How To Replace Windows Task Manager With a Better One
Author: Raymond2 Apr
Windows Task Manager is a very useful tool included in Windows XP and Vista. Whenever an application crashed so badly that I can’t even close, I can use the Task Manager to end the process. Also, whenever I felt that my laptop fan is spinning very quickly, I use Windows Task Manager to monitor the amount of CPU and memory usage on a running program. It can also tell you if there’s a suspicious program running in background. That’s about the good thing of Windows Task Manager. The bad is it does not provide very thorough information like some of the free third party task manager. The Task Manager in Windows XP can’t even tell me what is behind svchost.exe which is very commonly being used to run a virus.
No matter what, I still like to use Windows Task Manager because of the convenience in launching it. There are several methods to launch Windows Task Manager.
1. Right click taskbar and select Task Manager.
2. Simultaneously press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC
3. Simultaneously press CTRL + ALT + DEL to bring up Windows Security and click Task Manager
4. Or simply go to Run and type taskmgr
I like method number 2 the most because simply hitting CTRL + SHIFT+ ESC will launch Windows Task Manager. I was wondering whether is it possible to use the methods above to launch a third party Task Manager program? Yes, it is possible.
The first thing I tried to do was to replace taskmgr.exe file in C:\Windows\System32\ with a portable third party task manager. Weirdly after deleting taskmgr.exe, it automatically came back. It’s rather weird that Windows knows how to safeguard taskmgr.exe but it can easily disabled via registry hack which gives you the message “Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator” whenever you try to launch Windows Task Manager…
Some third party task manager program such as Process Explorer and AnVir Task Manager has built-in option to easily replace your Windows Task Manager. For Process Explorer, just select Options > Replace Task Manager. As for AnVir Task Manager, go to Tools > Options > Advanced > check “Replace Windows Task Manager. Start when Ctrl-Shift-Esc pressed.”
As for programs that don’t have this option to easily replace Windows Task Manager, you can change it by editing your registry. Go to Start > Run and type regedit. Browse to the following location:
Right click at the right pane and select New > String Value. Name the string value that you created as Debugger. Double click at Debugger and enter the path to your third party task manager program.
Voila! Windows will now launch your favorite third party task manager whenever you hit CTRL+SHIFT+ESC. If you don’t want to modify your Windows default Task Manager, but you want to run your favorite third party task manager software using a combination of keys, then you can set a “Shortcut Key” on the program’s shortcut. Simply right click at the program’s shortcut and select Properties.
Here are a few third party task manager that you can use to replace the default Windows Task Manager. If you know any third party task manager program that is free, feel free to share with us.
1. Process Explorer
2. AnVir Task Manager Free
3. System Explorer
4. PC Inspector Task Manager
5. DTaskManager
6. TaskPatrol 2
7. Process Manager 2 Lite
8. Daphne
9. Process Viewer
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Recent Comments
- Murnee: Yaahoo...... Thanks Raymod...i did it...
- amroush: what is the need for
- ViP: Thanks, for the chance... I
- kxrkt: Works for Skype as well, Thank
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- mustapha anjrini: i've asked a question but
- Edward: Our corporate environment still uses
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11 Responses for "How To Replace Windows Task Manager With a Better One"
Thanks Raymond, very nice information, as I use the old school SYSINTERNALS PROCXP for my Task Manager and its the most valueable resource I got.
I have been wanting to make it start up and go to the task bar on boot, but everytime I get the currage to edit the registry I get nervous and stop myself and just right click and start task manager (its already the set as default, and has been for along time). I just wish I was able to do it, or it had a default setting to allow start on boot.
If you got any suggestions, I would gladly appreciate it. Thanks again for all of the valuable tips, tools, giveaways and resources you provide.
Chuck
thanx raymond… was luking for something like dat for long.. default task manager was having too less info.. thisz great
u simply rock !! hope to see much more 3rd party tools 
well thisz offtopic, u can also try copyhandler tool to replace the default copy paste procedure in xp
its an amazing tool !! try it out n let us know !!
Hi Raymond!
I have a problem plz solve this.
I have SIFY BROADBAND connection. My problem is that when I download a trail version of Bitdefender Internet Security-2008 from website and installed in my computer. After installation when I launched sify broadband application to start internet so message display – ….Plz. Install a license antivirus. I want to run trail version first to check. Plz Solve my problem.
Nice tool also you provided us the a-square have hijackthis that have many features to see what is going on in your computer, so taht is a ggod resourse also taskmanager from computer.
Process Explorer from Sysinternals is all you ever will need.
Well, I use SysInternals Process Explorer and it can replace windows task manager.
Just go to Options and click \”Replace Task Manager\”
Now all those shortcuts listed above (CTRL+ALT+DEL, CTRL+SHIFT+ESC etc) launch Process Explorer instead of Task Manager
O did everybody know that already??
My Taskmgr is lost! How to recover back? or get download and put it at its place? or i use some other program and use it for Taskmgr? like what \\\”Gaara\\\” tell now?
Hey Raymond,
Since I discovered your site it has ALWAYS been interesting reading but shamefully I missed the Kaspersky China thing by 1 day.
Anyway, the reason your Task Manager kept coming back (April 2nd 2008) was because there is a copy of the file stored in the hidden DLL Cache (Which uses about 600meg on average and stores lots of different files). If one or more files are deleted or altered the DLLCache restores the original version, – or if you are smart it can restore the newer DLLCache version (see example below).
I think the DLLCACHE was an attempt by Microsoft to make XP SP2 as secure or impenetrable as MAC operating system files are renowned for being.
How do you access the DLLCache [\'\'C:\\Windows\\System32\\DLLCache\'\'] without changing explorer settings from hidden system files to visible?
Go Start >> Run >> and then type in: \’\’systemroot%\\system32\\dllcache\’\’ and then click on \’\'Open\’\’ and it will bring up a Windows Explorer Window opened at the visible DLLCache and all the files stored in the cache will be visible.
———-
Here\’s a good example of what the DLLCACHE does:
The TCPIP.SYS file that is standard with XP SP2, only allows 10 connections to the internet as default. 10 connections to the outside world is done so that email viruses won\’t lock up the internet like the huge \’\'Address Book\’\’ based viruses(or was it a worm?) from a few years back. However 10 connections is not many connections if you use a mass downloader, have numerous browser windows open and also are downloading bittorrents.
So there are a number of TCPIP.SYS patches out there but they don\’t always work well because of differing versions from service packs etc.
If you use the patcher built into the xp-Antispy program it allows you to set the number of connections YOU want to access the net. It will work in that session of XP but the DLLCache restores the original file at reboot.
However if you boot up into XP SAFE Mode then use the xp-Antispy patcher and then reboot into XP, then use the xp-Antispy patcher again to only check or confirm if the TCPIP.SYS file is patched to the new number of connections it will confirm it is. Whats more the DLLCACHE version of the file will also be the newer (more than 10 connection) version.
How do you find the patcher? Open xp-Antispy v3.96.?? and then click on \’\'Special\’\'in the toolbar at the top. Scroll down to \’\'Connection limit…\’\’ which will open a child window titled \’\'Connection limit\’\’ you can then read the contents if you want to but click on \’\'YES, I got it.\’\’ and the \’\'Connection limit\’\’ patcher will appear. You can make a backup using the \’\'R\’\’ \”+\” and \’\'-\’\’ buttons and well you\’ll get the rest with a little trial and error.
———-
BTW: you could have also just created and copied a shortcut of Windows Task Manager (taskmgr.exe) into the Start >> Programs >> StartUp folder. From the Desktop right click and create shortcut, browse to \’\'C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM32\\Taskmgr.exe\’\’ and once it is created, right click on the icon then go to properties and set to \’\'Run: minimise\’\’ from the drop down options. Then drag it into the Starup folder and your done. On boot up it will open in the system tray and be a pretty little icon from the moment of booting up.
A lot less hassle for those who don\’t wan\’t to delve into the registry and registry editing and the many possible complications the uninitiated may encounter.
simple just search for taskmngr.exe in xp drive there are two copies replace both dats all
recovering taskmananger
well all u need is to expand the file from xp cd and place it in xp drive email me if u wanna know more
hi raymond;i just wanna thank u 4 the good tips & tricks u provide,thanks a lot.keep up the good work
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