Tip #2385 - Process Library Quick Access Info Bar
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Process
Library Quick Access Info Bar
One of the first steps
of troubleshooting a program installation problem or when your PC freezes
up is to Ctrl + Alt + Del, open up the Task Manager,
look down the list of running processes, etc. You immediately look for
the process that is utilizing the most CPU percentage and hope that it
isn’t a system dependant process, so you will be able to shut it
down. Many people are familiar with this technique and it really is a
good thing to know. What throws a monkey wrench in the whole thing is
that these process names that are in the Task Manger’s list seem
to be just a wee bit on the cryptic side, which I think makes people a
little nervous.
If you can look at
an entry like SPBBCSvc.exe and immediately know it is a Norton antivirus
process that helps keep everything up-to-date, you're better at this than
I am. I need help to decipher these process names, which usually materializes
in me performing an online search.
Well, today’s
download should help remove the shroud of secrecy that
has lingered in your Task Manager for so long with all the unknown processes
that are running, unchecked, in your system. Well, not anymore. Not with
the help of the Process Library.
Process
Library is a Web service that provides a searchable database for users
to search in an effort to learn more about the processes running in their
systems. This isn’t ground breaking news; as a matter of fact, I
did an article a long time ago where I showcased an online searchable
process database.
What makes Process
Library's service so innovative and exciting is that they offer a free
Quick Access Info bar plug-in. Basically this is a small service that
plugs into your Task Manager, giving you the ability to search the Process
Library's database with one simple click. The Task Manager plug-in creates
small round blue icons next to every entry in the Task Manager. If you
click on one of the blue icons, you are whisked away to the Web site where
the process has already been looked at and is waiting for you.
When the Process Library
finishes loading, you will see that the process you are concerned with
has actually already been looked into. The presentation page for the Process
Library gives you an explanation of what it is, who makes it and how should
you handle it. I know this will help a lot of people; yours truly being
one of them.
This is a program
that instantly went in my personal utility programs folder. It was love
at first site and my life’s been a whirlwind of excitement ever
since. Boy, I am a geek! Well, maybe you won’t be quite as excited
as I was, but you should be! This is a great idea and a great program.
So, stop those unnecessary and potentially dangerous processes with the
Quick Access Info Bar. It really is a wonderful little service.
You can download the
Quick Access Info Bar here.
~Chad
Stelnicki
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