How To Kill Explorer When Running Program

[mattmatik]

Ok, I was reading some posts about BF2 and someone said they kill their explorer using ctrl+alt+del and then running the game to get extra resources. It works fine but I was wondering if there is a way I can add an argument to the bf2.exe so it does this automatically?

I have a dock, konfabulator, and some other programs I use constantly...is it possible to include an argument that can kill those as well? Thanks :)

[Beastage]

First of all, you can't kill explorer when running windows :)

for the others I'm sure its doable (don't know how) but I'm actually interested to see how its possible, so I'm adding my self to your question :p

[tch1005]

make a batch file for each game.

******* is for each of the programs u want closed...Konfab. Dock, Explorer

Start taskkill /im Explorer.exe
Start taskkill /im ********
Start taskkill /im ********
Start taskkill /im ********
Start taskkill /im ********
start [path]/gamename
exit

[Beastage]

Ah, very nice /me takes note

[mattmatik]

  Beastage said:

First of all, you can't kill explorer when running windows :)

for the others I'm sure its doable (don't know how) but I'm actually interested to see how its possible, so I'm adding my self to your question :p

586443873[/snapback]

You can kill explorer using task manager. When you end the process all you get left with is the task manager window but you can then run a program using the file menu. Whenever I get done with the game I just to go to file>run>explorer.exe and everything comes back. I'm assuming this is killing explorer?

Thanks, tch1005, I'll give those a shot. :)

[HellBender]

  tch1005 said:

make a batch file for each game.

******* is for each of the programs u want closed...Konfab. Dock, Explorer

Start taskkill /im Explorer.exe
Start taskkill /im ********
Start taskkill /im ********
Start taskkill /im ********
Start taskkill /im ********
start [path]/gamename
exit

586443897[/snapback]

Don't forget to add lines to restart those services after gamename ends..

And its completely possible to kill explorer while running windows :dontgetit:

[mattmatik]

  HellBender said:

Don't forget to add lines to restart those services after gamename ends..

And its completely possible to kill explorer while running windows :dontgetit:

586443937[/snapback]

Hellbender, would you mind telling me how to do that? Or do you know of a site that explains these types of commands? Thanks :)

edit: Hmmm, I made the batch file and typed the commands that tch1005 suggested. It does kill the programs I want but then it pops up the "turn off computer" prompt. It also says it cannot find the path of the game but I know it is correct (D:\Games\Battlefield_2\BF2.exe). Am I missing something?

Edited August 28, 2005 by soloredd

[rawr]

You are able to end-task "explorer.exe" through ALT-CTRL-DEL..and you can still run your system fine but you just won't have access to your taskbar, which will we gone when you end task "explorer.exe." Just make sure to re-run explorer by going back into ALT-CTRL-DEL and File > Run New Task > "Explorer.exe" after your done playing your game. :D

[Warning]

There was a project a while ago on neowin whereby some members started to make a lil' program that ended all other processes when you ran it for playing games n' shizzle, but the performance gain was too small to make the program worthwhile i think.

Maybe someone could chase the creators up?

[Julius Caro]

I thought that games already did something with the other running processes.

Let's say, I have around 100 free mb of RAM. I start a game, play it, and then close it. When I check again I have A LOT more RAM.

[John Veteran]

  Julius Caro said:

I thought that games already did something with the other running processes.

Let's say, I have around 100 free mb of RAM. I start a game, play it, and then close it. When I check again I have A LOT more RAM.

586444940[/snapback]

That's because of the way Windows handles memory management. When a game starts, it allocates TONS of memory. Windows flushes everything that's not in use (ie. everything except the game) into the swap file to gain the maximum amount of available RAM. Then, the game uses up most of the available RAM, and it performs better. Tasks that aren't as critical (such as the system shell - explorer.exe) don't get their jobs done as quickly, but the whole point is that they don't need to while the game is running.

Basically, what I'm saying is Windows knows how to manage memory and other resources, and forcibly killing the shell or other services is a waste of time.

[Julius Caro]

  John said:

Basically, what I'm saying is Windows knows how to manage memory and other resources, and forcibly killing the shell or other services is a waste of time.

586445060[/snapback]

That would've been my point if I had known about it, lol :p

Edited August 28, 2005 by Julius Caro

[amrinders87]

  soloredd said:

Hellbender, would you mind telling me how to do that? Or do you know of a site that explains these types of commands? Thanks :)

edit: Hmmm, I made the batch file and typed the commands that tch1005 suggested. It does kill the programs I want but then it pops up the "turn off computer" prompt. It also says it cannot find the path of the game but I know it is correct (D:\Games\Battlefield_2\BF2.exe). Am I missing something?

586443971[/snapback]

You can use the wait command before starting BF2.

start /wait Path to BF2
start explorer.exe

That forces it to wait until BF2 exits, then it relaunches explorer.

[mattmatik]

  Julius Caro said:

I thought that games already did something with the other running processes.

Let's say, I have around 100 free mb of RAM. I start a game, play it, and then close it. When I check again I have A LOT more RAM.

586444940[/snapback]

My quest for figuring this is more for the running apps...konfabulator, yzdock, nod32, and itunes. The explorer.exe isn't much of an issue, I was just experimenting. It's kind of a pain to close everything, play the game, then start them again. The big one is yzdock as it steals focus when you have the mouse at the bottom of the screen.

Thanks for the help everyone, I'll see if I can't mess around a bit more and get it to work...it still wants to shut the computer down and says it cannot find the path :huh: