CNET Editors' review
If you've ever tried tracking down a process in Windows Task Manager, you know it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Process Explorer makes the job a lot easier. This freeware utility displays running processes in an intuitive tree format that includes not only process names, but also program icons and other data, such as description, image, and processor time.
It also can identify the process for a given application window or look up a process name in Google--a handy way to spot spyware. The latest version, more than three years in the making, introduces several new features. You can now drill down into the multiple svchost processes and see what each one is controlling via mouse-over tooltip, learn which Internet Explorer 8 process controls which tab, and a new .NET assembly information tab under Properties for assistance in .NET troubleshooting.
Additional features offer detailed information on performance, DLLs, threads, handles, TCP/IP connections, security settings, and environments. Despite its lack of visual polish, Process Explorer is one of the best Task Manager replacements we've seen.
Publisher's Description
From Microsoft:
Process Explorer is an advanced process management utility that picks up where Task Manager leaves off. It will show you detailed information about a process including its icon, command-line, full image path, memory statistics, user account, security attributes, and more. When you zoom in on a particular process you can list the DLLs it has loaded or the operating system resource handles it has open. The top always shows a list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, whereas the information displayed in the bottom window, which you can close, depends on the mode that Process Explorer is in if it is in handle mode you will see the handles that the process selected in the top window has opened, if Process Explorer is in DLL mode you will see the DLLs and memory-mapped files that the process has loaded.
What's new in this version: Version 15.3 includes heat-map display for process CPU, private bytes, working set and GPU columns, and sortable security groups in the process properties security page.
More Products to Consider
- Get detailed info about which handles and DLL processes are ope...Download
Installed
Smart Install - See what programs are configured to start up automatically when...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Monitor Windows file system activity, registry operations, and ...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Tune up and maintain your PC, clean registry easily.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Clean up junk files and invalid Registry entries.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Take full control over RAR and ZIP archives, along with unpacki...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Get the whole details of all TCP and UDP endpoints on your syst...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Fix, speed up, maintain, and protect your PC.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Update PC drivers automatically using cloud technology.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Take full control over RAR and ZIP archives, along with unpacki...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Move, resize, copy, explore, and recover hard disk drive partit...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Manage your paid projects without advanced scheduling.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Copy files and manage your files on PC.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Configure and manage disk partitions, move, resize, copy and re...Download
Installed
Smart Install - List registry and system API discrepancies indicating presence ...Download
This download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
Installed
Smart Install - Distinguish and capture text on your screen.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Find and fix incorrect or obsolete information in the Windows r...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Manage and synchronize files automatically between multiple com...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Manage and view your favorite photos.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Keep your PC in tiptop shape and at peak performance.Download
Installed
Smart Install - View free physical memory on system tray and on screen.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Download and update all your Windows drivers, back them up and ...Download
Installed
Smart Install
-
All versions:
4.2 starsout of 523 votes
-
Current version:
3.0 starsout of 2 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-2 of 2
-
"what the heck happened?"
Version: Process Explorer 15.3
Pros
lots of dull colored lines and organization and info and stuff.
Cons
taskmanager is G-O-N-E that means no more CTRL/ALT/DEL to kill a malfunctioning program; no more quick look at the processes, no cute little graphs of processors...
And task manager is g-o-n-e if you doubleclick it it reports as MISSING!Summary
I must be missing something here - oh yes, TASKMANAGER!
-
"A must have..."
Version: Process Explorer 15.3
Pros
Everything is Pros and there are no Cons. Replaces and greatly enhances the information provided by Task Manager (and much more). Simple and lightweight, just set it as a Startup item.
Cons
There are no cons.
Summary
A must have for every experienced/power user.
Results 1-2 of 2
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:



