XP Task Manager_ top Process in list?

[shokan]

I've always wondered, is the topmost item in Task Manager Processes the last to have run? I ask because sometimes when the system seems to be working on something and yet I'm not doing anything with the computer, I go to look in Task Manager to see what is/was running. Was the top item the last Process to run?

Thanks.

[bludgard]

If you are looking under the Processes tab, all the entries are currently running.

[shokan]

If you are looking under the Processes tab, all the entries are currently running.

Right, so I guess the question is, how are the processes organized?

[pawz7]

not quite sure what you mean here. You can order the column arrangements yourself according to processor usage for example. In TM the order of arrangement is constantly shifting, whereas if I look at the same task list via Process Explorer, the list stays mostly static apart from new objects and old objects coming and going. You can set priority/affinity via r-click on TM if that is what you are wanting. As bludgard said, all the processes you see are currently running.

[bludgard]

Right, so I guess the question is, how are the processes organized?

The processes are organized to your likeing, shokam. If you take a gander at the screen clipping provided, the highlighted tabs in Task Manager can be clicked to bring the leading process of that tab to the top of the list.

Say you want to know what process is using the most CPU; you would click on the CPU tab to bring the process using the most CPU to the top of the list. The same goes for Memory and other columns one is able to add to the TM interface by clicking View > Select Columns.