Task Manager
From HowToGeek
Task Manager is an application in Windows that gives you detailed information about running processes, memory and cpu usage, network activity and users.
Contents |
Overview
You can launch task manager by using one of these methods:
Right-click the taskbar and select "Task Manager" - include screenshot here Use the Ctrl+Shift+Esc shortcut key combination. Use the Ctrl+Alt+Del shortcut key combination on Windows XP with the default settings.
Using Task Manager
Tiny Footprint Mode
You can put the Task Manager into what is known as Tiny Footprint Mode by double-clicking anywhere on the graphs in the performance tab, or the gray sidebar next to the tabs as shown below:
Once you are in Tiny Footprint Mode, the window will look something like this:
You can use the Ctrl+Tab shortcut key sequence to switch between the different tabs at this point. This can be a source of confusion if you are on the process tab and aren't sure how to get back to the normal mode.
You can double-click where you see the mouse pointer below, or you could Ctrl+Tab back to the performance graph and double-click anywhere.
Using the Processes Tab
The processes tab gives you access to the list of processes, and allows you to kill processes or raise/lower the priority of them.
Minimize to System Tray
You can also minimize Task manager to the system tray and use it as a CPU monitor.
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Differences with Administrator Mode in Vista
In Windows Vista, some of the capabilities are hidden behind a UAC prompt, and you will have to click the button to re-open the application in Administrator mode in order to see all of the running processes.
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History
Windows Vista added a bunch of new features to the task manager, including a new services tab, a column to view the full path of the process, and the separation of administrator and normal modes.
