XP SP2 Windows Task Manager: suggested enhancements ?

Where should I send suggestions for improvements to things like the Windows
Task Manager ? e.g. ...
1. In the "Applications" pane, it would be great if you could right-click
to get properties e.g. the name/location of the executable (and maybe also
the ability to change the priority here - instead of having to change panes).
2. In the "Processes" pane, it would be good if right-click gave you
properties such as the location of the executable.
Thanks, Gerry )

1. In Applications, right click the app | Select Go To Process.

This opens the Processes tab wth the *.exe highlighted.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news GerryP777 hunted and pecked:
Where should I send suggestions for improvements to things like the
Windows Task Manager ? e.g. ...
1. In the "Applications" pane, it would be great if you could
right-click to get properties e.g. the name/location of the executable
(and maybe also the ability to change the priority here - instead of
having to change panes).
2. In the "Processes" pane, it would be good if right-click gave you
properties such as the location of the executable.
Thanks, Gerry )

Thanks, useful to know. But how do I get the full address of the process eg
EXE file ?

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:
1. In Applications, right click the app | Select Go To Process.
This opens the Processes tab wth the *.exe highlighted.
-- Hope this helps. Let us know. Wes MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

Where should I send suggestions for improvements to things like the
Windows Task Manager ? e.g. ...
1. In the "Applications" pane, it would be great if you could
right-click to get properties e.g. the name/location of the executable
(and maybe also the ability to change the priority here - instead of
having to change panes).
2. In the "Processes" pane, it would be good if right-click gave you
properties such as the location of the executable.
Thanks, Gerry )

Gerry,

No way that I know of from Task Manager.

You either have to do a Search or right click the shortcut you used to start
the program and select Properties. The path is in the Target box under the
Shortcut tab.

The path, minus the *.exe can be pasted in Start | Run to open the folder.

For example...
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe minus \wmplayer.exe or
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player

HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;302347

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In ,
GerryP777 hunted and pecked:
Thanks, useful to know. But how do I get the full address of the process
eg EXE file ?

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:
1. In Applications, right click the app | Select Go To Process.
This opens the Processes tab wth the *.exe highlighted.
-- Hope this helps. Let us know. Wes MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

Where should I send suggestions for improvements to things like the
Windows Task Manager ? e.g. ...
1. In the "Applications" pane, it would be great if you could
right-click to get properties e.g. the name/location of the executable
(and maybe also the ability to change the priority here - instead of
having to change panes).
2. In the "Processes" pane, it would be good if right-click gave you
properties such as the location of the executable.
Thanks, Gerry )

Hi Wes, thanks, but ... (sorry there's always a "but"!)

I'm thinking mainly of processes that I haven't knowingly started. Search
is really slow - and several people tell me that the standard search is not
reliable ie doesn't always find everything - and there are often duplicates
of the filename so I can't tell which one is actually running.

Any ideas ? I think I also need to learn more about the standard
services eg I'm often a bit nervous about all those SVCHOST.EXEs.
As a side issue, do you know of a good (not too technical) exhaustive list
of standard services? Like everybody, I've had a few virus attacks and I'd
like to be able to recognise if a process should not be there.

Thanks for your time and help. bw, Gerry )

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:
Gerry,
No way that I know of from Task Manager.

You either have to do a Search or right click the shortcut you used to start
the program and select Properties. The path is in the Target box under the
Shortcut tab.

The path, minus the *.exe can be pasted in Start | Run to open the folder.

For example...
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe minus \wmplayer.exe or
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player

HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;302347

-- Hope this helps. Let us know. Wes MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

GerryP777
Thanks, useful to know. But how do I get the full address of the process
eg EXE file ?

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:
1. In Applications, right click the app | Select Go To Process.
This opens the Processes tab wth the *.exe highlighted.
-- Hope this helps. Let us know. Wes MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

Where should I send suggestions for improvements to things like the
Windows Task Manager ? e.g. ...
1. In the "Applications" pane, it would be great if you could
right-click to get properties e.g. the name/location of the executable
(and maybe also the ability to change the priority here - instead of
having to change panes).
2. In the "Processes" pane, it would be good if right-click gave you
properties such as the location of the executable.
Thanks, Gerry )

Gerry,

I use XP's Search, but I have it customized to open in Advanced every time.

Search is *worthless* unless the Advanced options are used.

I use searchadvancedoptions.vbs all the time, I would be lost with out it.
I also use Classic Search. I have a shortcut to searchadvancedoptions.vbs
on my Start Menu called ADVANCED SEARCH. I hardly ever use the regular
Search. I always forget to set the Advanced options.

Go here...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm

Scroll down to (or do a Ctrl + F) to...
Search - Advanced Options (Set as Default)

Read the instructions.

If Windows is on the C drive...

Download searchadvancedoptions.vbs he
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs...cedoptions.vbs

Place searchadvancedoptions.vbs in C:\WINDOWS

Create a shortcut to C:\WINDOWS\searchadvancedoptions.vbs (I have mine on my
Start Menu) %allusersprofile%Start Menu\ADVANCED SEARCH
or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\ADVANCED SEARCH

Download and double click: searchstartmenu.reg
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs...hstartmenu.reg

Download and double click: searchactive.reg
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs...archactive.reg

Thanks very much to Kelly (MS-MVP).
-----

If there are duplicates, i.e. taskmgr.exe is found in both
C:\WINDOWS\system32 or %windir%\system32
and
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache or %windir%\system32\dllcache

The taskmgr.exe that's running is in the one in the system32 folder.

-----
A description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314056

If you have XP Pro you can use Tasklist.exe to see what's running under
Svchost.exe.

Open a Command Prompt...
Start | Run | type: cmd | Click OK |
When the Command Prompt window opens type or paste:

tasklist /svc

Hit your ENTER key.

Also:

tasklist /?

Displays Help and usage.
-----

If you have XP Home...
Tasklist does not come with XP Home.

The following works. I did it when I had XP Home.

1. Download Tasklist.exe.

Tasklist.exe available he
http://www.computerhope.com/download/winxp.htm

Or here...

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/utils/tasklist.zip

2. Copy tasklist.exe to

C:\WINDOWS\system32
or
%windir%\system32
-----

Services information.

http://web.archive.org/web/200411280...lackviper.com/

http://web.archive.org/web/200411280...servicecfg.htm

http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm#Services

http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/services.html

http://www.geocities.com/ziyadhosein/xpserv1.htm

http://www.beemerworld.com/tips/servicesxp.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In ,
GerryP777 hunted and pecked:
Hi Wes, thanks, but ... (sorry there's always a "but"!)

I'm thinking mainly of processes that I haven't knowingly started. Search
is really slow - and several people tell me that the standard search is
not reliable ie doesn't always find everything - and there are often
duplicates of the filename so I can't tell which one is actually running.

Any ideas ? I think I also need to learn more about the standard
services eg I'm often a bit nervous about all those SVCHOST.EXEs.
As a side issue, do you know of a good (not too technical) exhaustive
list of standard services? Like everybody, I've had a few virus attacks
and I'd like to be able to recognise if a process should not be there.

Thanks for your time and help. bw, Gerry )

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:
Gerry,
No way that I know of from Task Manager.

You either have to do a Search or right click the shortcut you used to
start the program and select Properties. The path is in the Target box
under the Shortcut tab.

The path, minus the *.exe can be pasted in Start | Run to open the
folder.

For example...
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe minus \wmplayer.exe or
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player

HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;302347

-- Hope this helps. Let us know. Wes MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

GerryP777
Thanks, useful to know. But how do I get the full address of the process
eg EXE file ?

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:
1. In Applications, right click the app | Select Go To Process.
This opens the Processes tab wth the *.exe highlighted.
-- Hope this helps. Let us know. Wes MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

Where should I send suggestions for improvements to things like the
Windows Task Manager ? e.g. ...
1. In the "Applications" pane, it would be great if you could
right-click to get properties e.g. the name/location of the executable
(and maybe also the ability to change the priority here - instead of
having to change panes).
2. In the "Processes" pane, it would be good if right-click gave you
properties such as the location of the executable.
Thanks, Gerry )

"GerryP777" wrote in message
...
Any ideas ? I think I also need to learn more about the standard
services eg I'm often a bit nervous about all those SVCHOST.EXEs.
As a side issue, do you know of a good (not too technical) exhaustive
list
of standard services? Like everybody, I've had a few virus attacks and
I'd
like to be able to recognise if a process should not be there.


gerry,
if you're interested in delving around the OS more, you might be interested
in the numerous free utilities available from www.sysinternals.com -
particularly Process Explorer. Also Autoruns, Filemon, Regmon etc. Brilliant
and worth paying for.
Process explorer lists the full executable path, allows you to kill
processes, change priority etc.
Autoruns lists everything that starts up/could be started up from various
places.
bob