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

Anonymous

Recently I've been having problems ending processes. Whenever I try to end a certain processes I keep getting an access denied error and I have no other way of removing processes as it wont go away even if I turn off my computer. This is pretty weird considering what I'm trying to end is game processes. So now I can't play certain games as I keep getting "Program is already opened" errors when I try to play them and there's no way I can play them. Some of the games that still play even without me having to kill the task completely now have multiple copies of the process and I can't end any of them.

I've tried messing with the permissions on the files and it didn't work, I also tried messing with the admin rights and such but no luck. My account is an admin

Can anyone help me out?

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Anonymous

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,

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61 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-08-07T05:18:31+00:00

My PC forced the windows 10 update on the 29th, so I've been putting up with it. And a short while ago, this issue has appeared with my PC as well, both Skype and GTA V. Except for GTA V, its every process linked with it. The launcher, Rockstars program, Steam ingame overlay. The entire group cannot be killed with task manager. Guessing theres STILL not a fix for it
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Anonymous

2015-11-26T16:54:23+00:00

I have also discovered that one of the processes that I cannot 'disable' is being run by user 'account unknown'

Whats THAT all about then?

Anyone at Microsoft have any answers please? this thread has been running a long time and if Microsoft don't know? then why buy microsoft?
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Anonymous

2015-11-26T16:38:21+00:00

does ANYONE have an answer here as to why this happens?

Mine relates to lots of processes, on windows 7, and yes I completely agree, with these prescripted answers that don't address the question asked.

what I notice on this forum is that most of the questions i have searched do not actually get satisfactory answers.

So is there noone in Microsoft that can explain 'why' 'access is denied' to ending a process? or how to fully fix this problem, which clearly is a problem, for many users.
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Anonymous

2015-09-16T07:21:09+00:00

I am also getting the same error while trying to end process tree for Skype.
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