Tskill.exe - Windows Task Killer

tskill.exe is a command-line utility in Windows operating systems used to end a process or application. It's a more forceful alternative to closing a program through the graphical user interface (GUI) or even using the "End Task" option in Task Manager. While taskkill.exe is generally preferred in modern Windows versions due to its greater flexibility and options, tskill.exe remains present and functional.

Origin and Purpose

tskill.exe originated as part of the Windows NT Resource Kit and eventually became a standard component of subsequent Windows operating systems. Its primary purpose is to terminate processes based on their process ID (PID) or their image name. It's a relatively simple tool, offering fewer options than taskkill.exe, but can be effective in situations where a quick and direct process termination is needed.

Functionality

tskill.exe works by sending a termination signal to the specified process. It does not allow for graceful shutdown requests (like sending a WM_CLOSE message). Instead, it forcefully terminates the process, which can lead to data loss if the application hasn't saved its work. It's akin to pulling the plug on a running program.

Usage

The basic syntax for tskill.exe is: