Forced to wait until a process or App is no longer frozen just to terminate the app because it's completely hung

Question

Forced to wait until a process or App is no longer frozen just to terminate the app because it's completely hung

Microsoft User 56

As you know the title of this issue is that I've had numerous apps open, such as FL studio or even Game maker. Once in a blue moon my computer will lag and the only way to fix an app that is completely unresponsive is to turn off my computer. When this does happen a dialog will show saying do I want to close the app or wait until it no longer is frozen. When I choose to close, it doesn't even close it still freezes and then the dialog freezes and then I either have to wait until then when the app is no longer frozen and then it will close. If it doesn't ever stop hanging. I typically wait a few mins and I do a hard reset. That causes me to have to turn off the entire system and reboot. I've even tried control alt delete and opening task manager but it doesn't even respond. Basically my apps have to work for everything to work when one freezes nothing will work. Am I screwed?

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2 answers

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Answer 1

DaveM121 928.6K Independent Advisor

1

When an app freezes up your system, open Task Manager, then select the Processes tab, please provide a screenshot of that Processes tab before you end task on that app process.

2

Click your Start Button, then just type msinfo and press Enter, please provide a screenshot of the resulting System Information window.

3

In the meantime, are you able to End Task on the app on the Processes tab of Task Manager if an app freezes?

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Answer 2

No. This usually points to a Windows freeze or a system-wide hang, not just a single app problem.

Try these in order:

If only one app is stuck and Windows is still responsive, force-close it with Task Manager:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
- Select the blocked app.
- Select End Task.
- Unsaved data in that app will be lost.
If Task Manager also stops responding and the whole system is effectively frozen:
- Press and hold the power button until the PC shuts down and restarts.
- On Surface devices, Microsoft notes this can take about 20 seconds.
If this happens more than once, do basic system checks:
- Install the latest Windows updates: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
- If the issue seems broader than one app, disable unnecessary startup apps to reduce background load.
If the freezes keep happening, identify the pattern:
- Which app is running when it freezes.
- Whether it happens during startup, shutdown, or while working in FL Studio or GameMaker.
- How often it happens.
- Whether it affects only one PC.
For deeper troubleshooting, Windows supports collecting a memory dump when the machine freezes:
- Configure the PC for a Complete Memory Dump in Sysdm.cpl > Advanced > Startup and Recovery.
- Ensure the system drive has a paging file and enough free space.
- A dump can then be generated during a freeze with right Ctrl + Scroll Lock twice after enabling the required CrashOnCtrlScroll registry value.
- Warning: registry changes can cause serious problems if done incorrectly.
After a dump is created, it is typically saved to:
- %SystemRoot%\MEMORY.DMP

If the system is freezing so badly that even Task Manager and the close dialog hang, treating it as a Windows freeze issue is the right path rather than focusing only on the individual app.