Task Manager questions, stuck chart - Please help

[JimC]

A. I'm trying to use Task Manager in XP to identify programs that may
be using excessive amounts of CPU capacity. Does Task Manager (or
another program) have the ability to show where excessive CPU
"processing power" is being used, so that I could check out and
deactivate or remove programs that are a drag on my PC's operating
efficiency, or are not needed? If so, how do you perform that function?

B. Also, recently I'm having a weird response when I attempt to open
Task Manager (by clicking the mouse button on the lower tool bar).
Instead of opening the Task Manager menu, a large green and black
display chart entitled "CPU Usage" pops up. The left side of the display
shows current CPU usage, e.g., 60%, 100%, etc., with a vertical bar
chart and numerical display, and the right (larger) portion of the
display shows "CPU Usage History", with a moving jagged line (that looks
somewhat like an EKG display).

My problem is that there seems to be no way to remove or minimize this
display chart (which takes up lots of space). In several instances I
have had to log off my computer to make it go away. - Mouse clicks on
the chart have no effect, and there are no "x" or "_" buttons to click
on. In the past I have been able to get Task Manager to display a
small block chart in the tool bar showing current CPU usage, but I don't
know how I did this, and I can't even get to the Task Manager menu now.

What am I doing wrong?

Jim

 

[Gerry]

Jim

You're looking at the Performance tab. Click on the Processes tab. The
tabs are immediately under the Menu bar.

What are your anti-virus and anti-spyware arrangements?

What is the Ssstem CPU speed and how much RAM?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[JimC]

Jim

You're looking at the Performance tab. Click on the Processes tab. The
tabs are immediately under the Menu bar.

Thanks for the response. However, I can't do that. - As noted, I can't
open Task Manager to click on the right tab. When I click on the task
bar to open Task Manager, it goes immediately to the performance
display, not the Task Manager menu. (I'm assuming you were advising me
to click on the Processes tab in Task Manager.)

What are your anti-virus and anti-spyware arrangements?

I have Spy Sweeper, Norton Systems Works and Norton Internet Security.
Also Zone Alarm firewall.

What is the Ssstem CPU speed and how much RAM?

1000+ of RAM, CPU speed around 1.7.

Jim

 

[Lem]

Thanks for the response. However, I can't do that. - As noted, I can't
open Task Manager to click on the right tab. When I click on the task
bar to open Task Manager, it goes immediately to the performance
display, not the Task Manager menu. (I'm assuming you were advising me
to click on the Processes tab in Task Manager.)



I have Spy Sweeper, Norton Systems Works and Norton Internet Security.
Also Zone Alarm firewall.

1000+ of RAM, CPU speed around 1.7.

Jim

You're probably in the "minimum footprint" mode of Task Manager.
Double-click on the margin of the window and you should get the tabs back.

 

[Elmo]

A. I'm trying to use Task Manager in XP to identify programs that may
be using excessive amounts of CPU capacity. Does Task Manager (or
another program) have the ability to show where excessive CPU
"processing power" is being used, so that I could check out and
deactivate or remove programs that are a drag on my PC's operating
efficiency, or are not needed? If so, how do you perform that function?

B. Also, recently I'm having a weird response when I attempt to open
Task Manager (by clicking the mouse button on the lower tool bar).
Instead of opening the Task Manager menu, a large green and black
display chart entitled "CPU Usage" pops up. The left side of the display
shows current CPU usage, e.g., 60%, 100%, etc., with a vertical bar
chart and numerical display, and the right (larger) portion of the
display shows "CPU Usage History", with a moving jagged line (that looks
somewhat like an EKG display).

My problem is that there seems to be no way to remove or minimize this
display chart (which takes up lots of space). In several instances I
have had to log off my computer to make it go away. - Mouse clicks on
the chart have no effect, and there are no "x" or "_" buttons to click
on. In the past I have been able to get Task Manager to display a
small block chart in the tool bar showing current CPU usage, but I don't
know how I did this, and I can't even get to the Task Manager menu now.

What am I doing wrong?

Jim

Small Footprint Mode. Double-click one of the edges of the window to
switch back. Then you'll see the tabs at the top and can change to the
preferred view.

 

[Kelly]

Double click the top border, Jim.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

New- SupportSpace
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/supportspace.htm

 

[JimC]

Thanks. That cured the problem mentioned in Question B of the original
post. - Could anyone respond to Question A?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[WaIIy]

A. I'm trying to use Task Manager in XP to identify programs that may
be using excessive amounts of CPU capacity. Does Task Manager (or
another program) have the ability to show where excessive CPU
"processing power" is being used, so that I could check out and
deactivate or remove programs that are a drag on my PC's operating
efficiency, or are not needed? If so, how do you perform that function?

Process Explorer - Free and just what you want....

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/processesandthreads/processexplorer.mspx