Activ for Windows

This very helpful tool tracks select system activity, but is best left to experienced users. Activ lacks an interface. The app is a behind-the-scenes monitoring tool that outputs information to a debugger utility. Installation is easy enough for a novice user, but only those happy with editing the Registry will want to operate this app.

Activ monitors select Registry changes, process creation and deletions, image loading, file opening, creating, deleting, reading, writing, and renaming. Without a graphic interface, the only method to operate Activ is by changing Registry settings. The installation file adds seven Registry entries. To enable Activ to monitor an item you merely set the appropriate Registry entry to one. Entering zero will stop monitoring.

Setting Activ is the easy part of the app. It takes an experienced user to understand the information Activ sends to the debugger utility. An Activ user also must know how to start and stop processes. Any user with those skills and a need to monitor system activity will want to use this freeware tool.