Handle

Keeping an eye on the resources that various programs running on your computer are accessing is often a good idea, since it can provide you with info on which of these apps can slow the PC down.

One of the utilities that enable you to monitor the activity of various software on your machine is Handle, a command-line tool capable of offering details on the files and directories opened by application processes.

The software is meant mainly for those of you who already posses some technical computer skills. However, it also has a GUI (Graphical User Interface) version called Process Explorer, which offers additional functionality as well.

With Handle, you can see info on all programs that have a file open, but you can also have a look at the names of all the handles of an application.

The tool displays the collected information separated by dashed lines, so as to provide you with a better view of the handle values (in hexadecimal) for each running process.

The utility enables you to specify command-line parameters in order to view specific details on the handles of a program. If no such parameter has been provided, it delivers details on all open files .

Handle comes with support for a variety of commands, including the option to close handles straight from command-line. However, provided that you want to perform this action, you will need to specify the process by its PID.

The tool also enables you to view the owning user name when you search for handles, or print count for open handles. It can also be set to search only for programs that begin with a specified name process.

Handle is a useful tool for keeping an eye on the files and folders that application processes have opened, even if it has been designed mainly for experienced users. It also offers a variety of search options to make it easier for you to find specific handles.