CD27

In XP and Vista it allows me to press Ctrl+Alt+esc to directly access the task manager, and Ctrl+Alt+del in XP and other windows versions does the same, but for ME, when i see the Task Manager, it only shows me what PROGRAMS are currently running, NOT what background processes are running, the memory usage, and CPU usage, which also allows me the great ability to shut them down. ME doesn't allow this for me, i can't see anything. I have no options. More importantly, i need not only to access these background processes, but i need to stop them from loading up everytime the computer starts. My grandfather's computer, the one i'm working on, has the problem of getting very slow when it's got a decent amount of ram, processing speed, and disk space, and it's not running anything but Internet Explorer and AVG (there are NO viruses), so why is it going so slow? Help me get a hold of the background processes and shut them off.

Thanks!

CD

OldGrayGary

Hi CD27


Microsoft acquired SysInternals not so long ago, and continues to provide its utilities free-of-charge. Process Explorer works with all versions of Windows, from Win95/WinNt and newer --- http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb896653.aspx --- Have a look at it: I think you'll find it can do exactly what you are looking for.

You might also want to check the Bios settings - if these are off a bit, that could cause some slowing too. Check, too, that the system isn't overheating enough that the cpu isn't throttling down to save itself. Inspect the fans to see if any intermittent slowing is causing problems.

You could also run some quick memory and hard drive diagnostics, to make sure that data corruption from faulty hardware itsn't slowing things. Test the memory --- http://www.memtest.org --- and the hard drive --- http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[P.S. ... if none of this helps, there are other issues that can cause trouble - more than 512mb of memory, for example, or tangles of old drivers needing a little cleanup --- let us know if you need any more help later on]

CD27

Fantastic! Okay, so it works, i really like the Processor Explorer and i think i'll even consider getting it for my own computer later. I do want to ask one more thing, for future reference and usage, how do i set THIS new task manager as the default task manager that comes up when i press ctrl+alt+del? If it's not possible it's okay, i just want my grandpa, who's a little computer illiterate, to be able to do this the easiest way possible.

Thanks ALOT!

God Bless and In Him,

Eric

OldGrayGary

Hi again


I usually create a shortcut and copy it into the "System Tools" in "Accessories" on the "All Programs" menu in Windows Me. [To create the shortcut, simply right-click the "procexp.exe" main executable and select "Create Shortcut".

Once the program is started, you can tell it to replace the Windows-Me Task Manager --- by going to the Process Explorer's "Options" menu, and selecting "Replace Task Manager" [Grandpa can undo this if he wants to later on, by unselecting that same option].

Best of luck!
. . . Gary

CD27

i got it in there, but i don't see an option in Process Explorer's option tab that allows that. i can't find it.

God Bless and In Him,

Eric