This article explains how open the Windows Task Manager program and the Windows services list, as well as performing common actions.
Known to apply to the following Sophos product(s) and version(s)
Not product specific
Windows Task Manager
The Windows Task Manager is a program available in Windows that provides information about the processes and programs running on a computer.
Opening Task Manager
To open the Windows Task Manager:
- Open a run box.
- Type
taskmgr.exe and press return.
Alternatively right-click the taskbar and select 'Start Task Manager'...
Ending a process
To end a process in the Task Manager:
- Move to the 'Processes' tab...
- If necessary, scroll down to find the required process.
- Right-click the process name and select 'End Process'...
- Confirm that the process should be stopped by select 'End process' again...
Windows Services
When an program (an executable file) needs to run for a long time-often from when the computer is switched on, through to when the computer is shutdown-the program can be installed as a service.
Opening the Windows Services list
To open the Services list:
- Open a run box.
- Type
services.msc and press return.
To stop a service:
- Select the service from the list.
- Click the stop button from the menu bar:
To start a service
- Select the service from the list.
- Click the start button from the menu bar:
To restart a service
- Select the service from the list.
- Click the restart button from the menu bar:
Opening service properties
- Select the service from the list.
- Right-click on the service name and select 'Properties'...
The properties for the service opens in a new windows and several tab are available...
Determining dependencies
Some services will have other services dependent upon them. Therefore you may need to stop dependent services when you stop the top level service. To discover whether a given service has any dependencies...
- Right-click on the service name and select 'Properties' (see section above).
- Select the 'Dependencies' tab...
