Process Explorer
| Process Explorer | |
 Process Explorer v10.21 running in Windows XP |
|
| Developer: | Sysinternals |
|---|---|
| Latest release: | 11.02 / September 14, 2007 |
| OS: | Windows 9x, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista and x64 versions |
| License: | Proprietary |
| Website: | microsoft.com |
Process Explorer is a freeware computer program for Microsoft Windows created by Sysinternals, which was acquired by Microsoft Corporation.
Process Explorer is a system monitoring and examination utility, similar to a souped-up version of Task Manager[citation needed], and often can be used as the first step in debugging software or system problems when in the hands of an experienced software engineer.
Process Explorer provides many unique[citation needed] features that can be used to empower the user of the product to track down problems. For example, it provides a means to list or search for named resources that are held by a process or all processes. This can be used to track down what is holding a file open and preventing its use by another program. Or as another example, it can show the command lines used to start a program, allowing otherwise identical processes to be distinguished. Or like Task Manager, it can show a process that is maxing out the CPU, but unlike Task Manager it can show which thread (with the callstack) is using the CPU information that is not even available under a debugger.
Process Explorer works on Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista. It also works on 64-bit versions of Windows.
Versions
- 11.0 - Sep 04 2007 - Various changes, search uses system default engine instead of MSN
- 10.21 - Nov 01 2006 - Removed ability to search for processes using Google - now uses MSN search engine only. License changed to prohibit certain uses (e.g. commercial use).
- 10.2 - Jul 14 2006 - Final version prior to acquisition by Microsoft. Added Vista integrity level and virtualized columns and process properties, signed driver for 64-bit Vista for x64 processors
- 10.1 - May 11 2006 - Added ability to display I/O graph within the system tray, vista process cycle counters in process properties and as column, service permissions viewing and editing, workaround for .NET runtime handle leak, many new I/O columns and process properties, system and per-process I/O bytes history graphs, memory commit history minigraph, windows 64-bit for Itanium support
- 10.06 - Feb 23 2006
- 10.03 - Feb 09 2006
- 9.25 - Aug 23 2005
- 9.0 - Feb 09 2005
- 8.61 - Dec 22 2004
- 8.0 - Oct 25 2003 -
- .NET tab for .NET processes that shows AppDomains and .NET performance counters.
- Option to only show your own processes. System Information dialog showing the same memory counters as Task Manager (when symbols are configured, also shows maximum paged and nonpaged pool values).
- Better symbol configuration guidance. Difference highlight duration is configurable.
- Tray icon for CPU usage that s yellow when usage is > 70% and red when > 90%.
- Minimize-to-tray option. Highlight color configuration dialog. Context switch and context-switch delta columns.
- Run processes using the system Run dialog from the File menu.
- Replace task manager option so that when you run Task Manager Process Explorer runs instead.
- Only non-zero CPU usage, .NET counters and context-switch values are displayed to clearly highlight process activity.
- Search for DLLs or handles regardless of what mode the lower pane is in.
- Correct icons for MMC windows.
- Mouse hover over process names and DLL names shows full path of executable or DLL.
- 7.02 - Sep 14 2003
Features
- Hierarchical view of processes.
- Ability to display icon and company name next to each process.
- Live CPU activity graph in the task bar.
- Ability to Suspend selected process.
- Complete Process Tree can be killed.
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
