Comments for Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

Comment from Doug on 2009-08-04

2009-08-04T15:54:27Z

I was looking at FileMon at MS and they had this the following note. Is there still a reason to use FileMon?

Note: FileMon and Regmon have been replaced by Process Monitor on versions of Windows starting with Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2003 SP1, and Windows Vista. Filemon and Regmon remain for legacy operating system support, including Windows 9x.

I think it boils down to preference: Process Monitor can do everything File Monitor could.

05-Aug-2009

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A comment on: Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

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Comment from Tom on 2009-04-24

2009-04-24T20:08:02Z

Hello Leo and all -

I have the same problem that Bruce and K.reg Cees have had above - constant red led, constant disk activity, no respose from mouse, Task Manager, not able to gain control of any processes or programs. Problem is, I have had Process Explorer(boot) running and it shows +-98% inactive!!! I am unable to see what is causing me the problem (using Admin. Tools Events etc. when I look at various categories).

Obviously something appears to be running outside of Windows XP Pro SP.3. Unfortunately I am unable to find and DESTROY it. I have Norton IS 2009(boot), along with Webroot Spy Sweeper and AV (both up to date and loaded at boot). I also have a NAT router with MAC ID active. I use the automatic UPDATE feature for Windows. All my tools and geek programs (I am proud to be called a geek :) show that I am 100% free of any nasties, and that my machine is sitting there doing NOTHING - which is obviously not true. I am also loosing more and more control on each use of my machine.

I will likely be forced to format C and reload Win. However, I will wait to do this until I can find out what is causing this (haunted?) behavior. Otherwise, I would think whatever this is, will again reInfect my computer and all my hard work will be for nothing.

Any help or directions would be greatly appreciated as I am now at a complete loss as to what to do, where to go look for help, and or what additional protection I should use or buy. I now have one computer owned by someone else. Another one going down this same path and this machine with little or nothing on it beside Windows, and various anti- programs and processes I have in place waiting for whatever to rear its ugly little face.

Thanks ahead of time for your help. I also am sorry for my rambling message - as I am afraid I am loosing my mind.

Tom

What process explorer is showing you is that the CPU is 98% inactive, which makes sense ... the CPU is not required much for disk access.

Use Process Explorer to look at things like I/O Bytes, or Virtual Size and you may get more information.

- Leo
25-Apr-2009

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A comment on: Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

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Comment from Bruce Watson on 2009-04-15

2009-04-16T00:30:43Z

I, too, use Process Explorer and have it set to auto start at boot up. I found that, for some reason, one of my HP printer services (using svchost.exe) consumes upto 99% of my CPU at the end of the boot up. The ONLY resolution is to Kill the process (sometimes it restarts and needs to be killed two or three times before it gives up!). This process cannot be stopped with Task Manager. Without the autoload of PE at startup, my PC just hangs, useless, forcing a power off to restart. PE takes care of that painlessly. A great tool to have running all the time.

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A comment on: Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

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Comment from Ivy on 2009-03-03

2009-03-03T23:25:19Z

Thanks Leo for the great article :)

You can replace the Task Manager by Process Explorer by clicking Options -> Replace Task Manager. There's no need to delete the task manager :) When you want to run Process Explorer you can press Ctrl + Shift + Esc

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A comment on: Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

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Comment from Dave on 2008-10-28

2008-10-28T18:05:46Z

Pocessor Explorer appears to be a very interesting program/application. I am certainly going to try it. Since subscribing to your subject material, I have picked a good few Tricks and Tips. Keep-up the good work, Leo, and thanks.

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A comment on: Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Jon on 2008-09-03

2008-09-03T19:35:06Z

I guess this makes me a geek as well, (actually, i will proudly call myself a geek if asked) because i too like to see exactly what my computer's doing (especially if whatever its doing is causing errors or *gasp* the blue screen of death comes up) Kudos to you for pointing out Process Explorer to the average user, who may not realize the value of having such a tool immediately.

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A comment on: Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

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Comment from Cees Zwijnenburg on 2008-08-28

2008-08-29T00:23:26Z

Hi Leo,

A short reaction and question from Netherlands, where you must have many relatives. I agree with your recommendations of Process explorer. A lot of the activities of the machine can be clarified by it. I say a lot and not all because it does not help me to understand why sometimes when my disk activity led is constantly red and my machine does not react on keystrokes, mouse movements etc. Then it seems it has started a business for itself and is not bothered by what I want. If the Led activity is caused by disk usage it isn't explained by the processes that are running at that time and don't seem to be Heavy users. Do you know of a monitor program that reports in real time which processes, files are causing these heavy disk activities?

K.reg Cees

Check out FileMon by the same folks who did Process Monitor.

-Leo

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A comment on: Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

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Comment from norm on 2008-08-28

2008-08-28T21:36:30Z

Thanx for the good advice; I've gone and downloaded Process Explorer and noticed that you have yours installed as auto start and would like to do the same.If you think this is advisable for an ameteur to attempt such a task,feel free to say; also,do you recommend deleting Task Manager or would I still use it for anything?Thanx again for the tip!

You can set up process explorer to run automatically simply by adding a shortcut to the Programs or All Programs, Startup menu. Shortcuts placed there are automatically started when you login. That's all I did.

Task manager cannot and should not be deleted. If nothing else Windows will get upset and try to restore it, annoy you about it, and so on.

-Leo

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A comment on: Process Explorer - A Free Powerful Replacement for Windows Task Manager

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.