Identifying application name in task manager

[tankman1989]

I often have programs that are running that won't shut down so I need to do it through the task manager. The problem is that the program name isn't always easily identifiable neither by the actual program name or the developer. Is there any way to figure out what the name of the process might be on some of these more obscure programs?

 

[Markverhyden]

You must become one with the Goo my son....

Ok, kidding aside. Obviously Google will tell you what the app is but remember svchost.exe may be used as well. Just boot up a machine and check to see how many svchost.exe's are running. Then launch a bunch of other stuff and check again. In fact many a malware will run under svchost rather than a app name.

 

[tankman1989]

You must become one with the Goo my son....

Ok, kidding aside. Obviously Google will tell you what the app is but remember svchost.exe may be used as well. Just boot up a machine and check to see how many svchost.exe's are running. Then launch a bunch of other stuff and check again. In fact many a malware will run under svchost rather than a app name.

. I used to be a lot better with Google but IDK if it is me but my search results have been less than sufficient and I'm not going to say that it isn't my search technique!

Thanks for the help, it's been a long few days and my thinking has been a little slow today. I appreciate your help!

 

[JustInspired]

Process Explorer is a lot better than Task Manager for drilling down into svchost processes and it also gives you a lot more info including the full file path etc.

 

[atlanticjim]

Process Explorer is a lot better than Task Manager for drilling down into svchost processes and it also gives you a lot more info including the full file path etc.

Process Explorer also has a neat right-click task of "search for on web"

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I often have programs that are running that won't shut down so I need to do it through the task manager. The problem is that the program name isn't always easily identifiable neither by the actual program name or the developer. Is there any way to figure out what the name of the process might be on some of these more obscure programs?

You mean for ones that arent obvious in the application tab either? If I understood you correctly: http://www.computerrepairtech.com/blog/daphne-finding-mystery-window-proces/

 

[TechPJC]

System Explorer

Process Hacker

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

System Explorer

Process Hacker

system explorer..wow i forgot the name of that program a while back and everytime i described it to someone they would say anvir task manager or whatever that thing is called.

edit: a program i like thats not really related to this thread but a task manager like application is process lasso where you can set it to remember process priorities and i/o priorities. This is very useful for me as I make more hard drive intensive processes have lower i/o priorities to not slow down any video streams to my living room.

 

[TechPJC]

system explorer..wow i forgot the name of that program a while back and everytime i described it to someone they would say anvir task manager or whatever that thing is called.

I no longer use/recommend AnVir, because its Free version is bundled with optional software...

 

[Altster]

+++ on Process Explorer