Shortcut Key to Abort Program Execution

What is the key board short-cut key to suddenly "abort" the execution of a program, example, an .exe file created in C that loops endlessly/fills the screen with characters? Ctrl-break (which works for win98) does not work in win2000! Exit does not work either in this case, it works only if you are not in the middle of a looping routine.

Thank you for any tip you can give me.

 

Tried Ctrl-C but...

Hi Steve,

Tried Ctrl-C in my computer but still it didn't work in my windows 2000 computer. It worked in a windows98 computer. I'm beginning to wonder if there's something that needs to be configured in my system so that it will accept keyboard shortcut keys?

 

Break (next to scroll lock on UK keyboards) or Ctrl Break is worth a try too.

 

Tried Ctrl Break but...

Hi Reggie,

Have tried Ctrl Break either but it just wouldn't work... What could be the matter with my computer?

 

I agree with Steve - for a break/abort to be available it needs to be coded into the application. If you are unable to break/abort it may well be because the facility is not available. The days when you could abort out of all your apps with a Crtl-C/ctrl-Z died with DOS.

The problem is that if you break out of a program, resources used by that program may well not be released. Therefore, you soon find yourself running out of memory or being unable to use an interface because the resources are tied up by an application that is no longer running.

The NT/Win2k/XP way out of a situation like yours is to do a single CTRL-ALT-DEL, and select "Task List ". Then go to "processes" and the exe process should be listed. You can then stop the process from there by using the "End Process" button. You should only use this system when you are unable to stop the program another way.

 

About Ctrl-Alt-Del

I've used the Ctrl-Alt-Del "end process" technique (when clicking on the "x" button at the top-right portion of the window did not work). It indeed aborted program execution, but after some time lag -- not so fast as the shortcut Ctrl-C and Ctrl-break keys did for me in win98. But for now, I'd have to settle on these in the absence of a better remedy.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your suggestions guys...if at a later time you find a new technique, I'd be happy to hear from you again.

Good day and God bless...