How to Check the Processes in Task Manager

If your computer is running slowly, it may be due to one or more programs running in the background. Sometimes these are necessary processes and are programs you want running. In other cases, the slowdown is due to poorly designed software or malware. By opening and checking your Task Manager, you can identify what processes are running on your computer.

Instructions

1. Close all programs running on your computer. This will simplify the process list substantially and make the rest of your job much easier.

2. Press "Ctrl-Alt-Delete" simultaneously. This will bring up the Task Manager dialog box.

3. Select the "Processes" tab in the Task Manager. This will show a window with a list of all processes running on your computer at that time.

4. Make a list of the processes shown in the window, leaving out "svchost.exe", "explorer.exe", "System" and "System Idle Process." These are very common core Windows programs on most machines. There are other programs integral to different systems, but they will vary from computer to computer.

5. Open a search engine and enter a search for the full name of the first process on your list.

6. Read what comes up for the first one or two hits. This should confirm that the process is safe and what it does for your computer. It will also tell you if the process is related to malware or other harmful programs.

7. Use antivirus or spyware removal software to eliminate any harmful processes your search turns up.

References

• Microsoft Windows Support: Task Manager