6.1.1.5 Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista Answers

6.1.1.5 Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista Answers

Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista (Answers Version)

Introduction

In this lab, you will explore Task Manager and manage processes from within Task Manager.

Recommended Equipment

The following equipment is required for this exercise:

• A computer running Windows 7 or Vista

Step 1: Work in the Applications Tab of Windows Task Manager.

1. Log on to Windows as an administrator.
2. Open a browser and a folder.
3. Click the desktop and press Ctrl-Alt-Delete > Start Task Manager > Applications tab.
   

   6.1.1.5 Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista Answers 01

4. Select the open browser and then click Switch To.
   What happened to the browser?
   ____________________________________________________________________________________
   The browser became the active window.
5. Bring Windows Task Manager to the front of the desktop. Click New Task to open the Create New Task window.
   

   6.1.1.5 Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista Answers 02

6. In the Open field, type Notepad and click OK.
   

   6.1.1.5 Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista Answers 03

   What happens?
   ____________________________________________________________________________________

   Notepad opens.

7. Navigate back to the Windows Task Manager, select Notepad, and click End Task.
   

   6.1.1.5 Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista Answers 04

   What happens?
   ____________________________________________________________________________________

   Notepad closes.

Step 2: Work in the Services tab of Windows Task Manager.

1. Click the Services tab. Use the scroll bar on the right of the Services window to view all the services listed
   

   6.1.1.5 Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista Answers 05

   What are the statuses listed?
   ____________________________________________________________________________________
   Stopped and Running.

Step 3: Work in the Performance tab of Windows Task Manager.

1. Click the Performance tab.
   

   6.1.1.5 Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista Answers 06

   How many threads are running?
   ____________________________________________________________________________________

   Answer may vary. The example displays 493.
   How many processes are running?

   ____________________________________________________________________________________
   Answer may vary. The example displays 41.

   What is the total physical memory (MB)?____________________________________________________________________________________
   Answer may vary. The example displays 2047.

   What is the available physical memory (MB)?____________________________________________________________________________________
   Answer may vary. The example displays 1155.

   How much physical memory (MB) is being used by the system?____________________________________________________________________________________
   Answer may vary. This can be calculated by subtracting Free Physical Memory from Total Physical Memory. In the example the calculation would be 2047 – 50 = 1,997MB.

Step 4: Work in the Networking tab of Windows Task Manager.

1. Click the Networking tab.
   

   6.1.1.5 Lab – Task Manager in Windows 7 and Vista Answers 07

   What is the link speed?
   ____________________________________________________________________________________
   Answer may vary. The examples displays 1 Gbps.

Step 5: Work in the Users tab of Windows Task Manager.

1. Click the Users tab.List all users and their status.
   ____________________________________________________________________________________
   Answer may vary. The example displays one user, Administrator, with a status of active.
   What actions can you perform on the user from this window?____________________________________________________________________________________
   Three actions are displayed: Disconnect, Logoff, and Send Message. But only Disconnect and Logoff can be performed on the user.

Step 6: Work in the Processes tab of Windows Task Manager.

1. Click the Processes tab.
2. Check the checkbox Show processes from all users.
3. Double-click the white border around the Processes tab. This changes the view of Windows Task Manager to compact mode.Note: The User Account Control window may open in Vista asking for permission to continue. Click Continue.
4. Click the heading Image Name. Click Image Name again.What effect does this have on the columns?____________________________________________________________________________________
   Places the names in alphabetical order. Each time you click the Image Name heading, it reverses the order (A to Z, then Z to A).
5. Click Memory (Private Working Set).What affect does this have on the columns?____________________________________________________________________________________
   Places the numbers in ascending or descending order.
6. Double-click the outside border again to return to tabs mode.
7. Open a browser.
   Note: Firefox is used in this lab. However, any browser will work. Just substitute your browser name whenever you see the word Firefox.
8. Return to the Windows Task Manager. Click Image Name so the list is in alphabetical order, then locate and select firefox.exe.
9. Right-click firefox.exe > Set Priority.What is the default priority for the browser?____________________________________________________________________________________
   Normal.
10. Set the priority to Above Normal. Then click Change priority in the Windows Task Manager warning message.

Step 7: Change the fields that are displayed in the Windows Task Manager.

1. Click View > Select Columns.
2. The Select Process Page Columns window opens. Check Base Priority and click OK.
3. Expand the width of the Windows Task Manager so the Base Priority column is visible.List the name of the image that has a base priority of Above Normal?____________________________________________________________________________________
   Firefox.exe.
   Which image name has a base priority of N/A?____________________________________________________________________________________
   System Idle Process.
4. Reset Firefox.exe base priority to normal. To do this, right-click firefox.exe > Set Priority > Normal > Change priority.
5. Click View > Select Columns. Uncheck Base Priority and click OK.
6. Close Firefox.
   Is Firefox listed as a process?
   ____________________________________________________________________________________
   No, it is removed from the list of processes when it closes.
7. Close all open windows.

Reflection

Why is it important for an administrator to understand how to work within the Windows Task Manager?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Answers may vary. The Windows Task Manager can be a valuable tool for an administrator when troubleshooting problems with a Windows PC. It provides information about memory, CPU usage, and processes. It also allows the administrator to control process priority levels, and provides a way to end tasks or cancel processes.