With a small registry tweak, Windows XP can be set to automatically close any program that 'stops responding' (crashes), eliminating the need for you to use the task manager to close down the offending software manually.

Steps:
Open REGEDIT and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\ Desktop
Modify the REG_SZ entry AutoEndTasks with a value of 1

Note:
Without having much knowledge in Registry Editor Dont try. Before editing registry take a back up.
Back Up Registry:
Start --> Run
Regedit
File --> Export
And export the registry to the safe place.