Windows Task Manager; page file use

[Guest]

Windows Task Manager only shows applications but actual running processes are
much more extensive. Sorry for this stupid question but where can I get
basic info designed for a novice to figure out what is running? (the process
list). And how do I determine how much page file use is attributed to which
application or which process?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Try Process Explorer:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

As to individual processes, generally you will find that if you just google
the name the first few links will often tell you what it does.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

but what about page file use? Do I just have to sit there and assume that if
it's a microsoft program that I don't need to worry about it? Let it do its
thing no matter how much energy it is consuming?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Some programs require an allocation of pages, even if there is plenty of
memory available. It doesn't matter who wrote or distributes the program,
this is part of the design of well written programs. If there is plenty of
ram, paging will be minimal.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Rock]

but what about page file use? Do I just have to sit there and assume that
if
it's a microsoft program that I don't need to worry about it? Let it do
its
thing no matter how much energy it is consuming?

What exactly is this connection you've made between page file allocation/use
and energy? Why are you worried about page file usage for individual
programs? What's important is how much of the page file is actually in use.
If too much performance will suffer, and then you might think about
increasing the amount of RAM in the system.

See this article by the late Alex Nichol, MVP on Virtual memory in XP,
setting the page file and monitoring it's use.
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm