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It is possible to control how quickly windows automatically should end applications.

Windows can detect when an applications freezes if it don't respond within a specific time, then prompt user:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Control Panel \Desktop]
HungAppTimeout = "2500" (Default = 5000, Min = 1, Max = 65536)

Windows can be told to automatically close freezed applications without asking user first:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Control Panel \Desktop]
AutoEndTasks = "1" (Default = 0, Enable = 1, Disable = 0)

Windows can force close applications at shutdown which don't close within a specific time :

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Control Panel \Desktop]
WaitToKillAppTimeout = "10000" (Default = 20000, Min = 1, Max = 65536)

Note if lowering the timeout values too much, then it might lead to improper shutdown of the applications, which might lead to half-written/ invalid / faulty data that will keep the application from starting properly again.

More Info MS KB Q123058
More Info MS KB Q305788

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