Process Explorer - Windows Task Manager on Steriods

Windows Task Manager is a useful utility for troubleshooting system problems as well as monitoring overall system health and performance. However when dealing with particularly elusive issues, the statistics Task Manager shows sometimes just aren’t enough.

For instance, if you’ve looked in Task Manager before you’ve probably noticed five or six processes running simultaneously as “svchost.exe”. Because Task Manager doesn’t give you any more detailed information, it’s hard to tell what distinguishes these seemingly identical processes.

By using a freeware tool Process Explorer you can investigate each process running on your system, down to the command line that started the thread. Linux/Unix users familiar with the “lsof” command understand its usefulness for tracking down open files and troubleshooting process dead-locks. Process Explorer brings this troubleshooting technique to the Windows desktop as well.

The next time you’re wonder what xyz.exe is doing running on your computer, use Process Explorer to really find out.

SCREENSHOTS

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