How Do I Turn on Task Manager?
- The Task Manager in action.
To launch the Task Manager, right click anywhere on an empty area of the taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen), and click on Task Manager. Alternatively, you can also click on Task Manager after pressing the Ctrl, Alt and Delete keys on your keyboard simultaneously. - The primary use of the Task Manager is to see all of the processes (programs) that are running on your computer, along with how much of your computer's resources those programs are taking up. This is done by clicking on the Processes tab. Scroll down the list, paying attention to the CPU column; this column displays the percentage of your CPU's power devoted to running a particular process. If you see a process that is unresponsive or has your CPU usage pegged at or near 100 percent, you can close it by clicking on it, then clicking End Process. Bear in mind, however, that the System Idle Process shouldn't cause alarm; this number shows the percentage of your CPU's power that is not being used.
If you find a process that you think needs to be closed, research it online to determine what the process is and why it might be causing high CPU usage. You may find that the process is a virus, or simply a program that has an incompatibility with your computer and needs to be updated. If the process is a virus, simply ending it will not get rid of the virus; you will need anti-virus software to rid your computer of it permanently. - Process Explorer
If you are troubleshooting a computer issue, you may find that the Task Manager does not provide as much information as you need to diagnose the cause of the problem. A program called Process Explorer can help you drill down even further and discover what programs are being utilized by Windows Services. This can help you diagnose a faulty device driver that needs to be reinstalled. Process Explorer is a free program that can be downloaded from the Internet.
