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Permanently Set Process Priority in Windows Task Manager with Prio

Posted By Raymond In Category: Computer

Feb
25
2009

Windows is a multitasking system. It means that a lot of various applications are running simultaneously in it. You directly work with some of them, but some of them work invisibly and independently. The priority of an application is a parameter that tells the system which task has priority over other tasks. For example, if there are two programs that are running simultaneously and with the same priority, they will have equal shares of the processor time. But in case you set a higher priority for one of them, the program that has this higher priority will use all the free processor time while the one with a lower priority will use only the rest of it.

For example, if you have an application for rendering a video clip running on your computer, it will use the free processor time sharing it equally with, say, Explorer. It will result in Explorer working jerkily… But if you set a lower priority for the rendering program, it will use only the time that Explorer does not need. Explorer will work more smoothly and faster. It is also convenient to set a higher priority for multimedia players so the playback will be smoother. I also always set a higher priority for Nero when burning a disc so that it doesn’t fail and I won’t waste a CDR and also when playing games.

You can change the priority of processes on the Processes tab of Task Manager. The problem is whenever you set a process priority, it will reset back to Normal when you restart Windows. Here is a simple way to save the process priority.


Prio (Process Priority Saver) is a compact program that allows you to save the priority you specify for any process. To save a process priority, start the Task Manager, right-click a process and select Set Priority. Set the priority you want for the process. Prio will save the applied changes and each time you start this process from now on, it will set the saved priority for it. You will not have to change the priority manually any more!

Save Process Priority

Other than that, it also enhances the standard Task Manager by adding useful tooltips containing detailed information about each running process: its name, manufacturer, version and full path to the executable file. It also shows which system services are currently running for svchost.exe. You would also notice that most of the process are highlighted in green. Those green processes are verified because it has a digital signature. For those that don’t have one, it’ll be highlighted in red. If you’re sure about the origin of a process while its executable file has no digital signature, you can mark is as valid using the “Treat As Valid” menu item and it will be highlighted in green.

Prio also adds Services and TCP/IP tab where you can view all installed system services with their statuses, start them, stop them and change the method they are started with. Prio uses the additional TCP/IP tab to display all established TCP connections and all open ports (TCP and UDP). Both statistical data (the number of sent and received bytes) and rate is shown for each connection.

Prio is free for personal use, it’s small and best part is you don’t need to keep it running as it installs a driver. I’ve only tested Prio on Windows XP and I am not sure if it will work on Vista. Another great alternative is ProcessTamer which allows you to manually adjust process priorities.

[ Download Prio ]


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    • xje4bv

      This is good but I was wondering if there is a way to increase the thread priority of the parent application, thus processes launched by the parent application would also inherit the same priority?

      Like in the case of converting media files. For instance, using SUPER video converter, I can assign the converter to set priority as high, but ffmpeg.exe when launched will always be at normal priority.

      Any ideas? I once found a command-line shell to do this, but it didn\’t work for me.

    • webcadre

      good to know that ray, thanks :)

    • eki

      it doesnt work on vista. you end up with the blue screen

    • http://www.jonnysblog.com Jonny

      Process Lasso from here: http://www.bitsum.com/prolasso.php has a lot of automatic process prioritising or even foreground program priority raising.
      A very polished app imo.

    • http://www.profiles.friendster.com/takamichi Jan Arlin

      Tnx Ray.
      Hey Ray.
      What processess in the Task Manager do you recomend to raise priority
      and what tasks in the task manager should I lower priority?
      Can you just please PM the answers?
      Thank You Ray

    • ha14

      Hi
      This is a great easy to use a tool.

      Follow these steps:

      1. Press CTRL-SHIFT-ESC

      2. It will open Windows Task Manager showing current running processes.

      To change the priority of a running program

      On the Processes tab, right-click the program you want to change, point to Set Priority, and then click the command you want.

      Note

      To view the priority of running programs, on the Processes tab, on the View menu, click Select Columns. In the Select Columns dialog box, select the Base Priority check box, and then click OK.

      Changing the priority of a process can make it run faster or slower (depending on whether you raise or lower the priority), but it can also adversely affect the performance of other processes. if you are burning a CD/DVD so set the priority of your CD/DVD writing program high, and less chances of crashed CD’s.

      You can also set the priority of some programs low so that they don’t consume much of your system’s resources. Like for example, if you are downloading something using uTorrent, then you can set its priority low, so that there’s ample resources left for other programs to work smoothly.

    • hyena

      I have used Proces Lasso as mentioned by Jonny @ post #4 over about three years. I’m not saying it is better than what Ray has mentioned, or other Apps, but I can vouch for a very finely tuned and easy to use program interface . Tweaking priorities is basically a right click, very advanced control over your running processes, plus exclusions from restraint, setting priority, and a big plus, kindly asking out of control processes to terminate, rather than killing them outright which often causes system instability, trimming memory, etc… I’d love to try something else but my system is tweaked as well as it ever could be.

    • vso

      you are great!

    • adrian kay

      Thanks for the updates Raymond, any chance of a
      IP Hider 4 serial license?

      Thanks

      Adrian

    • http://madhabspace.blogspot.com sunkumarspace

      perhaps this tool is useful for experienced users as some bad distribution of pririty will ultimately stop booting and also in case of laptiop more secure step in this priroty capacity utilisation necessary

    • kashif

      thanks a lot of information
      i have required licence IP hider software

    • upx

      This works great. Thanks!

    • Vanquisher

      I notices the sreenshot you took of your taks manager processes list are all highlighted in green. is that normal ?

    • Whelkman

      “I notices the sreenshot you took of your taks manager processes list are all highlighted in green. is that normal ?”

      From article:

      “You would also notice that most of the process are highlighted in green. Those green processes are verified because it has a digital signature.”

    • MisterRider

      Totally works in Vista – one of my Top Ten Apps of all-time, for sure. Keep up the great work.

    • L

      It’s the same as nothing with Media Player Classic. The priority always sets back to normal after closing and re-opening the program.

    • Richard

      VISTA Ultimate – installed PRIO, upon reboot a blue screen occurs when VISTA is starting the users programs.
      “NO_MORE_IRP_STACK_LOCATIONS”
      *** STOP: 0X00000035 (0X8A6A8E28, 0X0, 0X0, OXO)

    • Gagan

      Is there a way of doing the same thing through a script? I need to change the priority of about 15 processes in one shot and want to do it through a script.

      Any pointers appreciated.

    • hina

      how the process have two priorities in window?

    • Lotok

      Hi, I have been testing this app out as a solution to my problem with logon taking ages (too many processes fighting for resources)

      However when I reboot, allt he priorities are returning to Normal. Win Xp SP3.

      Seen this before?

    • Lotok

      Ignore last post, I have realised that the apps I was testing this on seem to reset their own priorities when they start as it works with other apps.

      1 comment however, some processes need admin rights to change the priority. If I was to logon as admin and make the change, then allow the user to logon. The priorities have only changed for those processes when they are running as my admin account. It would have been nice to have the option to “always run at this level”

    • vechai

      hey guys i have a problem…wen i click on the command i want for my priority for a game called Combat Arms..i box poped out and say the operation could not be completed…acces denied…help me please…need help ASAp!!!

    • zaikman

      I have the same problem as vechai. Each time i try to change the processe’s priority is shows up a message saying access denied. Why? Im the computer’s administrator……… Please help…….

    • Michael Moser

      Hi – I would *LOVE* to see such a utility for Windows 7!However, there is not a single remark on its Win7 compatibility and the misc. reports of bluescreens on Vista make me hesitate to just try and install it.

      Any chance of an “official” (and tested!) Win7 version anytime soon?

      Michael

    • Edd

      How do i do it on Windows 7? because there is no “save priority” option

    • Lothar Peters

      i’m using XP – Professional – so i don’t now about Windows – Vist or 7.
      But maybe at some places in the OS it’s still the same, like:
      The MMC Microsoft Management Console.

      If you go to the help in MMC, there are some useful explanations about using and changing it.
      But note ! – you have do run it under Administrator – Account ! I think, you can change options over “runas” – just look / reed in the help-files about it.

      Here a sample from the MMC – help:
      If you go to: command “services.msc” (Dienste)
      - “Help” –> you can see, that there are a few options / methodes to change services.
      I do not no exactly at this moment – but i have got the idea, that it maybe has to do with the konto, a service is running under.
      If a try to change a service in his priority – it tell’s me, that the accsess is denied.
      When i look at this service – than i see, that it is running under “System” – maybe i can change it – like it is shown in the helpfiles of the MMC.
      Please note!
      I do NOT no about problems after changes!
      I wil test it in the next days.

      here a link, i found – maybe it is something what has to do with our problem to.

      http://board.gulli.com/thread/889027-prozessprioritaet-erzwingen/

      I’f you need it in english – please translate it by your self.

      Lothar Peters

    • Lothar Peters

      please forget about the link i gave you!

      “prozessorpriorität erzwingen”

      At least the second part in this thread damaged yesterday my complete system!

      The first part in this thread, i didn’t – and do not try :-)
      The second is about: session manager” –> “memory management” –> “large system cache”

      Tus is, what , i changed !
      I set the DWORD in “Large Sytem Cache”
      from 0 (standard “0″) to “1″ —– and PENG !

      C R A S H E D !

      I do not no about other systems and configurations – maybe it works fine on other stations.

      I just wonna tell you, that my Notebook crashed!

      Lothar

    • redfox

      Prio does not work as expected. It allows to save the new priority level, but when I terminate the desired application and run it again, it has always the same “normal” priority as before. Prio does not remember the settings… Version 1.9.6

    • http://onfollowingchrist.wordpress.com Paul B.

      Raymond, thanks for that. This is exactly what I needed to tame a backup process.

    • http://uzsaku.wordpress.com Uzsaku

      Great program, but Prio does not saves the priority of system, local service, and network processes. I hope that this feature and full Windows 7 support will be added in the next version of Prio.

    • http://Prio Geo

      Yeah, Hours testing Prio. It’s trash.

    • Test Boi

      Been trying Prio with Win7 but noticed the same, it doesn’t remember the priorities.

      Worse, the developer couldn’t seemingly care less, bug reports and support requests go unanswered. OK I didn’t pay anything for it, but a responsible dev should be concerned when the thing don’t work as it should!!

    • MKANET

      Prio needs a lot of improvement. It doesnt tell users that they need to reboot for it to save priorities. And, as others said, it also does not save priority for system, local service, and network processes. The only way to save priority for services with “local system” is to change the service to use your own personal Windows ID (with administrative privileges).

      This product can be very successful if the author fixed these issues.

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