The difference between a "process" and a "Window" is just that a Windows has a
"title-bar" making it a Window as opposed to a dialogue box or a program
information
box.
Generally, Windows only classes Windows with title-bars and Control Panel
extensions
as true Windows
There are quite a few third-party application managers around, but you can always
"cross-reference" the list presented by the Task Manager ("Applications" tab) with
the built-in task-switcher accessed by pressing Alt-Tab. This also shows all
currently open "Windows"
I was under the impression that you were also worried about the origin of some
background applications, and gave me the impression that you were suspicious of
some
of them.
The "Process Explorer" application does give a "right-click" > "Window" option,
that allows you to bring any bone-fide Window in the process-list to the front
[activate] or minimize / maximize...
==
Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
Thanks Tim. I have Process Explorer and fully agree with you about its
usefulness. However, maybe I've missed something, but I don't see way
of using it for the purpose under discussion? Is there some way to
show *windows* (visible and invisible) that are currently 'open'? I
see only processes.
ISS insist that "...the list of windows you are seeing is the list of
windows reported by Windows itself." And "Macro Express Pro asks
Windows for the list of windows. The list is not held in a file, a
cache or registry keys."
If this is true then (apart from implying my PC is messed up in some
strange way), it should be easy enough to prove independently. If most
of these windows are *permanently* 'open', then I should be able to
view them, or at least there names and whatever else is associated
with them, using some 'official' Windows utility, yes? And maybe even
do something with them, like *close* them!
FWIW I also have ProcMon, but again I'm not sure how that can help
here?
BTW, I'm not a sysop, techie or programmer, just an end user, so I may
be missing something very basic here!
Best wishes,
--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK
====================
Terry,
this [free] tool by reputable developer Sysinternals (once a division of
Microsoft) called "Process Explorer", can be downloaded and run from any location
by
clicking on the link below :
http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/ProcessExplorer.zip
The application, which can be configured to replace your Task Manager (called
when
you press Alt-Ctrl-Del), shows you all the currently running processes on your PC
as
well as all sorts of other information about each.
It also has a built-in ability to go and search on the web for descriptions of
any
process that you are suspicious of - such as a process name that you are not
familiar
with.
It is quite an easy program to use and allows you to investigate all the
background
goings on, on your computer.
==
Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
One of my tools (Macro Express Pro) has the facility to list all open
windows, in two categories: Normal and Hidden.
In the latter category I get a list of 211! Most look totally obscure
and seem to refer to folders or processes I haven't run for days or
weeks. There's even one called 'You are using a Pirated Licence Key',
which is worrying, as to the best of my knowledge I'm not!
I have another tool called Stiletto which also lists all windows, and
that shows 51 window names (most of them 'hidden'). That difference of
160 reinforces my suspicion that Macro Express is no cleaning out old
stuff.
The Macro Express developer (ISS) says that their list comes straight
from Windows. So, is there some XP tool I can use to get a definitive
'Windows' list please?
