Final answer:
To run a process in the background, you can use the ampersand symbol (&) in Unix-like operating systems, while in Windows you can run a program in the background by starting it from the command prompt and then closing the command prompt window. The asterisk symbol (*) is not used to run a process in the background.
Step-by-step explanation:
To run a process in the background, you can use the ampersand symbol (&) in Unix-like operating systems. For example, if you want to run a program named 'myprogram' in the background, you would type 'myprogram &'. This allows you to continue using the shell while the program is running in the background.
In Windows, you can run a program in the background by starting it from the command prompt and then closing the command prompt window. This will keep the program running in the background.
It is worth noting that the asterisk symbol (*) is not used to run a process in the background. Instead, the asterisk can be used as a wildcard character in file names or regular expressions.