Informative and free replacement for Task Manager (Process Explorer)

Member Name: frohmann

Product:	Process Explorer
Date:	23/05/08 (83 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lets you easily see what is running on your system and resources used.

Disadvantages: Basic users get less out of the software.

Process Explorer is, once again, a free application I have downloaded off www.download.com, one of CNET's websites. The purpose of this piece of software is give more information than the standard Windows Task Manager, and even to replace it if you so wish. The file on Download.com is 1.5MB, and with broadband only takes seconds to download. The programme is from Microsoft, although actually made by a company called Sysinternals that Microsoft 'swallowed'. On a side note there are a couple of other useful programmes available on their website. The programme is unfortunately not compatible with Vista but is fine with XP. It is hard to go into a huge amount of depth with this review for the simple reason:
* I am limited by my computer knowledge- Process Explorer has a lot of functions for advanced users that I won't even pretend to understand.
That does not sound like the basis for a recommendation, but it is a worthwhile and useful programme for intermediate users and I will explain why!

So what's the benefit to using the programme? Well, the first major difference I noticed is that when you load up Process Explorer you are shown everything that is currently loaded up on your computer (ie. all applications that may be idle in the background). Ever wondered why your computer is slow or your hard disk is working overtime and Task Manager shows no applications are running (I have)? Well, Process Explorer will show you- broken down into the programmes themselves. It really couldn't be clearer. I have often looked at Task Manager thinking which file (under processes) is linked to which programme and again Process Explorer tells you. You can even get further detail in the form of the dll files and threads that are linked to a particular programme- although to be honest we are moving into unfamiliar territory for me.

Process Explorer colour codes processes and also shows CPU usage, company name, version of the process, if it is verified and other information. One glance told me I had a file loading from software I wasn't using, yet was using resource anyway, so I uninstalled that software. It is easy to see if every process is one that you have loaded yourself and should be running, or you know nothing about ('own' applications are coloured purple) and hence enable you to identify possible spyware etc. You can even right click on anything and Google it to find out more information (although this was always manually possible before). A lot of software may be running in the background and slowing your system without you even realising- process explorer makes it easy to see this.

There is an option to replace Windows Task Manager with Process Explorer, and I have used that option as I believe it to be a far superior piece of software- it gives more information and allows you to delve into what processes are running on your system (if you are interested?!). I haven't *had* to use it that often because, touch wood, my system has been stable and running efficiently. But, it addresses many issues that I have had in the past when Task Manager has not been up to the job. It is definitely of more interest to advanced users though- the more advanced the more I think you can get out of it. Being an intermediate(ish) user myself, I have still found it useful, and can see that it is an excellent tool. Process Explorer is free and highly recommended, as behind a somewhat old school appearance is an up to date and useful programme.

Note: Comodo Firewall Pro (see my other review) also lets you see a list of active processes to let you know what is going on behind the scenes.


Websites:
homepage: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/de fault.aspx

Summary: Useful software, with more control & info than Windows Task Manager

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