All Windows versions since Windows 95 have included the Task Manager utility. Easily evoked by the Ctrl Alt Del keyboard combination it allows users to see the programs that their computer is running along with some information about each task. However the information offered is minimal and the control options provided are few.
This is the reason why many third-party alternatives to Windows Task Manager have emerged. Typically such products show all the running process and services not just some and provide more information about each along with better control.
From years the power user choice has been Process Explorer [1] from Mark Russinovich at SysInternals. With the recent acquisition of the SysInternals by Microsoft, Process Explorer has been further enhanced yet remains free to all users.
Process Explorer uses two vertical panes. The top contains all active processes while the second shows either all the handles opened by a selected process and, optionally, a list of DLLs and memory mapped files for each process in the lower pane. A very handy search feature allows you to work backwards from named DLLs or handles to the owning process. The feature list is almost endless though only a few will ever be used by average users. From the V10 release adds even more features including a faster refresh rate. The current version 11.04 is an astonishing product and a freeware gem.
The only problem with Process Explorer is that it provides too much information. While welcomed by technical users the sheer volume of data and display options can easily overwhelm average users.
Average users are better served by another product called What's Running [2]. Although a little slow to start-up it has some attractive features:
First, processes are shown in a tree rather than a list, a representation that makes the parent and child relationship crystal clear.
Second, What's Running doesn't only show processes; it also displays, in separate tabs, running services, dlls, drivers, IP connections, startup programs and system information. The startup tabs and IP tabs are of particular interest as they are of sufficient quality that you don't need separate dedicated applications to provide this information.
For many users What's Running will provides all they need from a task manager. The inclusion of a startup program manager and internet connection viewer within the same package makes What's Running a most attractive option.
[1] Process Explorer
Website: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx
Download link: http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/ProcessExplorer.zip
Auhtor: Microsoft
Current version: 11.04
Version date: November 5, 2007
Download file size: 1.6MB
License: Freeware Microsoft EULA
Operating systems supported: Windows 9x/ME, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit version available: yes, for x64 and IA64 processors
Portable version available: stand alone executable
Non-English Languages supported: None
Other relevant information: None
[2] What's Running
Website: http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx
Download link: http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/download.aspx
Auhtor: Christer Fahlgren
Current version: 2.2
Version date: April 16, 2006
Download file size: 1.1MB
License: Free for non-commercial use
Operating systems supported: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit version available: No
Portable version available: No
Non-English Languages supported: None
Other relevant information: None