Windows Task Manager processes, Identifying filenames Options

[Runnalls]

I have recently been getting into the habit of having Windows Task Manager visible (Say: Press Control Shift Escape) on my screen (or else minimised in the Taskbar), whilst using my computer. In my case, using my computer in any way means using DNS and VoiceCommands. This is a fascinating way of discovering how efficiently one's computer is working, and in particular showing how often (in my case very rarely) the CPU gets up the maximum, 100%. Under the processes tab, I can see that normally I have about 45 processes working. I can only identify a small number of these; most of them have filenames which are incomprehensible or difficult to identify. I would like to be able to identify most of these, to see if I can get rid of some of them, safely. Is there anywhere I can go to find out what is the real name of the programmes and processes which are indicated by these mysterious filenames. Some of them are easy to interpret, for example: NatSpeak.exe, but others are not so easy to understand. How can I find out the real identity of these programmes?

[John Wickett]

Graham,

You could pose this question to Microsoft who would probably tell you that any process that is not Microsoft based can be deleted. They are more than slightly proprietary.

I love telling the story of installing WordPerfect the first time on Windows XP. I received a pop-up message telling me that WordPerfect was unnecessary because Microsoft Word was already installed!

Perhaps if you posted a list of processes that are running we can give you an idea of what is not necessary; no promises.

John Wickett
Dictated with DNS Professional 8.1
John.Wickett@vac-acc.gc.ca
902-368-0141
JWickett@auracom.com
902-651-2152

[Runnalls]

John:

Thanks for the offer, but I have managed to solve my problem, or at least get the information I wanted. I simply typed some of the mysterious filenames into Google, and I was directed to several web sites which were called Process Libraries. These web sites were very informative. They gave the full title of the file, which enabled me to understand the abbreviated name of file, and, more importantly, they explained exactly what was the function of each of these executables. It also told me whether these executables could be disabled or not (nearly always not). The whole exercise was extremely eye opening for me. I had not realised how many executables there were. My system seemed to be using about 45, running in the background. But it is apparent from these libraries that there are hundreds -- possibly thousands -- all executables.

As a result of this exercise, I have learned a little more about computers. I certainly do not propose to disable any of the processes running in the background the my computer.

It also makes me realise how generous was your offer to try to help me out, given the vast number of processes in existence. I think it would have taken you a long time. Anyway, many thanks.

[John Wickett]

Graham,

I am glad to hear that you solved your problem.

>>It also makes me realise how generous was your offer to try to help me out, given the vast number of processes in existence. I think it would have taken you a long time. Anyway, many thanks.


No problem, we have had people post their dragon.log and Judy, I and others have spent a number of hours trying to discover the problem.

John Wickett
Dictated with DNS Professional 8.1
John.Wickett@vac-acc.gc.ca
902-368-0141
JWickett@auracom.com
902-651-2152

[DAS]

You might like a cool freeware program Process Explorer.

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

It is like a super Task Manger. A cool feature is that you can right click on any process and it will do a Google Search on that Process.

[Runnalls]

Many thanks for the suggestion. I will follow it up.