Five apps: Free stubborn task killers
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Five free task killers that are ready to end stubborn processes
Five free task killers that are ready to end stubborn processes
This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic article.
There are times when a process or program does not respond.rnThe application window will remain on your desktop or residing in memory, butrnit just won’t go away. When that happens, what do you do? In Windows, most willrnopt for Ctrl-Alt-Delete and then open the Task Manager. In most cases thatrnworks just fine – but there are stubborn cases when Task Manager simply won’trnkill a process. And what do you do about Android or Linux? Nearly everyrnplatform benefits from a solid process killer.
rnrnFortunately there are plenty such applications available,rnready to serve and kill those tasks you don’t want hanging around. I have foundrnfive go-to tools for this job. Read on and find out if any of them meet yourrnneeds.
All-in-One Toolbox 1
All-in-One Toolbox 1
Five Apps
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1. All-in-One Toolbox
rnrnAll-in-OnernToolbox (Android) is one of my favorite Android tools of this nature. It’srnnot only fully capable of getting rid of processes residing in memory, it alsorndoes a great job of clearing caches. With a simple one-touch kill process, yourncan kill apps in accordance to their CPU, Memory, or Battery usage. This makernfor a powerful management tool to keep your Android device working at optimumrnperformance. Extra features include: Call/SMS cleaner, SDCard Cleaner, ApkrnCleaner, and App Leftover cleaner. The All-in-One Toolbox Dashboard gives yournplenty of at-a-glance information on your Android device and how much RAM, ROM,rnand SD memory is in use.
rnrnCredit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
All-in-One Toolbox 2
All-in-One Toolbox 2
Credit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
Process Explorer 1
Process Explorer 1
2. Process Explorer
rnrnProcessrnExplorer (Windows) is another fine tool created by Windows Sysinternals.rnThere are plenty of reasons why Process Explorer improves on the Windowsrndefault – such as portable usage, full listing of processes, charts of usagern(with significantly more information than the default applications), ability tornchange affinity and priority. One of my favorite features of Process Explorerrnis the ability to track down which file is being locked by a program. ProcessrnExplorer can also help you find out why a certain DLL or DOC file mysteriouslyrncannot be deleted. Of all the available task manager like tools for the Windowsrnplatform, Process Explorer is, by far, the best in breed.
rnrnCredit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
Process Explorer 2
Process Explorer 2
Credit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
Process Hacker 1
Process Hacker 1
3. Process Hacker
rnrnProcessrnHacker (Windows) takes Process Explorer and tosses a handful of even morernadvanced features in to create a power-user’s dream machine of a task manager.rnWith this tool you can customize the tree view to show you what is currentlyrnrunning. You can also view very detailed statistics with graphs, close networkrnconnections, and view/edit/control services not listed in the standard processrnlisting. The advanced features include:rnViewing GDI handles and heaps, injecting and unloading DLLs, and detaching fromrndebuggers. If you’re an administrator who needs as much power at theirrnfingertips as possible, and you want it in GUI form, you can’t go wrong withrnProcess hacker.
rnrnCredit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
Process Hacker 2
Process Hacker 2
Credit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
Gnome System Monitor 1
Gnome System Monitor 1
4. Gnome System Monitor
rnrnGnome System Monitorrn(Linux) is the default GNOME tool that serves as a GUI front-end for a numberrnof tasks. Not only does this tool forcefully or gracefully kill applicationsrnand services, it also allows you to easily change the priority of anrnapplication, check memory maps for a program or service, monitor resourcesrn(CPU, memory and swap, and network), and even get instant information on thernavailable storage on any mounted device and a tree view on processrndependencies. Unlike having to use the command line tools (such as kill andrnkillall), the Gnome System Monitor is a point and click solution to endingrnprocesses on a Linux system.
rnrnCredit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
Gnome System Monitor 2
Gnome System Monitor 2
Credit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
Extended Task Manager 1
Extended Task Manager 1
5. Extended Task Manager
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ExtendedrnTask Manager (Windows) takes the built-in Task Manager and adds a few,rnmuch-needed, features. You’ll find a new Disk I/O chart which allows you tornmonitor which applications currently utilize most of your disk as well as morerninformation about disk activity and network port usage. For those that findrnlocked files a nuisance, Extended Task Manager allows you to locate a Windowsrnprocess that has a specific file locked. With this information you can thenrnclose that process to remove the lock file (which has the added effect ofrnallowing you to more easily stop processes/applications held hostage by lockrnfiles). The Extended Task Manager Summary tab gives you a quick view of thernoverall state of your Windows system.
rnrnYou might find that, when running Extended Task Manager onrnWindows 7 you get ETML -9 errors. If that happens, run the application inrnCompatibility mode for Windows XP and all will be fine.
rnrnCredit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
Extended Task Manager 2
Extended Task Manager 2
Bottom line
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There is no reason why you need to be put into arnstranglehold by your system processes and applications. With the help of one ofrnthese applications, you can take control of your system and make sure it is notrnonly running reliably, but running with optimal performance. Grab one of theserntools and see if they don’t give you the power to contain runaway and stubbornrnprocesses.
rnrnCredit: Image by JackrnWallen for TechRepublic
