utility to tell what's accessing the disk?

[njem]

In diagnosing systems it would be great to have a way to see what
programs or processes are using the disk. In Task Manager you can see
which ones are using the processor the most at any given time.
Sometimes I'm on a system and the drive is running a lot and I can't
determine what's using it so much. I check network access, internet
activity, the Task Manager list to see if any programs are busy.
Sometimes that gives clues and sometimes not. In the Task Manager
version that's on a server you have the option to see I/O Reads and
Writes, which isn't exactly the right thing but sometimes gives a
clue. Is there a utility out there to list what is accessing the disk
and how much?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[Ed Metcalfe]

In diagnosing systems it would be great to have a way to see what
programs or processes are using the disk. In Task Manager you can see
which ones are using the processor the most at any given time.
Sometimes I'm on a system and the drive is running a lot and I can't
determine what's using it so much. I check network access, internet
activity, the Task Manager list to see if any programs are busy.
Sometimes that gives clues and sometimes not. In the Task Manager
version that's on a server you have the option to see I/O Reads and
Writes, which isn't exactly the right thing but sometimes gives a
clue. Is there a utility out there to list what is accessing the disk
and how much?

Thanks,
Tom

Tom,

There is indeed. You need Process Monitor from www.sysinternals.com. This
will give you all file system, registry and process/thread activity. It also
allows you to log the activity over a period of time.

I'd also recommend Process Explorer (from the same website) - this is a
superb replacement for Windows Task Manager.

Ed Metcalfe.

 

[Guest]

In diagnosing systems it would be great to have a way to see what
programs or processes are using the disk. In Task Manager you can see
which ones are using the processor the most at any given time.
Sometimes I'm on a system and the drive is running a lot and I can't
determine what's using it so much. I check network access, internet
activity, the Task Manager list to see if any programs are busy.
Sometimes that gives clues and sometimes not. In the Task Manager
version that's on a server you have the option to see I/O Reads and
Writes, which isn't exactly the right thing but sometimes gives a
clue. Is there a utility out there to list what is accessing the disk
and how much?

Thanks,
Tom

Hi Tom,
Try the Process Explorer or the Auto Run from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.mspx
Or from here for AutoRun and FileMOn
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Processesandthreadsutilities.mspx
HTH.
nass
===
www.nasstec.co.uk

 

[njem]

Tom,

There is indeed. You need Process Monitor fromwww.sysinternals.com. This
will give you all file system, registry and process/thread activity. It also
allows you to log the activity over a period of time.

I'd also recommend Process Explorer (from the same website) - this is a
superb replacement for Windows Task Manager.

Ed Metcalfe.

Nice set of utilities. Thanks for pointing them out.

Tom