What Is the PID in Task Manager?
The Process ID (PID) is one of the more significant process trackers in the Task Manager because it adds the element of timing to the troubleshooting process.
In situations where time can signify cause, it is a central and highly important tool in Windows computer troubleshooting.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
The PID is the process identifier---the number that identifies the order in which processes are spawned from the Windows kernel, with one being the primary process and higher numbers being the latest or more recent processes.
Significance
-
The PID is significant because it is the best way of determining when a process was spawned on a Windows system. This is very helpful when troubleshooting an error situation on a PC. The kind of errors that are facilitated by diagnosis using this tool are varied, but you will definitely find this useful for checking a process that has just started, after the beginning of a normal Windows session.
-
Considerations
-
A Windows computer is running normally. Everything is working fine. Suddenly, the machine starts to run very slowly. What can be done to understand why it is running very slowly after working normally? The PID in the Task Manager indicates which tasks or processes started at what point. Clicking the PID column-head twice will bring the latest process to the top of the column. Whereas this is not a foolproof method of pointing directly at the trouble, it will narrow down the areas that should be investigated further.
History
-
The PID can be viewed in the Task Manager from Windows version 7, Windows Server 2003, Vista and all the way back to Windows 95.
Method
-
To start Task Manager, you can right-click on an empty place on the Windows Taskbar and choose "Task Manager" or you can press [CTRL]+[ALT]+[DEL], which will bring up the Windows Task Manager directly in Windows XP (and which will require choosing it in Windows Vista or Windows 7). Once Task Manager is open, you need to make sure that the PID column (under "View" and "Select Columns") is selected. Also, make sure you have the "Show processes from all users" checked at the bottom.
You can optionally download Process QuickLink Infobar software to show what the processes running on your computer are actually doing (see Resources below). This identifies the process and takes you to a website that tells you what the process does. You can soon single out processes that are legitimate and those that are up to no good.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit All images and Screen Shots by Steve Tuffill
