Process Explorer has lots of information about the processes running on a system. In fact, Process Monitor includes a menu option that lets you replace Task Manager with Process Explorer. It displays all of the processes running on the system, as well as the CPU and memory usage for each process.Īlthough some might be quick to point out Windows Task Manager offers similar functionality, Process Explorer offers capabilities far beyond those of the Task Manager. Process Explorer is an excellent tool for anyone tracking down a system performance problem. In other words, you can use Handle to figure out which program has a file locked open. The Handle utility (which is now in version 4.0) displays information about open handles for any system process.

One of the more frustrating experiences for an end user is the inability to save, move or rename a file because Windows claims that the file is in use. AccessChk is also useful for verifying system resources have received the proper level of security. The tool works for files, folders, registry keys, Windows services and global objects. The AccessChk utility helps you determine which permissions are in effect. We have all run into situations in which a seemingly simple repair or maintenance operation is halted by unexpected security restrictions. Explore five Sysinternals tools any IT professional troubleshooting Windows endpoints should know about. Many of the tools were created for older OSes such as Windows XP or Vista, so not every tool in the Sysinternals collection will work with modern Windows versions.Īlthough none of these utilities is designed specifically for Windows 8, some of them can help address Windows 8 problems.

Before we look at my picks, be aware the Sysinternals library has existed for some time. The Windows Sysinternals site contains dozens of free utilities for viewing or troubleshooting individual operating system components. Microsoft’s collection goes way beyond the functionality of native Windows tools and provides some fairly advanced capabilities. If you need to gain insight into Windows systems, Sysinternals utilities are among the best tools.

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