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Resolved Question

Task Host Window?

Oct 16, 2017 2:49AM PDT

Hello Everyone,

Using W7 Ultimate; Firefox 56.0; 32bit.

Following a recent update -. which was a bit of a surprise as I thought MS had stopped all support for W7! - when I close down I am now getting a notice that I have to close the open application etc and when it shows it, it has "Task Host Window" as the cause.

I then have to click on "Force Shutdown" and then "YES" all with their respective warnings about 'losing work not saved etc'

Could someone explain what this is all about as it has only started to happen since the recent update on 11th October.

It would be nice to have reassurance that this is hot really a 'problem' and that I have to 'do' something to stop a maybe 'harmful' cause!!

Many thanks,

Regards,

Colin

Discussion is locked

colinito has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Re: task host
Oct 16, 2017 3:28AM PDT

Unluckily, http://windowsreport.com/task-host-window-windows-10/ gives 17 different possible solutions, and I'm afraid that at least 16 (and possible all 17) don't apply in your case. Moreover, most of them are explained for Windows 10. Be very careful!!

https://www.google.com/search?q=task+host+windows+7+shutdown has quite a lot of hits, going back to at least 2009, and nothing recent related to your issue. So it's a well-known problem and I doubt if it's really related to the last Windows update. It doesn't happen with me.
If you are somewhat adventurous, you might like to have a look at recent hits for Windows 7 and maybe even try them.

You can lessen the impact somewhat by not shutting down so often, but use hibernate routinely in stead of shutdown. Only shutdown to clear the sytstem when requested to restart or when something unexpected happens.

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Task Host Window?
Oct 16, 2017 4:13AM PDT

Hello again Kees,
I have just lost my answer to your post by hitting the "Best Answer" before the "Post" tab !!

I aid thanks for your reply with the two links. I mentioned that the one appertaining to W10, obviously doesn't apply to my desktop which has W7, and as you stated, I could see nothing that covered my actual problem. My laptop has W10 but it is not affected.

I close down at around midday and later again in the evening after any messages or work has been done, basically, to save any electricity that powers the items on my desk!

So I shall carry on as 'normal' and just accept it as a regular anomaly! (Not being technical, I have no idea of these matters, which is why I come here to find answers which are probably 'mundane' to experts like yourself!)

Regards,

Colin.

So I shall

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Re: save electricity
Oct 16, 2017 6:44AM PDT

Hibernate saves as much electricity as shutdown! What it does: it saves the full state of the PC to the hard disk, then turns fully off. When you turn it on, it reads the old state of the PC from the hard disk, and continues at the exact point where you stopped with you being logged in and all windows open that you had open. That's much faster than a full boot that's required after shutting down.

So it saves just as much electricity. And it saves time.

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save electricity
Oct 16, 2017 9:03AM PDT

Thanks, Kees,

Food for thought indeed!

I have 5 options - Shut down; Log Off; Lock; Re-start; Sleep. I would suppose that Sleep is the same as hibernate, then!

I have a multi-socket which the computer power plug fits. Also there is a printer, midi Hi Fi unit, desk light and phone using the sockets. I shall experiment with the "sleep" option, thanks!

Regards,

Colin.

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I'd enable Hibernation now.
Oct 16, 2017 10:12AM PDT
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I'd enable Hibernation now.
Oct 16, 2017 10:44AM PDT

Hello Rob,

Firstly, main question, is "Sleep" the same as "Hibernate"?

I went to Control Panel and could find no directive for or containing "Hibernate."

I found the following in the link that you provided, amongst many similar posts - :-

"In order to see the "Hibernate" option, "Hybrid sleep" must be turned off...

Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings

[+]Sleep

[+]Allow hybrid sleep"

I have two 'Power Plans' in my control Panel -
Balanced (Recommended) and Power Saver.

Choices down left side include -
Control Panel Home
Require a password on wakeup
Chose what the power buttons do - 2 choices
1. When I press the Power button - 1, Shut Down; 2.Do Nothing, 3.Sleep. 4. Hibernate.
2. When I press the Sleep button - 1. Do Nothing, 2.Sleep. 3.Hibernate.
Choose a power plan
Choose when to turn off the display
Choose when the computer sleeps

So, following your advice, I would choose Hibernate for the Sleep Button choices. But first, please inform this non-techie if I still just hit the power button to 'turn on' the computer when it is hibernating, or is there something else that I have to do!?

Regards,

Colin.

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For me I have my ways.
Oct 16, 2017 11:30AM PDT

My way is to exit apps I don't need. This makes hibernate faster as less to deal with.

But I no longer use it since I moved to a SSD drive and boot time is under 20 seconds now from cold. So not the savings it once was.

But to give myself a choice I set sleep to happen when I close the laptop lid and shutdown when I press the power button.

All your choice here.

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For me I have my ways.
Oct 16, 2017 11:43AM PDT

Him Rob,

I always close everything I've been working on before I close down. However, If I leave for a short period, I leave the computer on and it switches the monitor off automatically. When I return and press the power button on, hit any key or move the mouse, the monitor lights up and I need to enter my password, it then opens where I left it.

My question was, if I change Sleep to Hibernate, will it start by the same means or is there a different way to re-start it? (I'd hate to change it to Hibernate and then not be able to start it up again!!)

Regards,

Colin.

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Re: restart after hibernate
Oct 16, 2017 12:45PM PDT

Just press the power button. The PC boots, Windows finds a filled hibernation file and uses that in stead of initializing itself.

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restart after hibernate
Oct 16, 2017 12:56PM PDT

Many thanks, Kees,
Off to arrange a Hibernation change. Animals are hungry after hibernating, glad computers don't take after them!!

Regards,

Colin.

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Answer
Your being watched if
Oct 16, 2017 10:03PM PDT

Surograte is on or DFSagent is on,

As A lot of store boughten computers were donor program computers to other countries as even besbuy is fronting new computers as new or buying them as it's scam there doing from other countries.

This happened in 1990 to 1997, with cheaper computers of less than 900 dollars or computers for kids or people whom require Attention such as Hospitals computers that they threw out or sold off.

Type in Mozilla Firefox " first do you have a login name and account it would another reason you hang up on host, as mozi//A: is a default program for phone call cause it means they need help with links or "tree'd" hypo secure or Hyper Connection encryption problems it's another way for government find out thru mod pro that there not being honest or Hacking.

It also means program defaulted back to 1993 to 2000 meaning that they have the wrong one online up on website as well install from firefox " more likely someone got pissed and deleted the new updates and new version downloads.

Happy

Easy fix goto process's and use show file find out which one is in Firefox and disable it or end process tree. see if works better or slower. let me know,

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Your being watched if
Oct 17, 2017 1:26AM PDT

Hello Tsechler77,

Thank you for your post.

Please excuse me but I do not understand most of the content of your post.

I do not understand the significance of "Surograte" or "DFSagent." I also do not understand your references to "Type in Mozilla Firefox etc" I do have a log-in name and a Mozilla account, but I don't understand how that affects the "Task Host Window" notification - I have had this log-in and account since I have had a computer and it has only now started to appear.

My computer was actually built into its frame for me by a friend who has since passed away. I have no idea what he actually did.

Since then I have had the larger 1,000 GB disc added and the original XP has been updated to W7.

Regards,

Colin

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Re: watched
Oct 17, 2017 4:02AM PDT

Hello Colin,

You're not the only one who doesn't understand this. Neither do I. And i think that only Tsechler himself does. Or that he posted this in the wrong thread.
Anyway, just forget it.

Kees

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watched
Oct 17, 2017 4:14AM PDT

Hello Kees,
Thanks for your post,

Forget what?!!!!! Because I don't understand, I can't remember anything!

Regards,

Colin.

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Forget the whole post.
Oct 17, 2017 4:20AM PDT

It doesn't make any sense.

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Answer
32 bit really ?
Oct 16, 2017 10:11PM PDT

Ok just to see if your bought Europe's single 32 bit OS full or OEM builder or 64 bit full system install OS.
Cause if you download mix installs and it doesn't check but has both 32bit and 64 bit it will use both 32- 64 bit software instruction which causes the gitter, all kind of mess up's cause it's enforceing 32 and 64 on wrong type of platform.

It's normally older computer like windows 1995, 98 and XPS, or XP. or 2002 and older.

If I had time you had a lot of money I would separate the program from 32 bit and 64 bit cause only way it will smooth out even on both 32 and 64 bit platform makes processor and chipset and OS.

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32 bit really ?
Oct 17, 2017 1:05AM PDT

Hello Tsechler77,
Oops! Errr! actually "NO"!
My error there, sorry. I thought it was 32 bit, for whatever reason. (I seemed to remember that my laptop is 64 and my desktop is 32 - obviously I am wrong!) So to be really sure, I have used Belarc Advisor and done a scan. Here are a few of the details -

Windows 7 Ultimate Service Pack 1 (build 7601)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: Spanish (Spain, International Sort)
Installed: 24/10/2012 17:47:55

2.60 gigahertz Intel Pentium Dual-Core
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
2048 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded

1000.10 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
856.11 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4167B ATA Device [Optical drive]
HP DVD Writer 940d USB Device [Optical drive]

ST31000528AS [Hard drive] (1000.20 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 9VP2XLPT, rev CC38, SMART Status: Healthy

It looks OK to me, but many of the features detailed don't really make much sense to my non-technical mind!

Thanks for your post, I now know a little more about my computer!

Regards,

Colin.

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Re: 32 bit or 64 bit
Oct 17, 2017 7:54AM PDT
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32 bit or 64 bit
Oct 17, 2017 10:31AM PDT

Hello Kees,
I ran that test using Winkey + Pause, but I can't seem to attach the result! - It seems it is 32 Bit! I'll copy the details -

Manufacture - ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Rating - (Blue square with 3.3 inside) Windows Experience Index
Processor - Pentium (R) Dual-Core CPU E5300 @ 2.60 GHz
Installed Memory (RAM) 2.00 GB
System Type 32-Bit Operating System
Pen and Touch No Pen or Touch Input is available for this display.


I reckon Belarc Advisor is not that reliable, after all!

Regards,

Colin

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I suspect
Oct 17, 2017 11:17AM PDT

Belarc is showing you have a 64 bit capable machine.

Win+pause is showing you have a 32 bit OS installed.

I would not worry about it as the basic difference is how much ram you can address.
Since you only have 2GB it's not a problem.

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I suspect
Oct 17, 2017 11:55AM PDT

Many thanks, Bob B, I can now relax and stop worrying, then!
Joking apart, thanks for your explanation, it makes more sense, I have now learned that "ready" means it is not actually there yet, I thought otherwise! I thought ready meant it was working with it. (I must learn to say RED backwards.)

Regards,

Colin.

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Answer
Updates
Oct 17, 2017 7:20AM PDT

Msft will provide updates for W7 until 2020.

As a test manually shutdown all the task in your task bar before trying to shutdown.

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Updates
Oct 17, 2017 10:37AM PDT

Hello Bob B,
Thank you for your post.
I have my Word Document shortcut, Firefox shortcut, WMP shortcut and my Libraries short cut on my Taskbar, all the time. [Bottom left side]
Before closing I always close any tasks that I am or have been using.

I hope I understood your tip correctly, and thank you!

Regards,

Colin

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Task bar
Oct 17, 2017 8:06PM PDT

Short cuts should not matter.

What else do you have running?

Look at your startup items and scheduled task.
Ask yourself 'do I use/need this'.

An easy way to see this is with ccleaner>tools>startup.

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Task bar
Oct 18, 2017 1:37AM PDT

Hello Bob B,
Now that was really helpful!
I followed your advice and checked online for those items which were noted as 'running on startup' and of which I had no knowledge, and disabled those that I considered unwanted on startup.
I then re-started my computer. Unfortunately, the Task Host Window notice still appears during the shutting down process! but at least I have a quicker startup!

Thanks!

Regards,

Colin.

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Another test
Oct 19, 2017 6:42AM PDT

Boot the machine and let it sit at the desktop for 10 mins.
Open task manager.
How many processes do you see running?

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Another test
Oct 19, 2017 11:58AM PDT

Hello Bob B,

Processes = 24.
Of which dwm exe showed movement between 00 to 04;
Firefox exe from 00 to 02;
WINWORD exe from 00 to 01;
The remainder showed 00 and showed no movement.
I would state here that the movement appeared to be caused by switching between the Word doc on which I typed these details, and the Processes chart in Task Manager.

Regards

Colin.

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Looks good
Oct 19, 2017 12:38PM PDT

Some folks will have 40/50 processes running.
Most of it unneeded.

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Looks good
Oct 19, 2017 1:10PM PDT

Hello Bob B,
Not to forget that I "cleared" quite a few recently from the start-up list, which might have had some effect!
However, as my first post states - I still have the "Task Host Window" notice each time I shut down!

I suppose I shall have to continue living - or shutting down - with that, anyway!

Regards

Colin.

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Just picking around the edges a little
Oct 19, 2017 9:37PM PDT

Nothing to do with your problem.

Since you have a low power machine look at
Control panel>programs and features>turn features on/off.
If you have features enabled that you don't use turn them off.