Why I Switched from Windows Task Manager to This Superior Free Alternative

The built-in Windows Task Manager is quite effective for monitoring your computer’s performance, diagnosing unresponsive applications, and handling startup programs. While it excels in providing quick insights, it falls short when you’re looking for in-depth analysis to optimize your system further or resolve more complex issues. This is where an advanced tool known as Process Explorer proves invaluable.

Process Explorer, which is developed and regularly updated by Microsoft, was initially created by Sysinternals—an organization that became part of Microsoft. This powerful application offers users the ability to gain detailed insights into the processes running on their machines, eliminating the need for third-party apps. Although its robust features are often favored by technical experts, many casual users like myself can find its advanced functionalities convenient for daily tasks.

What is Process Explorer?

An Enhanced Windows Task Manager

Process Explorer serves as an advanced task manager that provides a deeper look at running processes, including their threads, DLLs, handles, TCP connections, and environment variables. Additionally, it delivers a wealth of system usage data encompassing CPU, memory, disk I/O, network activity, and GPU performance. You can easily download this lightweight tool for free from the Microsoft website.

Navigating Process Explorer

Overcoming Initial Complexity

When launching Process Explorer for the first time, some users may feel daunted by its comprehensive and intricate tree-like interface. This layout effectively illustrates the hierarchy between processes, with parent processes positioned atop their respective subprocesses.

Next to each process, various columns display pertinent information. For instance, the CPU column indicates the resources consumed by that process, Private Bytes reveals the memory specifically allocated to the process (unshared with others), and Working Set reflects the memory actively utilized, including shared resources. The interface also allows for easy customization by adding columns like Username and Window Status for additional context.

Another noteworthy feature is the color-coding system for processes. Below is a summary of the most common colors and their representations:

Color	Meaning
Green	New process
Grey	Suspended process
Cyan	Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps
Pink	Protected process with restricted access
Yellow	.NET process

Process Explorer further provides a system overview through its various tabs—such as CPU, GPU, and Memory—allowing users to gauge resource utilization akin to the Performance tab in Task Manager.

Utilizing Process Explorer in My Routine

Filling the Gaps of the Default Task Manager

Replacing the Task Manager with Process Explorer

Although Process Explorer is a sophisticated tool, it has become my go-to for everyday tasks, effectively acting as my default task manager for effortless access.

Exploring Process Relationships

As previously discussed, Process Explorer excels in revealing the relationships among various processes through its hierarchical representation. This feature allows me to quickly identify parent processes by double-clicking on a task and checking the details under the Image tab for the Parent process.

Moreover, the color-coded system provides immediate visualization feedback about the type of process in question. While there are more color-coding options available, I prefer to keep it simple by selecting only those that are most useful to me. The customization extends to adjusting the colors for specific process types as well.

Additionally, Process Explorer includes a lower pane that displays detailed information about handles (like files and registry keys), threads, and DLL files associated with each process. While terminating threads or handles is possible within this section, I would advise caution for average users like myself.

Identifying Potential Threats

The tree view in Process Explorer simplifies the identification of unusual processes, particularly those that might masquerade as legitimate applications. Additionally, it integrates with VirusTotal, a Google service that scans files for malware across numerous antivirus platforms. By right-clicking a given process, you can seamlessly add a VirusTotal column to see its scan results.

A score of 0/77 signifies that VirusTotal examined 77 antivirus engines and found no threats. Moreover, the score serves as a hyperlink leading to an extensive online report for further investigation at no cost.

Unlocking Locked Files

Finding a process through search in Process Explorer

There are moments when deleting or closing a file becomes a challenge due to it being locked by a specific process. Process Explorer simplifies the search. Using the search feature (Ctrl + Shift + F), you can input the name of the file or folder and locate the corresponding process. Once identified, select the process to highlight it in the tree, enabling you to terminate its operation if needed. However, proceed with caution and only do this when you are certain the process isn’t essential.

The Role of Task Manager in Everyday Use

For those new to these tools, the Windows Task Manager remains a more approachable option for conducting quick system checks and managing startup items.

If you’re ready to transition completely from Task Manager, consider using Autoruns, another utility from Sysinternals. This tool offers advanced options for managing applications that launch during your system’s boot-up process.

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