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

Anonymous
2012-12-20T23:54:33+00:00

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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Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2012-12-21T16:00:50+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2015-03-09T08:31:22+00:00

    No offense intended here, but I feel I should point out that you, and AustinGarner are actually in error. While I am not a Microsoft Engineer, I do understand the need for the reply that engineer gave. It is correct that their suggestion is not an actual solution, but it's still needed. Allow me to explain...

    In order to properly identify whether the problem is caused by a bug, or some other program that may be interfering, the above steps are absolutely necessary. I learned this the hard way some months ago, when I had a logitech driver that was actually preventing certain programs from running, or installs to simply hang.

    A safe mode boot showed me that this problem didn't happen in safe mode. A clean boot allowed me to identify that the problem was caused by something that was loaded during windows startup, and a reinstallation of the driver from a fresh download showed me that it was incompatible.

    I'm hoping that this helps to explain why you keep seeing these answers as a starting point from Microsoft Engineers.

    Without these requested results, they have no base to continue troubleshooting!

    I would suggest trying my method (See my last post on this thread), and follow the steps that the Microsoft Engineer provided (in that order), then please provide the results, so that proper troubleshooting, and possible bug identification can actually take place.

    EDIT: Changed the name above. My apologies to HyperXII.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-07T17:29:51+00:00

    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.

    Game developing companies as well as Anti-Virus software companies have been using ways to run their software in Kernel Mode.

    Let me explain here. In Windows there are two modes your processes can be running in. One is User Mode. The other is Kernel Mode.

    User Mode is made for the programs on your computer, any program you start will start in User Mode

    unless it exploits a way to immediately start in Kernel Mode.

    Kernel Mode is made for your operating system processes, and other vital processes. User Mode processes are unable to modify or access Kernel Mode processes. In order to run in Kernel Mode, a process must be started by a driver that launches it in Kernel Mode.

    Usually you have to restart your computer to enable such driver, but there are exploits that allow User Mode processes to immediately launch a Kernel Mode driver by running a driver while the system is up.

    So anti-virus softwares use this method to not allow User Mode (basically the weakly programmed malware) processes to access it.

    Games will use this method to not allow User Mode hacking tools to modify the game address space.

    This is why you are unable to close the game processes. Your task manager, command prompt and other 3rd party tools are starting in User Mode while the game is in Kernel Mode.

    Although this is the answer for OP, I see others may be experiencing actual operating system bugs.

    I apologize if there are any mistakes in my explanation. Please don't build walls using my explanation, but just take it as a way to understand what is going on around.I'm sure there are many ways to get around limitations that my explanation may present.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-08-25T03:11:34+00:00

    This it happening to me with OUTLOOK.  I cannot access the server on one machine although I can with the other so I know it isn't the server.  Go to Task Manager and it shows and Outlook process running.  I cannot end it even though I am an administrator.  REBOOTING DOES NOT EVEN FIX IT.  Third party "kill process" apps to do not fix it.  So I have a MICROSOFT WINDOWS machine and I cannot run MICROSOFT's flagship product??????  So seriously not a happy camper

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-04T12:01:24+00:00

    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.

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