| The desktop of your PC is deceptive. What appears | | | | start up your PC each program on that list will install |
| to you to be a serene, well organized environment is | | | | itself into your computer's memory whether you are |
| merely a mask hiding the chaotic dance of dozens of | | | | going to use it or not. Needless to say, these programs |
| processes simultaneously running in the background. | | | | are merely wasting your system's resources when not |
| Most of these are essential to your PC's operation, | | | | in use and could be stopped without any adverse |
| some are unnecessary and simply wasting your | | | | effect on your PC's operation. |
| system's resources, but a few could be malicious | | | | Occasionally, despite having the latest firewall or the |
| applications. Protecting your PC from viruses, spyware | | | | most up-to-date antivirus software a malicious |
| and other unwanted programs requires more than just | | | | application finds its way on to your PC. Since the list of |
| having the latest firewall or the most up-to-date | | | | processes found in Task Manager is quite cryptic, and |
| antivirus software. To protect your computer, data and | | | | it's not exactly practical to commit to memory every |
| personal information, you need to know exactly | | | | legitimate process running on your PC, being able to |
| windows processes is running on your PC. | | | | determine the nature of each process is essential to |
| The first step is to look at all the processes currently | | | | the efficiency and security of your PC. |
| running. You do this through the Processes tab in Task | | | | Finding out what each process is and how important it |
| Manager. If you are running Windows XP, | | | | is to your PC's operation isn't as daunting of a task as |
| simultaneously press Ctrl-Alt-Del, or right-click the task | | | | it might seem at first. You can enter the name a |
| bar at the bottom of the screen to open the Task | | | | process into your favorite search engine to find out |
| Manager. In Windows Vista you can either | | | | that it does, or there are websites that can provide |
| simultaneously press Ctrl-Shift-Esc, or right-click the | | | | you with information about the processes, such as |
| task bar at the bottom of the screen. | | | | whether they're friend or foe, or if they're critical or if |
| You now find yourself presented with a long, and | | | | they're just wasting your system's resources. |
| rather cryptic, list of every application currently utilizing | | | | |
| your processor, as well as, how much of the | | | | Windows 7 Task Manager Processes |
| processor each is using. Some processes you may be | | | | The Windows 7 task manager has undergone some |
| able to readily decipher because they directly relate to | | | | major renovations. In this article, we'll look at the |
| a program that you are running at the time, such as | | | | Processes tab. The processes tab displays a list of all |
| iexplore.exe (Internet Explorer), WINWORD.exe | | | | processes - not jut programs - running under Windows |
| (Microsoft Word), or TASKMGR.exe (Task Manager). | | | | 7. Every program has at least one process, |
| Most, however, will not be so obvious. For example, | | | | sometimes more. The operating system has several |
| you will see svchost.exe with multiple entries on the list | | | | processes running. Background programs show up |
| and, consequently, occupying a lot of your processing | | | | here as well. |
| power. You might wonder if this application is truly | | | | A good example of a background program is a third |
| necessary and what effect ending the process will | | | | party anti-virus software. In order to protect Windows |
| have on your system. (Actually, svchost.exe is the part | | | | 7 from a variety of threats, such software must be |
| of the Windows Operating System that handles | | | | running all the time, monitoring program activities and |
| processes executed from DLL's and is very important | | | | network access to make sure that everything is |
| for the stable and secure running of your PC.) | | | | behaving itself. This shows up as a process in the task |
| Not all applications on the list are necessary. When you | | | | manager, often an obscurely named one. The task |
| install software on your computer, the program will | | | | manager is full of obscurely named tasks. |
| usually set itself up in your startup list. Every time you | | | | |