Process Manager

Running programs on your computer have associated processes so Windows knows everything going on. You can view and handle them inside the Task Manager, but there are also third-party alternatives such as Process Manager which come as a simpler operation to close or start new processes.

The application is portable, which means, on the one hand, that you’re saved the entire setup process, making it easy to carry it around on a thumb drive in case you want to use it on other computers. Registry entries are not modified to ensure functionality, but you do need to make sure that .NET Framework is on your computer.

It doesn’t really put emphasis on aesthetics, with a clean layout showing a large list where all processes are enlisted, as well as different functions. Although the process list does not update in real time, the application puts a refresh function at your disposal in case new processes start and you don’t identify them.

Processes are enlisted according to title and ID, but the application doesn’t make it possible to sort according to any of them. On the other hand, there is a built-in search field which helps you identify any process of interest by name, but you still need to look for it, because it’s not highlighted inside the list.

It wouldn’t really be a process manager without management operations. Here, you get the chance to to kill any process you select from the list, with a confirmation window showing up so you don’t end anything by accident. More than that, you can also start new processes by writing the name or using the browse dialog for associated file selection.

Taking everything into consideration, we can state that Process Manager is a straightforward alternative to the Task Manager, but isn’t really much of a challenge in case you’re looking for advanced options.