How can I tell which programs are actively running on my computer?

Answer 1

I run Windows XP and “What’s running 2.2” is simply the best utility I have used in a long time. It has been available since April, 2006. I read the Bill Machrone article about it in the February 6, 2007 issue of “PC Magazine” that just hit my mailbox. I did a quick search and found nothing negative so I immediately downloaded this FREE utility and started exploring the inner workings of my computer.


I am somewhat fanatical about maintaining the health of my computers. I am familiar with Windows tools and use them regularly. Up until now, the third party application I used most often to look at processes running in the Task Manager was the free “Quick Access” application I downloaded from “ProcessLibrary”. This app runs from startup and runs in the background sucking system resources. Although it gave me quick access to information about processes running in the Task Manager, it left a lot to be desired. I was only too happy to delete it. Exploring other issues required tedious, and sometimes confusing, digging through system files and registry entries. “What’s Running 2.2” examines a lot of territory and presents it in a nice neat comprehensive package. It will show you process that are running that are not normally identified in the Task Manager.


The tabbed interface also includes a side menu for each tab. The tabs allow you to explore processes, services, modules (DLLs), IP connections, drivers, and start up items. There is also a system information tab with CPU, memory, and major system settings. Processes are arranged hierarchically in order that one can see subordinate processes. You can right-click on any process and select “Get Info Online” to research it. Having had this utility a little over 24 hours, I have already learned a lot about the inner workings and health of my computers. Novices will learn a lot about computers, and veterans will appreciate the completeness of this utility.


This utility can be downloaded at: http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx and is a little over 1MB. I chose to provide my name and e-mail address so I could receive updates on a timely basis.


The contents of the February 6, 2007 issue haven’t been posted to their website as of yet. You can keep an eye out for it at http://www.pcmag.com/ . Click on the “current issue” link and look for an article entitled “An Eye Inside Your PC” written by Bill Machrone. It is possible that you won’t be able to view the article unless you are a subscriber, but I am not sure.


A Yahoo search for “whatsrunning” will also turn up information that you might find helpful if you decide to read more before downloading. In the end, I highly recommend this utility and I hope you like it as much as I do.

Good luck with your computer.

Answer 2

Hi. Press Ctrl and Alt and Del together one time. This will bring up the Task Manager. (If you do this twice it will reboot your computer.) Look under the different tabs to see what is running.

Answer 3

you're regularly ok in the event that they are merely issues you manually open to run a test with and then close. you do not want diverse anti-malware courses resident in reminiscence concurrently. to illustrate, you do not want 2 antivirus courses sitting there scanning issues that include the aid of and working into one yet another.