How to Save a List of Running Processes in Windows
As a Windows user, you may have experienced the need to save a list of currently running processes. This may come in handy when troubleshooting your computer or when you need to create a record of the currently active programs.
There are several ways to save a list of running processes in Windows, and in this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most efficient ways.
1. Use Task Manager
Windows Task Manager is a built-in utility that provides a detailed overview of running programs, services, and processes. To save a list of running processes using Task Manager, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager from the context menu.
2. Click on the Processes tab in Task Manager.
3. Press and hold the Ctrl key and click on the processes you want to save.
4. Right-click on any of the selected processes and click on “Go to Details.”
5. In the Details tab, click on the “Name” column header to sort the processes by name.
6. Right-click on any process and click on “Select All.”
7. Right-click on any of the selected processes and click on “Copy.”
8. Open a text editor (e.g., Notepad) and paste the copied processes into it.
9. Save the file with a descriptive name and the “.txt” extension.
2. Use the Command Prompt
The Command Prompt is another built-in utility in Windows that allows you to access and interact with various system functions. To save a list of running processes using the Command Prompt, follow these steps:
1. Open the Command Prompt by pressing Win+R, typing “cmd” (without quotes), and pressing Enter.
2. Type the following command: tasklist > processes.txt
3. Press Enter.
4. Open the File Explorer and navigate to the directory where you saved the “processes.txt” file.
This creates a list of running processes in a text file called “processes.txt.”
3. Use Third-Party Tools
There are various third-party tools available that provide additional functionality for saving a list of running processes. Some of the popular ones are:
• Process Explorer – a free tool from Microsoft that provides detailed information about running processes and their associated modules.
• ListDLLs – a command-line tool from Sysinternals that provides information about DLLs that are loaded in a process.
• Process Hacker – an open-source tool that provides information about running processes, services, and network connections.
In conclusion, saving a list of running processes can be useful in various situations. While Windows provides built-in utilities like Task Manager and Command Prompt, third-party tools can also provide additional functionality. Regardless of the method you choose, it’s essential to save the file with a descriptive name and extension for quick access later.