Previously I have written an article on how to prevent Google Chrome from closing when there are multiple tabs opened by prompting a warning window when you try to terminate the program either by clicking the close button on the top right or via Alt+F4. This annoying behavior still exist on the current Google Chrome 20 which can be easily solved by installing the Google Toolbox extension. The solution above is application specific but what if you want to prevent other programs from closing such as Microsoft Outlook, or any other software of your choice? Good news is I found 5 software that claims to prevent accidental closing of software by disabling the close button and have put them to test. Weirdly out of the 5 programs, only 1 of it is a freeware.
1. Apr 17, 2011 How to make a program that deletes 'unclosable' wscript files! Unsubscribe from TQCoding? Cancel Unsubscribe. Subscribe Subscribed Unsubscribe 596. Unclosable Microsoft family feature pop-up. Clicking it just shuts and reopens the same window. No matter if I x out, force stop from task manager, restart my computer, it comes back, and it even reappears over my current window if i minimize it.
NoCloseIf you’ve heard of DonationCoder, Skrommel came out with a simple and easy to use portable tool called NoClose where it simply disables the Close (X) button located at the top right of the window. To disable the close button on a selected window, press Ctrl+1 to temporarily enable or disable it. If you want the changes to be permanent, press Ctrl+2 instead to add the program to the rules. Make sure that NoClose is running or else it won’t work. From what I’ve noticed, NoClose only disables the Close button located at the top right of the window while other methods such as Alt+F4 still works. It is possible to change the default hotkeys from the Settings by right clicking on the NoClose icon at the notification area and select Settings. NoClose is free and has been successfully tested on Windows 7 SP1 32-bit without problems.
2. WinTopMost
WinTopMost is the most expensive software in its category that cost $65 for a single license. Other than disabling the Close button by graying it out, it can also set a window to be topmost based on the program’s title. For WinTopMost to disable a program’s close button, click the Add button at the 2nd box and enter the program’s name that is displayed on the title, for example, Firefox. WinTopMost also needs to be active to disable the close button and it doesn’t prevent against Alt+F4 hotkey.
3. Actual Window Guard
Actual Window Guard is a shareware that cost $29.95 for a single license and it comes with a 60 days trial. It is quite powerful in the sense that it allows you to create very detailed specific settings other than just disabling the close button. It also allows you to assign priorities, window size and position, and automatic actions such as changing caption, icon, staying always on top, open as, send to bottom, close and etc when the program is started. Actual Window Guard offers an additional method to prevent any window from accidental close by showing a confirmation prompt when you want to close the program.
4. Actual Window Manager
Actual Window Manager is the bigger brother of Actual Window Guard. It is also a shareware that cost slightly more expensive when compared to Actual Window Guard at $49.95 due to having more features. Other than disabling the close button and showing a confirmation window, it comes with an additional option where you can manually close the window by right clicking on the close button. This options is very useful to manually close the program because both Actual Window Manager and Actual Window Guard blocks the Alt+F4 hotkeys as well.
5. NoVirusThanks Process Protector
NoVirusThanks is an Italian company that puts their focus more to security. Process Protector is a shareware that cost $19.99 and there are no trial version for you to test it out. The program claims to defend against process termination so I requested a license to test it. Upon testing, it seems to only protect against abnormal or external method of termination such as killing the process from Windows Task Manager, while still allowing the user to close the program by clicking the X button or using Alt+F4.
For simple use, I would say that NoClose seems to do the job pretty well plus it is lightweight and free. If you prefer to go for something more powerful with more features and willing to fork out some money, do give Actual Window Manager a try because you will not be disappointed.
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There is no way to close a minor system utility included with a PC I recently got. It's a basic self-help type program. The normal close button is there, but it minimizes the program to the tray. No right-click option to close it is available. I have confirmed with the manufacturer that this is the expected behavior.
I'm wondering if there are other examples of this sort of design out there. Doesn't have to be a utility, any sort of program for OSX or Windows.
As an aside, even Task Manager can't close the program--I think the program has been hardened to resist that in the way some antivirus programs are.
Almost any form of Kiosk software would fall under this category.
posted by SansPoint at 5:39 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by SansPoint at 5:39 PM on December 2, 2007
When I was in college there was a program on the computers to reset any changes users had made on each boot. This includes wiping installed programs (that hadn't been installed with the program's password by the IT dept), and wiping saved files. The program had something to do with ice or freeze in its name... something like FreezeBoot or similar. Anyways, you couldn't disable or close it.
posted by IndigoRain at 5:41 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by IndigoRain at 5:41 PM on December 2, 2007
IndigoRain, I think you're thinking of DeepFreeze.
posted by JaredSeth at 5:44 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by JaredSeth at 5:44 PM on December 2, 2007
Oh and there are a few programs that we load on our PCs at work that users can't close, but on a home computer? If you're running as an administrator, I'd think you'd be able to use MSCONFIG to prevent it loading at startup, whether it's an application or service.
posted by JaredSeth at 5:47 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by JaredSeth at 5:47 PM on December 2, 2007
Those are legit examples but not for a personally owned PC. If it is your PC (owned, not loaned or leased) you get to control what it runs and what it doesn't. This sounds pretty bogus to me and I'd get it purged. Try booting into safe mode and renaming the offending executable or DLL.
posted by chairface at 5:47 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by chairface at 5:47 PM on December 2, 2007
Terminate and Stay Resident programs fit this description.
In NT-based systems, like 2000, XP, Vista, and so on, you can run a program as a system service. It will not show up in the taskbar, but will be listed in the processes. If you want to prevent it from being easily shut down, you can run it as the system account. There are methods to run your own program as a system service. Cygwin offers a couple of methods to do this with shell scripts, cron jobs, etc.
posted by odinsdream at 5:51 PM on December 2, 2007
In NT-based systems, like 2000, XP, Vista, and so on, you can run a program as a system service. It will not show up in the taskbar, but will be listed in the processes. If you want to prevent it from being easily shut down, you can run it as the system account. There are methods to run your own program as a system service. Cygwin offers a couple of methods to do this with shell scripts, cron jobs, etc.
posted by odinsdream at 5:51 PM on December 2, 2007
Ah, is your question about the theoretical, or about this particular program you've mentioned? You can definitely disable the program. I frequently make use of StartupList to examine the programs that get loaded at boot.
posted by odinsdream at 5:53 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by odinsdream at 5:53 PM on December 2, 2007
Symantec's stuff (Norton Anti-Virus) is a total pain to kill off.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 7:35 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by aeschenkarnos at 7:35 PM on December 2, 2007
JaredSeth: 'IndigoRain, I think you're thinking of DeepFreeze.'
That's it, thanks.
posted by IndigoRain at 7:57 PM on December 2, 2007
That's it, thanks.
posted by IndigoRain at 7:57 PM on December 2, 2007
the game dwarf fortress won't let you close unless you save. I think you can stop the process, but clicking the red X gets you nowhere, as a way to keep the player from abusing save states.
posted by nautone at 12:36 AM on December 3, 2007
posted by nautone at 12:36 AM on December 3, 2007
Systems control programs (for factories, research, etc.) often have an option to remove or disable the exit & minimize buttons, to keep operators from accidentally (or purposely!) closing the control screens.
Usually you can kill these programs from the Task Manager, though, assuming you have admin rights... which, of course, the operators aren't supposed to have. :)
posted by vorfeed at 2:11 PM on December 3, 2007
Usually you can kill these programs from the Task Manager, though, assuming you have admin rights... which, of course, the operators aren't supposed to have. :)
posted by vorfeed at 2:11 PM on December 3, 2007
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