Skip to Content

Need a little good news today? We've got plenty!
AOL Tech

Posts with tag TaskManager

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Productivity, Freeware

Better Windows task management with MKN TaskExplorer


Windows' built in Task Manager is good enough to get by, but it's not really changed much since NT. If you're looking for a better alternative, MKN TaskExplorer is an option worth downloading.

The program window's default view provides a good amount of information without being overwhelming. Double clicking any task brings up a detailed view of its activity including CPU, memory, disk, and network utilization, handle, thread, and file information, and more.

Want to replace Task Manager with TaskExplorer? Hit the tools menu, click options, and check the box. It works like a charm, and launches just as quickly.

In addition to being able to terminate or pause, there's also an option to "page out" a selected process, forcing it out of physical memory. While there might not be many situations where this is necessary, it's still an interesting option to have at your disposal.

You can also launch standalone memory and performance monitors from Task Explorer. Both provide graphical and numerical information about your computer's activity. The Memory Monitor can perform automatic memory optimizations as well, either when your PC is idle or when the amount of free memory falls below a certain percentage. It works fairly well, and didn't destabilize my Windows XP Pro machine during testing.

TaskExplorer is freeware for Windows only.

Filed under: Security, Utilities, Windows, Commercial, Freeware

Task Manager Free Does Better Windows Process Management

Though Brad just covered a nice enhancement for the Windows Task Manager yesterday, I came across something that may make you forget all about using good ol' taskmgr.exe - even in tweaked form.

While I don't normally go for the "this app is free, but the paid version is better" thing, AnVir Task Manager Free really surprised me. It's got an insane number of useful features. Apart from performing the usual process monitoring chores, AnVir also packs integrated startup control (a la MSconfig) and service manager, and log viewer.

Click any process, and AnVir's bottom pane will display everything from an application's creator and signing authority to how many active internet connections it has. It'll also display a full list of DLLs and other files in use by the selected app.

Read more →

Filed under: Security, Utilities, Windows, Freeware

Winpatrol Puts You in Control of System Processes


Knowing what's going on inside your OS is critical to keeping it running smoothly. Sure, task manager and msconfig are built-in to Windows, but they're pretty minimalistic. For something with a little more punch, give Winpatrol a shot - we first looked at it in 2005, and it's bigger and better than ever.

Winpatrol offers a software "Swiss-army knife" of features for protecting and tuning your Windows system. Scotty (the app's mascot) keeps a watchful eye on process, services, startup programs, IE helpers, lmhosts, and a slew of others. It'll even lock your file associations and alert you to attempted changes to your hosts file. If you're interested in paying for the plus version, you'll get more detailed information on processes and tasks via a connection to an online database.

You can also use Winpatrol to help speed your Windows boot time a la msconfig - but not just by enabling and removing unwated startups. You can move and startup item to a delayed group, which allows apps that you want to give priority a little more elbow room when you boot your rig.

Anyone who's looking for tighter control over Windows performance or who wants a little extra virus or malware protection would do well to download Winpatrol. Scotty's definitely a nice addition to any Windows (32 and 64-bit) perimeter defense.

Filed under: Windows, Productivity, Microsoft, How-Tos, Troubleshooting

Simple Windows Task Manager tips

Task Manager no title barPower users on Windows will be very well acquainted with the Task Manager. This is the utility that can tell you how hard your CPU is working, what it's working on, what your memory usage is, or even how much network traffic your computer is currently using. But did you know that it has a "no titlebar" view?

If you want to leave your Task Manager showing on your desktop for a period of time, it can be nice to hide the title bar and gain that space for displaying more information. To do this, simply double-click on the empty area to the right of the tabs. Once it has switched views, you can switch back quickly by double-clicking anywhere on the border.

One bonus tip: If you're new to the Task Manager, you may not know that you can set it to minimize down to your system tray area. This is a really nice way to keep an eye on how hard your CPU is working at any time. Simply open Task Manager (Start > Run > type "taskman" and press Enter), and in the Options menu, check "Hide when minimized". Now when you minimize it, the Task Manager will show as a tiny bar graph in your system tray near your system time.

Filed under: Utilities, Windows Mobile, Freeware

Task Manager for Windows Mobile

Task Manager 2.6One of the most annoying things about Windows Mobile devices is that by default you can only close an application by clicking on the start menu, settings, system, memory, and then running programs tabs. Then you highlight an item and click stop. Whew. That's a 7 click solution.

While there are a number of programs out there that let you convert the X button in the upper right corner from "minimize" to "close," or give you a list of running programs to close, sometimes you just want more information. A whole lot more.

That's where Task Manager comes in. This program gives you pretty much everything you can get from the Windows task manager, and then some. Running processes, check. System devices, got it. Sort system process by CPU usage or RAM, check your IP configuration or you know, close active programs. There's also a registry editor packed in there.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that this is a free download? The only downside is you have to register for the buzzdev forums if you want to use the download link.

Filed under: Business, Developer, Utilities, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Productivity, Freeware

What To Do Next - local web app

What To Do NextLifehacker brings us a nugget from Davo, one of their avid readers, called What To Do Next. The idea behind the little application is extremely simple; it's written in javascript, and therefore will run on any platform. All it does is act as a front-end to a list of tasks that you would like to accomplish. Clicking on the button for one of the tasks starts a ten minute countdown timer (the time is configurable), after which an alarm sounds. The idea here is that ten minutes is short enough to feel approachable, so you may find that you can get started on a task that otherwise felt too large to tackle. Once the alarm goes off, if you're feeling like you're making good progress, just continue. But if you feel stuck or like you're spinning your wheels, the alarm is your escape - just choose a different task from your list and get to work.

I really enjoy the idea behind this application, but don't need yet another task manager to maintain. But that's okay, since really all I need is a 10 minute countdown timer and the resolve to actually tackle some of the items on my ever-growing task list in Outlook. But downloading and installing What To Do Next takes mere seconds, and if you don't have a to-do list, or aren't particularly fond of the one you're using, this might be a nice alternative.

Note that the source file containing the actual list of tasks is well laid-out and easy to follow, but if you're averse to editing text configuration files, you might want to give this one a pass.

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware

Process Explorer beats the pants off the Task Manager

Process Explorer
Did you know the Windows Task Manager doesn't show you the whole picture of system processes running on your machine? Of course you did, but finding an app that will give you this info on a silver platter and leave a mint on your pillow is a different story. That is presumably why you're smart enough to read Download Squad. Its because we bring you the good stuff to so this kind of thing, process exploring, baby. If you want detailed process info and the ability to kill processes to boot, go download Process Explorer from SysInternals (now Microsoft owned). Process Explorer goes quite good with Killbox, and works great for witch-hunting a notorious virus or spyware in the thickness of the dark jungle. Creepy.

Featured Time Waster

Forumwarz - a potentially offensive time waster

I pwn UAfter spending the better part of an hour on Forumwarz I still can't decide if it's just sick or if it's kind of fun. It's a bit like a car wreck on the highway. I know I shouldn't be looking but I can't quite turn away.

It's sick, it's twisted, it's the internet on it's worst level and darn it, it's kind of fun. At least for a little while.

Forumwarz is a parody role-playing game that takes place on the internet - or at least the Forumwarz version of it. Your goal is to complete missions that are given to you through a mock up of GoogleTalk called Sentrillion.

Your first "friend" is ShallowEsophagus who begins giving you missions to pwn various forums by being a troll. Depending on the character type you are assigned at start up, you have tools like drooling on the keyboard or bashing your head on the keyboard that you can use to destroy forum threads and eventually, pwn a forum.

Future missions involve buying illegal software from the Russians, pwning more difficult forums and other internet oddness.

Completing missions gives you cash, called Flezz in game, and items that you can pawn or use in other missions. The game is NOT for those easily offended. It's crass, coarse and there are frequent f-bombs in the fake chat sessions.

This is also a game for a more mature audience as it requires you to shop at the Drugs R Fun store to get various concoctions to improve your playing, engage in certain cyber activities to get more Flezz and just generally use a more adult perspective.

If you can get past that, here are the more enjoyable and time-wasting aspects.

View more Time Wasters

Featured Galleries

Defective by Design, London: Protest Pictures
Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals
Android First-look: Amazon.com MP3 Store
Android First-look: Twitroid
Google Reader Android
Android Hands-On
Twine 1.0
Photoshop Express Beta
SXSWi 2008 Schwag Unboxing
SXSWi 2008 Day 1
Mozilla Birthday Cake
Palm stuff
Adobe Lightroom 1.1

 


Follow us on Twitter!

Flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

BloggingStocks Tech Coverage

More Tech Coverage

Joystiq

TUAW

BloggingStocks

Autoblog

Xbox 360 Fanboy

Engadget

WOW Insider

Switched.com

FanHouse