In previous versions of Windows I could use the Task Manager to get out of a non-responsive program.  The Task Manager listed every program running in the background and it was easy to end them.  In Windows XP this is no longer true.  Nothing running in the background is shown, and when a program stops responding and I try to use the Task manager by using Cont+Alt+Del I am still not able to end the non-responsive program.  Instead I get the small dialog box that tells me the program does not respond, but when I try to end it there, it still does not do it.  Is there a way to speed up the process of ending non-responding programs?

   It should still end the program.  Not as many programs are listed in the Applications list but the other ones should be listed in the Processes list.  So all in all the same amount of items are shown.
   If you cannot find the item in the Task Manager, try right clicking on the program's icon at the bottom of the screen and selecting Close from the popup menu.
   When you try to end a task, if the program (task) pops up a message in response to you trying to force end it, you should not respond to it (in other words, do not click on the OK button of the message from the program).  If you do, the Task Manager will not force close it.  Instead you should wait and after about 10 seconds, the program will be shut down by the Task Manager.