Until recently, all my computers were configured to run “Windows Task Manager” on system startup. I like the fact that I can monitor CPU usage in the system tray.

And, as usual, some thing better came along. Its called the Process Explorer. Its too good, I replaced my task manager with it. The best part is that I can now monitor disk I/O in system tray. Hurray!!!

Download Process Explorer

Features (over and above those of task manager):

• Monitor Disk I/O in system tray.
• Wondering what a process does? just select it and press Ctrl+M for googling it
• It can completely replace “Windows Task Manager” by checking “Options>Replace Task Manager”
• Shows entire process tree.
• Each process can be restarted and even suspended. Entire process tree can also be killed.
• The properties of each process shows tones of information regarding it, starting from its tcp connections to its individual cup/disk other resource usages.
• Can be configured to monitor tones of stuff.

Strongly recommended setting changes:

• Options>Replace Task Manager
• Options>Hide When Minimized
• Options>Allow Only One Instance.
• Options>Hide When Minimized
• Options>CPU History in Tray Icon
• Options>I/O History in Tray Icon