As soon as you first open Process Explorer, there is much information to take in. The top window displays an ongoing list of processes arranged hierarchically and alphabetically – providing plenty of new insights!
IT professionals can also access detailed information about specific processes, such as icons, command line parameters, full image paths, memory statistics and security attributes.
Real-time system monitoring
System monitoring features include a real-time activity log that displays information regarding CPU, memory and disk use over time as well as graphs of activity over time, providing insight into which processes are using up the most resources on your system. You can also view details about network activities and TCP/IP connections. Process Explorer also allows you to set priorities, terminate or suspend individual processes as well as search functionality that enables you to locate running processes and DLLs loaded into memory.
Process Explorer is a straightforward app you can easily download for free from Sysinternals, making it ideal for monitoring activity on your computer. Running it creates a log file containing information about all processes and threads active on the system as well as customized file settings so that you can see exactly the data that interests you.
Once the program has been opened, a window will display all processes on your system along with their CPU activity and performance monitor data, which you can double-click to expand further. Furthermore, you have the option of replacing Windows Task Manager with Process Explorer should any applications or DLL files become problematic or you need further insight.
This tool automatically removes sensitive arguments from live process lists, making it safer than Windows Task Manager. Furthermore, this program features two helpful modes – “handle” mode which provides information on opened handles by a selected process; DLL mode displays DLLs loaded by it.
This application’s best feature is its ability to locate sources of malware such as Trojans and keyloggers by revealing which functions they call. Furthermore, it can detect which threads within a process are using up most CPU resources, so you can identify possible performance issues. Furthermore, TCP/IP connections opened by any process can help pinpoint potential threats communicating with their master.
Easy process management
Process Explorer is part of Sysinternals’ suite of Windows tools and is an advanced replacement for the traditional Task Manager. It is extremely user-friendly and provides much more information than its predecessor – you can see detailed information on any process, monitor CPU usage in real time, or kill processes by right-clicking them directly.
At first glance, Process Monitor displays a hierarchical tree view of all processes using memory, with mini activity graphs in the top-right corner of each window. Other tabs offer detailed information for specific processes; there’s even an advanced search function which lets you look up handles opened or DLL files loaded.
Process Explorer can also detect suspicious-looking processes and quickly determine whether or not they contain malware. It provides color-coding classifications to indicate each process’s status: processes just starting up are shown with bright green hues while those running as individual user accounts or services are marked light blueish in hue.
If a process has been infected, it will be highlighted in red. There’s also a column for memory usage which can help when troubleshooting issues. And you can quickly export a list for one or more processes by either clicking the “Save As” icon in the lower pane (processes) or pressing Ctrl+S. This makes sharing details of an individual process easy!
Process Explorer features another handy feature called VirusTotal that can help detect suspicious-looking processes for malware and other threats. While not entirely foolproof, VirusTotal provides a great extra measure of caution that can be downloaded individually from Microsoft TechNet or as part of Sysinternals suite – though note that administrative privileges will be needed for it to function fully.
Advanced search functionality
From a power user standpoint, the task manager included with Windows is rather disorganized. It displays processes as an unwieldy list which can be difficult to navigate; while it provides information about each process individually, details remain limited.
Process Explorer offers several advanced features that are helpful when troubleshooting or optimizing your system, including showing command lines used to start programs allowing otherwise identical processes to be differentiated; searching for named resources such as handles opened or DLLs loaded; this can also help identify any file conflicts which arise during troubleshooting sessions.
Process Explorer can also be set to minimize into a tray with monitors for CPU, I/O, disk, network and GPU usage so you can see exactly how your system is being utilized and resolve any performance or compatibility issues quickly and efficiently. Furthermore, you can use it to kill any process or program with one click!
Process Explorer is an indispensable tool that should be included in every tech enthusiast’s toolbox for troubleshooting purposes. While not as powerful as Microsoft Sysinternals’ suite of tools, Process Explorer provides invaluable insight into running programs.
Because it is free and available as a single executable file, Sysinternals Toolbox can easily be transported on a flash drive for use as a replacement task manager on any computer. How often it replaces its standard app depends on your need to troubleshoot, but regardless of this fact it remains one of the best tools of its kind – check it out by downloading its latest version from Microsoft website, then read Mark Russinovich’s book entitled Troubleshooting with Windows Sysinternals Tools” for even further insight and additional knowledge regarding its features and capabilities.
Free and easy to use
This program is freely available for Windows operating systems since 98 including Vista. With its unique user-friendly design, this tool makes identifying malware or determining why certain files are taking up so much space easy.
This software gives you access to information not available through Windows Task Manager, allowing you to view exactly which processes are running on your computer and giving you more insight than is provided through it. It can also be used to kill processes, change properties and monitor CPU activity – potentially replacing it entirely if desired! It features updated looks and more features compared to earlier versions; plus includes a live CPU graph visible in your task bar that breaks down your system resources into memory, disk, network and CPU resources.
Another useful feature is being able to determine what files and folders are locked by particular processes, which is particularly handy when working with files which give errors when trying to open or save them due to being used by another process. Furthermore, this program can reveal which processes have particular handles opened or DLLs loaded – useful when trying to access one and getting errors that say the file or folder you’re trying to work with has already been taken over by someone else!
This application offers more comprehensive information about running programs and their libraries than the standard Windows Task Manager, providing details such as temporary folder locations, auto start locations and resource usage to help identify what may be causing performance issues on your PC.
One of the key features is its ability to detect viruses. This feature was introduced with Version 16 and integrates VirusTotal directly into its interface – saving time by not needing to leave the program and check suspicious processes against antiviral databases.
This application also comes equipped with an intuitive search function, making it simple to pinpoint any process running on your computer or within complex groups of processes. This can help prevent accidentally killing essential system programs or opening malicious files by accident; alternatively, it could unlock files being used by other programs so you can remove or move them as required.
