Windows Task Manager, now simply known as Task Manager, is a super bundle of goodies System Monitor, Startup Manager usually found in the Windows operating system. It displays loads of information about the computer’s performance, the software currently being processed, the name of running processes, CPU load, I/O details, logged-in users, and Windows services.
It has been available since the 24th of August 1996 on NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 and has so much upgraded since then; it’s now much of a helper since the existence of Windows 10.
Launching The Windows Task Manager
There are several ways of launching the Task Manager.
- CTRL+SHIFT+ESC: On your keyboard, hold down the buttons simultaneously, and you get the Windows Task Manager.
- CTRL+ALT+ESC: This option first shows you a blue screen then you select Task Manager.
- CTRL+X: This gives you a variety of options to choose from, but since we’re concerned with the Task Manager, simply press T on your keyboard, and you’ll still get to it.
- Windows Key+R: This brings up the Run tab, now type in taskmgr.exe and Bob’s Your Uncle.
Windows Key+R
Upon successfully opening the Windows Task Manager, you’ll see 7 different tabs, namely:
- Processes,
- Performance,
- App History,
- Startup,
- Users,
- Details,
Now I’ll take you by hand and walk through the explanation of each tab.
Processes Tab: Microsoft had Applications tab & Processes tab as separate entities. But from Windows 8, Microsoft combined both Applications and Processes tab, that’s why you can’t find it even on your Windows 10.
Performance Tab: This tab displays the computer’s available system resources, such as CPU, Memory, Disk, Wi-Fi, and Network usage. Later versions of Windows usage chart for all the above mentioned as they’re being used. The bottom of the tab displays Open Resource Monitor.
CPU displays CPU name, and its clock rate (processor speed), Utilization, Uptime (how long the PC can stay on its current juice), Handles, Threads, Processes, etc.
Memory displays the amount of Ram in the PC, its Ram stick type DDR1-5 (5, is the current one), DDR is Dynamic Random-Access Memory, and the number attached to it is known as the generation.
You also get to see In use, Committed, Cached, Paged pool, Non-paged pool, etc. It can show you the number of usable Ram stick ports available on your PC.
Disk displays the number of drives in your PC, its partition(s), Disk transfer rate, Active time, Average response time, Capacity, Read speed, Write speed, etc.
APP History Tab: This tab displays the CPU, Network, Metered network used by Microsoft’s Store Apps, these Apps are referred to as Universal Windows Platform (UWP), they are different from normal Windows desktop Apps (win32).
Startup Tab: This shows all Apps that automatically boot up alongside your Windows once you switch on your PC and log into your Microsoft user account if you have any attached to your PC. You can disable these apps, especially if your PC is slow in booting. Simply right-click on any of them and click Disable. Alternatively, you can press Alt+A on your keyboard.
Users Tab: Shows the User Account currently signed in to, the resources, and applications they are consuming.
Details Tab: This tab used to be the Processes tab on Windows 7, shows a detailed usage of the processes your PC is currently running. Once you right-click here, you get a list of options that you can tweak around, but with caution. I’m not to be held responsible.
Services Tab: This is the last tab that manages system services. It shows all Windows services currently running. This is the same as services.msc.
Uses Of The Windows Task Manager.
- It can be used to End unnecessary tasks or stubborn ones. Some Apps are too stubborn that normal ALT+F4 or Close button (the red button) won’t close them, at this juncture your last resort to forcefully close them.
- It can be used to provide feedback to Microsoft should you notice that a particular App is not really responding or misbehaving. Simply right-click on the stubborn software from your Task Manager and click on Provide Feedback.
- It helps in creating a Dump file; This file contains valuable information that can determine why the system stopped working. Whenever Windows or an app crashes, it creates a dump file.
- It helps you to generally keep track of the most services your PC runs.