Multiple Processes Running

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

"Walt McKinney" <wmckinn@tc2.com> wrote in message
news:e7QcsW9LFHA.3852@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>I have had several occassions where duplicate processes are running on the
>same machine. This causes all sorts of machine problems. The duplications
>are not related to a single program, or single computer. This has happened
>on several machines on our network (XP Pro workstations).
>
> The duplications are usually one of the following programs:
>
> WINWORD.EXE (MS Word)
> OUTLOOK.EXE (MS Outlook)
> IEXPLORE.EXE (Internet Explorer)
>
> In some cases, there may be 4 or 5 duplicates listed under task manager
> when the parent program has been closed.
>
> Once the process is 'killed' manually, the program will restart
> successfully. Does anyone know why this happens? I can't seem to find an
> explanation anywhere. Maybe it's just me!
>
> Thanks,
> Walt

It's not you and it's something that I've seen from time to time. Although
not with IE.
In some instances if an application doesn't exit cleanly or completely then
launching another instance can be problematic. Office products seem the
worst but the behavior isn't limited to Office products. The only thing I
can figure is the app is waiting on an event that never completes.

--
Walter Clayton
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.