� Task Manager is a program that helps you manage programs and monitor the computerresources that they consume.

� You can use Task Manager to find programs that are slowing computer performance or to seeif malware is running on your computer.

To complete this project, you will need the following file:� New blank WordPad document

You will save your file as:� Lastname_Firstname_w7_09_Processes

1. Start WordPad, and then type your first and last name. Add a new line, and then typeWindows 7 Chapter 9 More Skills 13

2. Add a new line, and then insert the date. Save the document in your Windows 7Chapter 9 folder as Lastname_Firstname_w7_09_Processes

3. Right-click an empty area on the taskbar, and then click Start Task Manager. If necessary,click the Applications tab. Compare your screen with Figure 1.

The Applications tab lists the programs that are open and represented by a window onyour desktop or taskbar. Here, your WordPad window is listed.

Windows 7CHAPTER 9

Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.From Skills for Success with Windows 7 Comprehensive

More Skills 13 View Applications and Processes in TaskManager

Secure Windows 7 | Microsoft Windows 7 Chapter 9 More Skills: SKILL 13 | Page 1 of 4

Windows TaskManager

Applications tab

WordPaddocument

Figure 1

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Secure Windows 7 | Microsoft Windows 7 Chapter 9 More Skills: SKILL 13 | Page 2 of 4

Processes tab

Processes withoutan associated

window (yoursmay be different)

wordpad.exe

Descriptioncolumn widened

Figure 2

4. In Windows Task Manager, under Task, right-click the WordPad file name. From theshortcut menu, click Go To Process. Maximize the Windows Task Manager window.

5. Point to the line to the right of Description, and then when the pointer displays, double-click to set the width automatically to fit its contents. Compare your screen with Figure 2.

Each program that runs on your computer has a process—an instance of a programthat is executing the program’s instructions. Here, the process associated with theWordPad program—wordpad.exe—is highlighted.

There are many programs that run on your computer and each has a process. Most ofthe processes listed here do not have any application window associated with them,and they are not listed on the Applications tab.

6. Click the Show processes from all users button, and then Maximize thewindow.

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Processessorted by CPU

usage indescending order

System IdleProcess

Figure 3

7. Click the CPU column header one time to sort by CPU Usage in descending order.Compare your screen with Figure 3.

CPU Usage is the percentage of the CPU time that a process consumes. CPU usageschanges over time and the list of processes is continually re-sorted. Any unconsumedtime is assigned the System Idle Process. Any process other than System Idle Processthat has unusually high CPU usage may be hindering computer performance.

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Secure Windows 7 | Microsoft Windows 7 Chapter 9 More Skills: SKILL 13 | Page 4 of 4

8. With the pointer, widen the Memory (Private Working Set) column so that the entirecolumn heading displays. Click the Memory (Private Working Set) column header onetime to sort the column in descending order, and then compare your screen with Figure 4.

Memory - Private Working Set is the amount of RAM that a process is reservingfor itself. Sorting in descending order shows which processes are using the mostcomputer memory.

Memory (PrivateWorking Set)

column widenedand sorted in

descending order

Figure 4

9. Create a Full-screen Snip, click Copy , and then Close the markup windowwithout saving the changes.

If you are experiencing problems with your computer, a computer technicianmay ask you to create snips of the Processes tab sorted by CPU or Memory(Private Working Set) to determine if malware or a poor performing programis present on your computer.

10. Close Windows Task Manager. In WordPad, add a new line, Paste the snip,and then click Save .

11. If you are printing your work, print the WordPad document. Exit WordPad.

12. Submit the WordPad printout or file as directed by your instructor.

� You have completed More Skills 13

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