Task Manager is a small program that allows you to monitor running programs, running processes and services. The task manager also allows you to control the use of computer resources by various programs. In this material you will learn how to open the task manager in Windows 7 and Windows 8.
Method No. 1. Use the key combination CTRL-ALT-DEL.
The most famous way to open the Task Manager is CTRL-ALT-DEL. In older operating systems, this combination immediately opened the Task Manager.
But, in Windows 7 and Windows 8, this key combination first opens a screensaver with a small menu (see below) in which you need to select the “Start task manager” item.
Therefore, in Windows 7 and Windows 8, using this method of opening the Task Manager has become not very convenient.
Method number 2. Use the key combination CTRL-SHIFT-ESCAPE.
If you want to open the Task Manager using the keyboard, then you need to use the CTRL-SHIFT-ESCAPE key combination. This key combination opens the Task Manager immediately, without additional menus and windows.
Method number 3. Use the context menu on the taskbar.
You can also open Task Manager using the context menu on the taskbar. To do this, right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and select “Launch Task Manager” from the menu that opens.
Method number 4. Use the TASKMGR command.
Another way to open the Task Manager is to run the TASKMGR command. This command can be entered in the “Run” menu (opened using the combination Windows-R keys), to the command line, or to the search line in .
Method number 5. Use a shortcut on the desktop.
If necessary, you can even create a shortcut that will execute the TASKMGR command and thus open the Task Manager. To do this, right-click on the desktop and select “Create shortcut”.
After this, a window will appear to create a shortcut. Enter the TASKMGR command into it and click on the “Next” button.
After this, complete creating the shortcut by clicking on the “Finish” button. As a result, a shortcut will appear on your desktop with which you can open the Task Manager.
When working in a Windows environment, users often use a tool such as Task Manager. However, many do not fully understand what this system utility is for: the maximum that such users do is terminate malicious processes, following some instructions for removing a virus from the system. Let's figure out how to open the task manager, what functions this system utility provides, and what to do if it does not start.
What is Task Manager?
Task Manager is a built-in diagnostic utility that displays processes, services, resource consumption, and other important characteristics of a running system in real time. Using this tool, you can forcefully terminate processes (including malicious ones), close applications, disable services, and monitor system performance.
The composition of Task Manager tabs varies depending on the version of Windows. Let's say on Windows XP and Windows 7 you will find 6 tabs.
If you have Windows 10 installed, then when you start the manager you will see a window with seven sections.
There is no fundamental difference between dispatchers in different versions of the system - approximately the same functions are available to users everywhere, just their location on the tab is slightly different. For example, information about your Internet connection on Windows 7 will be on the “Network” tab. On Windows 10, there is no such section, so connection information is displayed on the “Performance” tab. 
All the necessary data is briefly presented at the bottom of the task manager: the number of running processes, CPU and physical memory load. To better understand the purpose of the Task Manager utility, let’s go through its main sections using Windows 7 as an example.
This tab displays all currently running programs and system utilities. If an application freezes and appears in the “Not responding” status, then using the “End task” button you can forcefully terminate it. 
The “Switch” button allows you to move between different programs: select the desired application, click “Switch”, and the window of the selected utility appears on the screen. Another function is “New task”. With its help, you can launch any program or system utility by specifying its final address. For example, if you have, you can call the task manager, select “New task” and enter “explorer.exe”.
Here you can find information about all running processes: name, user, short description, consumed resources (processor and RAM). 
If your computer is slow, then on the “Processes” tab you can see which application is consuming the most resources. In addition, this section is used to forcefully shut down malicious applications that are launched without the knowledge of the computer owner.
If you need to start or stop any service, you can do this using the tab of the same name in the task manager. 
It is not recommended to disable a service unless you know for sure what its functions are on the system. Disabling services to increase performance is a dangerous method that can lead to incorrect system operation.
An extremely useful tab that allows you to monitor system performance. The graphs show the processor load and the level of physical memory usage. If you click the “Resource Monitor” button, a more complete report opens. 
After studying the presented data, users can determine whether the hardware has enough performance to complete the assigned tasks or whether the computer needs to be upgraded.
Net
This tab displays information about the current connection by local network. Shows the adapter, connection status, and usage percentage (usually below 1%). You cannot make any changes here, and in general it is difficult to say in which case you will need this tab.
The “Users” section lists all available accounts. The “Status” column shows whether they are currently active (that is, the account is logged in) or not. Every account You can disable or exit it using special buttons. 
If there are several active users, the send message button becomes available. The person you sent the message to will see it when they log into their account on their computer.
Methods for launching the utility
We’ve figured out the purpose of the utility, now let’s see how to launch the task manager. Let's start with the fastest method, which is not known to everyone - the Ctrl+Shift+Esc key combination. After clicking this combination, the Task Manager window will immediately appear.
A more well-known launch method is the combination Ctrl+Alt+Delete. On Windows XP, the manager appears immediately, but on later versions of Windows, you must select it from the list of available actions that appears.
Another option for opening the manager: right-click on the taskbar and select the appropriate item in the context menu. 
You can use the built-in Windows search. On Windows 7 it will look like this:
- Expand the Start menu.
- Write to search bar"Task Manager".
- Select View running processes.
Since we know that the task manager is called Task Manager, we can use this information to launch it. There are different options:
As you can see, there are many ways to launch the task manager, but it is recommended to choose one method and use it if necessary: it is not necessary to remember all the options.
If the dispatcher is disabled
Everything is clear with the launch, but how to enable the task manager if it is disabled by the administrator? If you are an administrator and have not disabled anything, then first of all check the system for viruses using the Dr. cleaning utility. Web CureIT. 
If no virus infection is detected, then there was probably a system failure that resulted in the dispatcher being disabled. You can enable it through the Group Policy Editor:
Double-click “Delete Task Manager” in the window on the right. Make sure it is set to Not Configured or Disabled. Save your changes and close the editor window. 
The same procedure can be carried out through the registry editor and the command line. To be included in the registry:
- Press Win+R and type "regedit".
- Go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System branch.
- Find the “DisableTaskManager” parameter and change its value from “1” to “0”.
If you do not find the required setting in the registry editor, try removing the ban on launching the manager via the command line:
- Open the Start menu, find Command Prompt and run it with administrator rights.
- Enter the command REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f (select the specified text, press Ctrl+C, and then right-click in the command line to paste the command ).
- Press Enter.
To make sure that the manager opens normally, without leaving the command line, enter “taskmgr”. If the Task Manager utility window appears, then everything is in order, you were able to fix the problem.
Probably everyone knows what the Task Manager is and everyone knows how to call it. But it may also happen that some virus disables Ctrl + Alt + Del and takes it hostage, so how else are you going to open the task manager? In this article we will look at six ways to free our “task manager” from being held hostage by some damned virus.
1) Ctrl + Alt + Del
Probably the first option will be the most familiar to you - Ctrl + Alt + Del. Before Windows Vista, you could press Ctrl + Alt + Del and it would bring up the Windows Task Manager directly. But starting with Windows Vista, when you press Ctrl + Alt + Del, you will be taken to Windows Security, which allows the user to select five various options further use of the system.
2) Right-click on the taskbar
Perhaps the fastest way is to call up the Windows Task Manager. You just need to right-click on the taskbar and select "Start Task Manager". It's just two clicks and voila!
3) Run taskmgr
Another way is to launch the "Task Manager". Click the "Start" button, then "All Programs" --> "Accessories" --> "Run". You can also press the "Windows" key + R on your keyboard or enable the command - "Run". In the window that pops up, just type "taskmgr" and press Enter.
4) Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Ctrl + Shift + Esc is another quick and reliable way to bring up Windows Manager. When using this method, you will not be transferred to “Windows Security”, but will immediately call “Task Manager”
5) Go to taskmgr.exe
This is by far the longest way to open Task Manager, but if you can't open it anymore, it's better than nothing at all. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32. Find the "taskmgr.exe" file there and double-click to activate it.
6) Create a shortcut to taskmgr.exe
And finally, you can go through Explorer to the same path C:\Windows\System32, find the file "taskmgr.exe" there and create a shortcut on the desktop. Using this method, our “Dispatcher” will always be at hand.
Well, that's all. Some methods are more effective than others, but if you are in a difficult situation, for example fighting a virus or something like that, then these methods will become simply irreplaceable.
Task Manager (or Windows Task Manager) is a utility built into the Windows OS that displays a window with information about the resources consumed by the system and a list of currently running processes and tasks. Also here you can find out about the CPU load, RAM and the status of network connections. Most often, the task manager is launched to close an application if it does not want to close, or, in simple terms, is “frozen.” By going to the dispatcher panel, you can unload the program and end the process that is slowing down the entire operation. operating system.
Traditional way to start Task Manager
- In order to launch Windows Task Manager in the seventh version of the operating system, you can use the key combination “Ctrl” + “Alt” + “Delete”.
- A panel will open asking you to “Lock your computer,” “Change your password,” or “Log out.” You need to select “Start Manager” (located at the very bottom of the list).
- Now all that remains is to confirm your choice by pressing the “Enter” key.
- There is an alternative keyboard shortcut to open Windows Task Manager - “Shift” + “Ctrl” + “Escape”.
The easiest way (without keyboard)
Hover your mouse over the taskbar, which in Windows 7 is usually located at the bottom of the desktop and right-click on the free space of the panel without icons and shortcuts (empty space). In the dialog box that opens, select “start dispatcher”. 
Launching the dispatcher from the search bar
You need to open the “Start” quick access panel and enter “task manager” in the search bar. Next, when the search is completed, you just need to follow the link about “viewing running processes”. 
Open from the command line
In order to open the task manager directly from the command line, you need to go to the “Start” quick access panel and select “Run” (or use the keyboard shortcut “R” + “Windows”). In the window that appears, you need to enter the following letter combination: “Taskmgr.exe” and confirm the selection by pressing the “Enter” key. 
- The Applications window displays all applications currently running on the computer. In order to close a program that does not want to close, you must end the process manually by clicking on “End task”.
- In “Processes”, accordingly, you can familiarize yourself with all current processes. The list of them is much larger than the list of applications. You can optimize the operation of the operating system by calculating the most “gluttonous” process and ending it manually, or limit yourself to lowering the priority.
- The “Services” window contains information with a list of Windows 7 OS services and a menu with which you can stop or start them.
- The “Performance” section displays the current state of PC resources: CPU load, RAM load and the amount of unused memory. In “Seven”, unlike XP, the “Resource Monitoring” option has appeared, by clicking on which you can perform a detailed analysis of all the equipment on your computer.
- The Network tab contains detailed information about the status of all network connections on this computer.
- In "Users" you can find out how many users have access to this computer. By logging in as an administrator, you can connect, disconnect, or restrict access to any user.
What to do if the task manager does not start?
Some viruses and malware can damage, among other things, the task manager. And even if you installed good anti-virus software, carried out a thorough cleaning and removed all Trojans, worms and other pests, this does not at all guarantee the correct operation of the dispatcher.
If the AutoRun manager was damaged by a virus and stopped loading automatically along with the operating system, you can restore its operation by installing various utilities, such as RegtickPRO.
In Windows 10, as in earlier versions of the operating system (8, 7, XP), there is a Task Manager in which you can see, for example, a list of running programs. If suddenly the program freezes, then it’s time to remember how to open the Task Manager and remove the frozen task. And if, when you turn on the computer, an unnecessary, “superfluous” program loads, then it may make sense to remove it from startup using the Task Manager.
First, let's look at five options for opening the Task Manager. It is enough to choose one of them that is most suitable for you.
1. How to open Task Manager through the Start button
Rice. 1. Right-click on the “Start” button
1 in Fig. 1 – Right-click (right mouse button) on the “Start” button.
2 in Fig. 1 – A menu will appear in which we click “Task Manager”.
If you have, then you should hold your finger on the “Start” button for a while. As soon as you release your finger, a menu will appear, as in Fig. 1.
2. Taskbar to help
Rice. 2 (clickable). Open the Task Manager via the taskbar
1 in Fig. 2 – Right-click (right mouse button) on an empty space in the taskbar.
2 in Fig. 2 – In the menu that appears, select “Task Manager”.
On a touchscreen, hold your finger on an empty space in the taskbar for longer than usual. When you release, a menu will appear as in Fig. 2.
3. Call Task Manager with a keyboard shortcut
By pressing three keys Ctrl+Alt+Del, you will see a blue screen with a choice of possible actions:
- Block,
- Change user,
- Get out
- Change password,
- Task Manager,
- Cancel,
from which you should select “Task Manager”.
4. Enter the command in the “Run” window
For two keys:
Windows logo button + R.
The “Run” window will open, in which you need to enter the command taskmgr.exe:
Rice. 3. Enter the command in the “Open” field to bring up the Task Manager on the screen
By clicking “OK” (Fig. 3), we will open the Task Manager.
5. Run Task Manager as Administrator
Rice. 4. Open Task Manager as administrator
To open Task Manager as an administrator:
1 in Fig. 4 – in the taskbar, click on the “Search” icon with a magnifying glass,
2 – type in the search bar that opens: dispatcher. As you type, you will see the search result.
3 – right-click (right mouse button) on the “Task Manager” found as a result of the search,
4 in Fig. 4 – a menu will open in which we click “Run as administrator”.
If you cannot open Task Manager using any of the methods suggested above, your computer may be infected with viruses. There are viruses that block the launch of the Task Manager in order to prevent their malicious activities from being stopped using this program.
It must be said that viruses have also appeared that, on the contrary, are themselves automatically deactivated when the Task Manager is launched, so to speak, they are disguised. Such tricks are especially cleverly performed by viruses that perform unauthorized hidden attacks so that using the Task Manager it is impossible to see the additional load on a PC or laptop.
Using any of the above five methods will eventually open the Windows 10 Task Manager:
Rice. 5. Task Manager in Windows 10
As can be seen in Fig. 5, In the Task Manager window, you can open any of the following tabs:
- Processes;
- Performance;
- Application log;
- Users;
- Details;
- Services.
How to remove a frozen program in Windows 10
You can remove a program or task if you are absolutely sure that such an action will not affect the performance of the entire operating room. Windows systems 10.
To remove a program (task), you need to:
- open Task Manager,
- on the “Processes” tab (1 in Fig. 5), move the mouse to the program that you want to remove, if you are sure of it.
- After this, click on RMB (right mouse button),
- A menu will appear in which we click “End task” and thereby the process (program) will be completed (that is, removed and closed).
For clarity, I will show the process of how to remove a task (program) using the example of an incomprehensible banner that one day I discovered immediately after turning on the laptop:
Rice. 6. A banner that is unclear at first glance and needs to be removed (removed)
I will duplicate the inscription on the banner:
"Notice about end of service"
Acer Portal services will be discontinued on 2018/09/30. All files will continue to be accessible locally from the computer you designated as Personal Cloud Storage. Please see our FAQ for more information.
Received!"
Click on the green “Got it!” button I didn’t dare, because I wasn’t sure that this message was from Acer, and not under it, and you never know what kind of “gift” you might end up getting. Therefore, I decided to remove this task that was incomprehensible to me. Perhaps unnecessary security measures were taken, but, as we know, God protects the best.
Rice. 7. When the banner is open, call the Task Manager
Ignoring the open banner:
- right-click (right mouse button) on the place in the taskbar that is free of icons (1 in Fig. 7);
- A menu will open where you should click “Task Manager” (2 in Fig. 7).
It remains to understand what specific task needs to be removed in the Task Manager:
Rice. 8. Remove the abSunset task, which launched a banner on the desktop when loading
To cancel the abSunset task:
- move the mouse cursor to the line with the name of the task that controls the banner (in my case, to abSunset, marked with number 1 in Fig. 8),
- RMB (right mouse button) click on it,
- click on the “Cancel task” menu option (2 in Fig. 8) or click on the button of the same name (3 in Fig. 8).
How to remove a program from startup in Windows 10
Startup contains programs that automatically load when the computer starts. If there are many programs to launch in startup, this affects the boot speed of the computer. System tasks do not need to be touched, and you can remove from startup those programs that will not affect Windows operation 10.
Rice. 9. Disable the program from startup
To remove a program that is not a Windows 10 system program from startup in the Task Manager, you should:
- on the “Startup” tab (4 in Fig. 5) select the program (or process, 1 in Fig. 9),
- right-click on it (right mouse button),
- in the menu that appears, click on the “Disable” menu item (2 or 3 in Fig. 9) to delete the selected startup item.
A program (task) removed from startup is not deleted from the system forever, but from that moment on it will not automatically load simultaneously with the operating system boot. This program (task) can be launched manually when necessary.
