Why can I rarely stop processes?

[Sinister]

Running windows XP. Windows Task Manager - Processes Tab

Why can I only end a process about 25% of the time?

The rest of the time nothing happens or the standard not responding window keeps coming up. Oftentimes I am stuck manually reseting my computer (that's no good). An other way to stop a program or process?

 

[Win2kpatcher]

What process are you trying to stop?is it a system process or like an application process?

 

[Sinister]

Sorry for not saying this already but I am talking about applications.

Just seems to my half computer literate mind that ending the process should actually end it at least 95% of the time! Is it always this way? Is there something I can do differently?

 

[derrmc]

Sorry for not saying this already but I am talking about applications.

Just seems to my half computer literate mind that ending the process should actually end it at least 95% of the time! Is it always this way? Is there something I can do differently?

MSCONFIG/STARTUP/UNCHECK THE BOX/APPLY

 

[Osiris]

do you receive an error message or anything telling you that you cant do that?