On 15 Dec 2001, at 16:20, Donna Hampe wrote:

> I have a new pc with Win XP Pro and when installing new software,
> you are advised to 'shut down all running programs'.

  The installation process may need to install new versions of files
that already exist.  It will be very hard for it to do that if the
existing files are being used by some program running as another
task.

> When I do C+A+del, and click on 1 of the many running programs and
> 'End Task', I am warned not to do this.

  When you select "Close" from a File menu or from right-clicking on
a task bar button, the application gets a chance to save your work
and clean up after itself.  When you select "End Task" from the Task
Manager, that generally doesn't happen -- the OS pops in and says
"Off with your head!" and the task dies, uncontrolled and unplanned.
  The ability to kill tasks from the Task Manager is an emergency
recovery tool, not a friendly standard way to exit from a running
application!

> Is it safe to use 'EndItAll' without having more problems?

  I *expect* EndItAll to send a "Close" notifiation to every running
application, much like the first phase of "Shutdown".  This is safe.

> Can I just load in the software and not close the running programs?

  Probably -- but see my first note.

David Gillett

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