Knas Restarter is a lightweight Windows utility designed to monitor running graphical user interface (GUI) applications and automatically reboot them if they crash, freeze, or unexpectedly close. It is specifically built for standard desktop applications that cannot natively run as background Windows services.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to configure and use the tool for automatic app reboots. Step 1: Select the Target Application
Before configuring the monitoring process, ensure the application you want to track is already running on your desktop. Launch Knas Restarter.
Click on the list of running processes within the main window. Select your target program and click Select.
The tool will automatically pull the program’s executable file path (.exe) and its active Process ID (PID) into the “Process to Monitor” field. Step 2: Configure the Actions & Trigger Parameters
Once the application is selected, navigate to the Actions pane to determine how Knas Restarter handles an unstable application:
Enable Restart: Check this box to guarantee the application reboots immediately if it shuts down or crashes.
Kill if Unresponsive: Check this box if your program is prone to “freezing” rather than cleanly crashing. This forces an unresponding app to close so it can be restarted fresh.
Optional Alerts: You can enable features like Warning Sound or Execute External Script to notify you or trigger a custom command line whenever a reboot occurs. Step 3: Set Up Restart & Window Adjustments
In the Restart Parameters pane, customize how the app behaves when it is forced to launch:
Startup Parameters: If your monitored app needs to open with specific command-line arguments (e.g., -multiInst or a specific file path), type them here.
Startup Window: Choose whether the rebooted application should open minimized, maximized, or in its default state.
Keep Restarter Minimized: Keeps the Knas Restarter interface tucked away in your system tray so it does not clutter your workspace. Step 4: Begin Monitoring
Click the Start button located in the bottom-right corner of the interface.
Knas Restarter will now monitor the application in the background. If the target program fails or is manually closed via Task Manager, Knas Restarter will catch the error and execute a reboot within seconds. Crucial Technical Considerations
GUI vs. Services: The developer designed this program strictly for “GUI” apps. If you want to automatically restart background system services, use the native Windows Services tool (Services.msc) via the Recovery tab instead.
Windows Startup Limitation: Knas Restarter requires a user to be actively logged into Windows to function. If the computer reboots completely, Knas Restarter will not launch until you log in, unless you configure your Windows account to auto-login or use a tool to wrap Restarter as a Windows service.
If you are setting this up, let me know what specific application you are trying to keep alive and whether it usually freezes or completely crashes, so I can help you dial in the exact timeout parameters. How to automatically restart a crashed app on Windows 10
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