and check my solution for the problem, I didn't have it ever since.

I also thought it was a bug in Windows but it's not! The fact that the problem happens on totally unrelated apps makes you feel is some kind of bug but I'm 100% sure is a driver problem, one of your devices (most likely USB or USB bus related) is holding some RAM section and makes some apps stuck at some random point.

Anyway here's the solution, try on that carefully and you'll find the problematic device:

I can confirm this is a drivers issue:

When you get this "access denied" when you try to close a program:

1) keep the task manager open

2) start disconnecting USB devices one by one and pay close attention to the task manager

3) the affected app should close automatically after you disconnect the device that is holding it open

4) update the driver for that device if available

This problem was driving me nuts as much as you guys and I also thought it was a problem in windows 8 but is not.

I guess if some of you are in a laptop and have no extra devices attached should try on disabling USB bus related internal devices one by one until the stuck app disappears from the task manager.