how do i quickly close all programs that are open?

Here's an easy way..

Download Nircmd, www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html, put it into a safe spot.. C:\WINDOWS, now you can make a batch file e.g.

Code:

@echo off
cls
:Start
rem kill processes
start "" "C:\WINDOWS\nircmd.exe" nircmd.exe killprocess firefox.exe 
start "" "C:\WINDOWS\nircmd.exe" nircmd.exe killprocess iexplorer.exe
start "" "C:\WINDOWS\nircmd.exe" nircmd.exe win close class "CabinetWClass"
:End

It doesnt care where the program is located, so you can speficy, if you have zone alarm you want to close out, you would put zlclient.exe in replace of firefox, or if you want to close all ie windows iexplorer.exe

I shouldn't be giving all my secrects so easy
[edit] It can close open folders, and anything else specified.