Process Explorer, a key component of the Sysinternals Suite, emerges as a formidable alternative to the conventional Windows Task Manager. This tool not only enhances system monitoring but also offers advanced troubleshooting capabilities, providing users with a more profound understanding of active processes.
5 More Detailed Process Information
While Task Manager serves its purpose by displaying basic process names and resource usage, Process Explorer elevates the experience by revealing intricate details such as process paths and comprehensive descriptions. A simple double-click on any process unveils its file location, allowing users to inspect or delete unrecognized files effortlessly. Beyond this, Process Explorer showcases performance metrics, GPU graphs, and insights into threads and environmental variables, making it a robust tool for system diagnostics.
4 Detecting Malware and Suspicious Processes
Process Explorer goes beyond mere monitoring by integrating with VirusTotal, enabling users to scan any running process against over 70 antivirus engines. Accessing this feature is straightforward: navigate to Options, hover over VirusTotal.com, and select Check VirusTotal. This functionality not only assesses the health of your system but also allows users to identify potential security issues by examining the Security tab in the Properties menu of any process.
3 Real-Time CPU, GPU, RAM, and I/O Activity Monitoring
Although Task Manager has seen improvements, it still provides only basic statistics. In contrast, Process Explorer offers precise live graphs and in-depth system monitoring. Users can track disk read/write speeds, network usage, and system calls per process, even selecting specific engines for GPU usage calculations. This level of detail is invaluable for diagnosing high disk or memory usage and detecting memory leaks.
2 You Can Forcefully Kill Stubborn Processes
There are instances when Task Manager fails to terminate a process, leaving users frustrated. Process Explorer, however, excels in this area, offering options to not only kill a process but also terminate its entire process tree. Additionally, it allows users to restart or suspend processes, features that are notably absent from Task Manager.
1 Finding Which Process Is Using a Locked File
Encountering a locked file can be a common nuisance, often leading to unnecessary system restarts. Process Explorer simplifies this dilemma by allowing users to identify which processes are utilizing a specific file. By selecting Find and then Find Handle or DLL, users can search for the file name and discover all associated processes. This capability not only aids in file management but also empowers users to terminate processes that are preventing file access.
Process Explorer Is a Lot Better Than Task Manager
While some may argue that Task Manager boasts a more contemporary user interface, Process Explorer clearly outshines it with a wealth of features and detailed system insights. Designed specifically for troubleshooting, this SysInternals tool enhances users’ understanding of process interactions and resource sharing, making it an indispensable asset for anyone seeking to optimize their system’s performance.
