How to Force a Windows Service to Stop

How to Stop a Service in Windows

The below instructions will show you how to stop a service that has crashed or is causing you errors.

  • Click the Start menu
  • Click Run or type services in the search bar and press enter
  • Find the service that you need to stop, right click and select Properties the service name will be shown in the new window.
  • Open an Admin Command Prompt
  • Type “sc queryex (servicename)”
  • Press Enter
  • The service details will be shown including the PID
  • Type “taskkill /pid (pid number) /f”
  • Press Enter
  • A message should appear “The process with PID (pid number) has been terminated”.
  • If you get access is denied check you have opened a Admin/Elevated command prompt.

Windows Update stuck downloading/Installing updates in Windows 10

Windows Update stuck downloading/Installing updates in Windows 10

This can become a problem if you have not been doing your updates regularly.

I have found that the below helps to resolve the problem.

  • Open an Admin Command Prompt.  To do this click start and type CMD.  Right click on cmd and choose “Run as Administrator”.  In the cmd window type the below
  • Net stop wuauserv
  • Net stop bits
  • Once both services have stopped move onto the next stage.  If the wuauserv service doesn’t stop do the bits one and then retry the wuauserv.
  • Open file explorer and browse to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.
  • Delete all files within this directory.  If they don’t delete make sure the services are still stopped as Windows 10 will try and automatically restart them.
  • Once the directory is empty go back to the CMD window and type the below
  • Net start wuauserv
  • net start bits
  • Retry your windows updates and the should install.  You may have to do this more than once.

You can also use the link for Windows Update Troubleshooter to check for other error that need fixing.

 

Windows Network stuck in Public Mode

Follow the below steps to change the Network mode.

 

  1. Press Winkey + R to open Run prompt and type gpedit.msc.
  2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration /Windows Settings / Security Setting /Network List Manager Policies.
  3. Choose your Network name from the right pane.
  4. Go to Network Location tab and change the Location type from Public to Private.
  5. Close Local Policy Editor.
  6. You will now see your network has changed from Public to Private.