Using the Applications Tab

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The Applications tab is used to list all DOS, 16-bit, and 32-bit Windows applications. The application name is listed under the Task column and the status of running or not responding appears under the Status columns (see Figure 6.2).

Here the terms task and application are interchangeable. You can use the Applications tab to end a task, start a task, or to switch to a task.

If an application fails, it can tie up critical resources such as memory and the CPU. It is in the best interest to end the task as soon as possible. When your word processor stops responding, are you more likely to be aware of it than if a background application fails? The Task Manager’s Applications tab identifies the application as not responding.

To end an application not responding, complete the following steps:
1.	Select the application to end.
2.	Click on the End Task button.
3.	A dialog box appears warning of possible lost data. Click on Wait to allow the application five more seconds to shut down properly.
4.	If the application does not terminate, the same dialog box re-appears. Click on End Task to end it immediately.

DOS, 16-bit, and 32-bit applications are ended the same way. The big difference is in the resources that may be released. DOS and 32-bit applications run in their own memory address space with very little sharing of resources between them.

16-bit applications on the other hand are much more intertwined with all other 16-bit applications. All 16-bit applications share the same memory address space and message queue. When one application fails to respond to the user or the operating system, it blocks all other 16-bit applications from responding as well because they all share the same message queue.

By terminating a failed 16-bit application, the system releases the resources that may have been tied up and returns all memory to the common pool. For more information on how applications run under Windows NT Workstation 4.0, see Chapter 5, “Running Applications.”




Windows NT is designed to prevent application failures from corrupting the entire system. There may be instances when it appears that Windows NT has crashed. Always verify the Applications tab in the Task Manager and end any task not responding. Windows NT will continue to function properly. What may have happened is that a failed application was using a resource needed by the operating system.

If you do not close down an application properly, you risk losing data. When you use Task Manager to close a currently running application, you receive a prompt to save the current data if desired. You cannot save any data when you are ending an application that is not responding. The applications themselves, however, may have an auto-save feature that might be able to salvage some data.