Many times when I close a program I find it still listed in Windows Task Manager -- sometimes multiple instances -- just found 4 instances of Acrobat, for example. Obviously eats up memory. InDesign, Excel do not close at all after I've opened them once. They don't show in the Applications part of Task Manager but they show up in Processes. This also causes an issue when I try to open a program - it doesn't because there is already one (or 5) instances of it running. So I have to end process to the existing processes so that a functional one can open. What can cause this? No virii or spyware according to my various AV programs. Any fix short of format and reinstall of Windows? Dearly want to avoid this, if possible. I'm running XP Professional SP3.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Take a look in Start/All Programs/Startup, and see if you have something like Office Launcher or Adobe Launcher (can't remember the exact names of these) starting up automatically with your system. They partially load these applications so that, when you actually want to fire them up, they start up faster than they would otherwise. In Office's case, they start up with the speed of a snail rather than that of a dead snail.


On Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 2:45 pm, Kyle wrote:
>Many times when I close a program I find it still listed in Windows Task Manager
>-- sometimes multiple instances -- just found 4 instances of Acrobat, for example.
>Obviously eats up memory. InDesign, Excel do not close at all after I've opened them
>once. They don't show in the Applications part of Task Manager but they show up
>in Processes. This also causes an issue when I try to open a program - it doesn't
>because there is already one (or 5) instances of it running. So I have to end process
>to the existing processes so that a functional one can open.
>
>What can cause this? No virii or spyware according to my various AV programs. Any
>fix short of format and reinstall of Windows? Dearly want to avoid this, if possible.
>
>I'm running XP Professional SP3.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I am suddenly having the same problem. It occurs primarily with Dreamweaver, Paint Shop Pro, Express Thumbnail Creator so far but there are some inconsistencies. If I track down the issue I'll post a response but in the meantime if any has had success I'd appreciate the help.


On Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 2:45 pm, Kyle wrote:
>Many times when I close a program I find it still listed in Windows Task Manager
>-- sometimes multiple instances -- just found 4 instances of Acrobat, for example.
>Obviously eats up memory. InDesign, Excel do not close at all after I've opened them
>once. They don't show in the Applications part of Task Manager but they show up
>in Processes. This also causes an issue when I try to open a program - it doesn't
>because there is already one (or 5) instances of it running. So I have to end process
>to the existing processes so that a functional one can open.
>
>What can cause this? No virii or spyware according to my various AV programs. Any
>fix short of format and reinstall of Windows? Dearly want to avoid this, if possible.
>
>I'm running XP Professional SP3.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I noticed a similar thing with OUTLOOK.EXE the other day. It isn't doing it now though, following a reboot (which I perform often anyway). I sometimes get "funnies" with Office applications, usually after a longish session on the PC, so have always just put it down to something silly like "memory leakage" or "the bit-bucket needs clearing out", rebooted and had no more worries. Hope this helps. Cheers. Spexx.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Does anyone have a solution? The same thing happens to me with outlook, firefox, photoshop, adobe bridge and others. Once I close the program it is still in processes...numerous times and will not function correctly when re-opened.


On Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 2:45 pm, Kyle wrote:
>Many times when I close a program I find it still listed in Windows Task Manager
>-- sometimes multiple instances -- just found 4 instances of Acrobat, for example.
>Obviously eats up memory. InDesign, Excel do not close at all after I've opened them
>once. They don't show in the Applications part of Task Manager but they show up
>in Processes. This also causes an issue when I try to open a program - it doesn't
>because there is already one (or 5) instances of it running. So I have to end process
>to the existing processes so that a functional one can open.
>
>What can cause this? No virii or spyware according to my various AV programs. Any
>fix short of format and reinstall of Windows? Dearly want to avoid this, if possible.
>
>I'm running XP Professional SP3.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I had this happen to me again just yesterday with a java application (JAVAW.EXE). Once again it was after an extended session of PC usage, having opened and closed a number of memory-hungry Office applications beforehand. The solution, as always, was a reboot. I'm convinced that it is some some of operating system bug, since it reminds me of similar things that used to happen on the VMS operating system (the predecessor of Windows NT) where processes would hang in a "resource wait" state and refuse to be deleted. Cheers. Spexx.

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This has been going on for me for months. I suspect it is one of my resident programs for checking AV or Spyware that is causing the problem, but I don't know how to troubleshoot it. Glad to see I am not alone -- but hoping some wizard can show how to fix. I've been contemplating a format and reinstall but lord help me, I don't want to do it. I see 6 separate instances of svchost, for example, but maybe that's normal.


On Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 6:10 pm, Spexx wrote:
>I had this happen to me again just yesterday with a java application (JAVAW.EXE).
>Once again it was after an extended session of PC usage, having opened and closed
>a number of memory-hungry Office applications beforehand. The solution, as always,
>was a reboot. I'm convinced that it is some some of operating system bug, since it
>reminds me of similar things that used to happen on the VMS operating system (the
>predecessor of Windows NT) where processes would hang in a "resource wait" state
>and refuse to be deleted. Cheers. Spexx.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Multiple instances of svchost.exe are expected - they are system services. Sometimes, malware may attempt to disguise itself by using this name, but generally those processes should be left alone. Cheers. Spexx.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I am having the same problem. I close a program, and sometimes it still appears in Task Manager's list of open services. With my Adobe CS2 programs, I generally can't start a new instance of a program while these services remain open. I can close the services with Task Manager, and usually can then open the programs, but eventually I have to reboot. I am using Norton 360 for anti-virus.


On Monday, July 21, 2008 at 1:12 pm, Arnstein wrote:
>This has been going on for me for months. I suspect it is one of my resident programs
>for checking AV or Spyware that is causing the problem, but I don't know how to troubleshoot
>it.
>
>Glad to see I am not alone -- but hoping some wizard can show how to fix. I've been
>contemplating a format and reinstall but lord help me, I don't want to do it.
>
>I see 6 separate instances of svchost, for example, but maybe that's normal.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Same thing is happening to me. I've got Windows XP, SP3, and I think it started after updating to SP3. I also run Norton 360. The multiple version out OUTLOOK.EXE eventually cause a problem -- I can't reopen Outlook until I've closed down all the open processes of OUTLOOK.EXE. I get lots of open Dreamweaver.exe's as well, and other programs. Anyone find a solution for this yet?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

After some extensive searching I am beginning to see connections between having SP3 and Norton 360 installed on machines that are doing this. I consulted with a tech support agent with Norton and told him what was happening. He figured it to be the firewall blocking the application and not allowing it to close due to it trying to connect to the net for some reason. I am starting to believe that this is false. I get firefox, AutoCAD, Outlook, Word, GoogleEarth, Google SketchUp and other various applications that don't completely close. I'm going back to Norton to see what the problems is.... If it continues the only solution I see is a format (to completely remove Norton) and install a different virus program.


On Monday, August 18, 2008 at 10:42 am, Peter Staley wrote:
>Same thing is happening to me. I've got Windows XP, SP3, and I think it started
>after updating to SP3. I also run Norton 360. The multiple version out OUTLOOK.EXE
>eventually cause a problem -- I can't reopen Outlook until I've closed down all the
>open processes of OUTLOOK.EXE. I get lots of open Dreamweaver.exe's as well, and
>other programs.
>
>Anyone find a solution for this yet?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I've been having the problem, and I don't run Norton. However, I did run AVG. Recently I switched to Avira. So far the problem hasn't reoccurred. Doesn't mean AVG was the reason, though. BTW I like Avira a lot because it's a slimmed down app. http://www.avira.com/en/pages/index.php


On Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 3:17 pm, Justin Harcrow wrote:
>After some extensive searching I am beginning to see connections between having SP3
>and Norton 360 installed on machines that are doing this.
>
>I consulted with a tech support agent with Norton and told him what was happening.
> He figured it to be the firewall blocking the application and not allowing it to
>close due to it trying to connect to the net for some reason. I am starting to believe
>that this is false. I get firefox, AutoCAD, Outlook, Word, GoogleEarth, Google SketchUp
>and other various applications that don't completely close. I'm going back to Norton
>to see what the problems is.... If it continues the only solution I see is a format
>(to completely remove Norton) and install a different virus program.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

You do not have to reformat to get rid of Norton, but you do need a special removal tool, available from Symantec. Sorry, I do not have the link to hand but it is easily found with Google. There are known issues with applying SP3 to systems with Norton on them - symptoms can be severe! Google "Symantec SP3 problem" for details. Cheers. Spexx.

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FYI, all. I recently uninstalled AVG anti-virus. Switched to Avira AV. I have had no further instances of programs not closing completely. And while I can't swear this is the reason, it's good enough for me. It has been a problem for months and years. Now gone. So I'm curious if others who have the issue have AVG -- or other intrusive AV programs.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

This is a wierd issue... On my laptop I have XP Home SP3 and AVG free and don't have any issues. At work I have XP Pro SP3 and Norton 360 and have all kinds of troubles with things not fully closing. I also hear of this problem happening to people without Norton installed... Anyone know someone at Microsoft that can backdoor this problem to be trouble shooted? lol

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

This only started to happen after I upgraded from Norton internet security 2006 to Norton 360. I only found out about the problem when I started Firefox and saw that my bookmarks and the navigation toolbar were empty. I opened task manager to find that multiple instances of many programs were running, yet this doesn't seem to happen when I play a game. Since 'upgrading' to Norton 360 my computer will no longer standby yet will still hibernate. E6600@ 3Ghz, XFX 9800 GTX, 3Gb RAM, Win XP SP2


On Monday, August 18, 2008 at 10:42 am, Peter Staley wrote:
>Same thing is happening to me. I've got Windows XP, SP3, and I think it started
>after updating to SP3. I also run Norton 360. The multiple version out OUTLOOK.EXE
>eventually cause a problem -- I can't reopen Outlook until I've closed down all the
>open processes of OUTLOOK.EXE. I get lots of open Dreamweaver.exe's as well, and
>other programs.
>
>Anyone find a solution for this yet?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I have the exact same problem, and I am running XP Home with SP2 with Norton 360. When I shut down just about any program, the processes don't go away. I have to manually kill them with task manager. Has anyone discovered a resolution yet?


On Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 2:45 pm, Kyle wrote:
>Many times when I close a program I find it still listed in Windows Task Manager
>-- sometimes multiple instances -- just found 4 instances of Acrobat, for example.
>Obviously eats up memory. InDesign, Excel do not close at all after I've opened them
>once. They don't show in the Applications part of Task Manager but they show up
>in Processes. This also causes an issue when I try to open a program - it doesn't
>because there is already one (or 5) instances of it running. So I have to end process
>to the existing processes so that a functional one can open.
>
>What can cause this? No virii or spyware according to my various AV programs. Any
>fix short of format and reinstall of Windows? Dearly want to avoid this, if possible.
>
>I'm running XP Professional SP3.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I had the problem and solved it by replacing Norton 360 with AVG.


On Friday, October 10, 2008 at 7:16 am, Kris wrote:
>I have the exact same problem, and I am running XP Home with SP2 with Norton 360.
> When I shut down just about any program, the processes don't go away. I have to
>manually kill them with task manager. Has anyone discovered a resolution yet?
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

And I solved it by replacing AVG with Avira. http://www.avira.com/en/pages/index.php

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