If you're having trouble shutting your system down because it either takes too long or because your computer freezes, then EndItAll will save you from this hassle.

If your computer won't shut down properly, it's usually a problem with a software drivers that won't properly close, and it's almost impossible to diagnose which drivers are causing the problems! However, a simple utility called EndItAll has been produced by PC Magazine and can be downloaded for free from their web site. EndItAll will efficiently close all of the programs that you're system is running in the background.

I personally run this utility just prior to turning my system off, and it's been flawless in its execution. Since I began using EndItAll I've been able to property shut down my computer 100% of the time.

While you can theoretically close software drivers buy pressing the CTRL ALT and DEL keys simultaneously and then choosing specific drivers one at a time, and then applying the "End Task" button, this takes a great deal of time. Additionally, this manual method of closing down programs has not freed me from system lock-ups, while EndItAll has.

Why does using EndItAll close these drivers more successfully than using CTRL ALT DEL? I have absolutely no idea, but it does!

Quicker Restarts

While we're on the subject of turning computers off, let's acknowledge that often you don't really want to shut down, as much as you need to restart.

When your computer starts to slow down and act buggy, usually after hours of use, restarting Windows will often get you back up to speed. Additionally, you often need to restart your computer after loading new software, in order for all of the system updates and changes to take effect.

The fastest way to do this is to choose "restart" from your shutdown menu, and to press and hold down the "Shift" key while you click the "OK" button.

Using this "Shift" key option bypasses several of the system checking features that are run when you actually turn your computer on, and instead just restarts Windows itself.

The amount of time saved is small, but when you're in a hurry, every bit counts!

Published: March 13, 2001

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