Understanding Task Manager

Task Manager enables you to monitor and control your computer and what’s running on it.

Click one of the following buttons for more information:

 Programs that are running

 Processes that are running

 Your computer’s performance


Programs that are running

The Applications tab shows the status of the programs (also known as tasks) that are currently running on your computer.

From this window, you can end, switch to, or start a program.


Processes that are running

The Processes tab shows information about the processes that are currently running on your computer.

From this window, you can end a process. To view other information about a process, click View, and then click Select Columns.


Your computer's performance

The Performance tab displays a dynamic overview of your computer’s performance including:

Graphs for CPU and memory usage

The number of items running (including handles, threads, and processes)

Information about physical, kernel, and commit memory

For more information about the Performance tab, see the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Guide, which is part of the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Kit.


The number of system objects, such as files and registry keys.


The number of execution threads.


The physical memory installed on your computer.


Memory used by the operating system. Non-paged kernel memory is available only to the operating system. Paged memory can be used by other programs when necessary.


Memory allocated to programs and/or the system. Because of virtual memory, Commit Peak memory may exceed the maximum physical memory.


To end a program with Task Manager

1	Click here  [image]  to display Task Manager properties, and then click the Applications tab.

2	Click the task that you want to end.

3	Click End Task.

Note

Any data you have not saved will be lost.


To end a process with Task Manager

1	Click here  [image]  to display Task Manager Properties, and then click the Processes tab.

2	Click the process that you want to end.

3	Click End Process.

Note

For more information, see the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Guide, which is part of the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Kit.


To change display options in Task Manager

1	Click here  [image]  to start Task Manager.

2	Select either the Applications, Processes, or Performance tab.

3	On the View menu, click the view option you want.

Notes

On the Applications tab, you can choose to view details or icons.

On the Processes tab, you can select the columns you want to display.

On the Performance tab, you can change the CPU History graph and show kernel times.

For more information, see the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Guide, which is part of the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Kit.


 To change update speed

1	Click here  [image]  to start Task Manager.

2	On the View menu, point to Update Speed, and then click the speed at which you want Task Manager to update its display.

Note

For more information, see the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Guide, which is part of the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Kit.


To switch to another program

1	Click here  [image]  to start Task Manager, and then click the Applications tab.

2	Click the program you want to switch to, and then click Switch To.


To monitor your computer's performance with Task Manager

Click here  [image]  to display Task Manager properties, and then click the Performance tab.

Note

For more information, see the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Guide, which is part of the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Kit.


Click Help topics for a list of Help topics.