Software

6 Free Windows Task Manager Alternatives

September 10, 2018 by Techtly Leave a Comment

Task Manager is one of the most useful tools in Windows. It is the program you turn to when you want to review the performance of your PC, speed up a slow computer, optimize your boot speed or even save battery power.

It’s a control panel, if ever there was one!

However, like many other built-in Windows tools, there are alternatives available that either offer a more streamlined experience or an expanded feature set. This makes these programs ideal for power users that want more than what the default tool in the operating system offers.

We take a look at 6 of the best free Windows Task Manager alternatives, and see how they stack up against the Microsoft solution.

Wise System Monitor

Pretty much your best bet if you want a modern task manager that comes with a stylish UI and makes performance monitoring accessible. System Monitor has that sleek, inviting look and feel, which even the new and improved Task Manager in Windows can’t offer.

A smart design brings together all the tools you need — making the utility feel comprehensive.

A nicely tabbed interface has the options divided into dedicated panels. Each process displays a large icon, while information like processor usage and to data sent and received is given plenty of room. This means that unlike other programs, you don’t have to squint and scroll to see what’s going on.

There are two tick boxes at the bottom that can be used to filter out Windows or Internet processes. And killing any process is simply a matter of locating the small down arrow and choosing End Process. It is also possible to view detailed information or block network access for a process.

The program continues to monitor processes in the background as long as it is on. And while Wise System Monitor is very easy to navigate, the Windows Task Manager does things a bit better by categorizing Apps and Background processes, which makes management easier.

Stylish UI
Lightweight operation
Hardware and OS information
Does not categorize apps and background processes
Lacks some advanced options
Developer: WiseCleaner
Download: Wise System Monitor
★★★★★

System Explorer

If you have been using Task Manager regularly over the years, you will feel right at home with System Explorer and its old school layout. It displays a continually shifting list of processes, much like the default Windows tool.

Navigation is simple using the tabs spread across the top and these can be easily customized to your liking. You can add or remove 14 additional categories here, from Autoruns to Drivers and Security Info to Networking.

Hover over the icon in the notification area and the program reveals pretty much everything you might want to know. Some of these details are also visible at the bottom of the main window. There is an ample amount of information on display — suitable for beginners and advanced users alike.

Perhaps the best feature is the ability to click and drag to select window, where System Explorer highlights the process onscreen. Killing, suspending, restarting or prioritizing that process is as easy as a button press.

One feature that sets this program apart is its built-in Security Scan option that reviews and shows potentially threatening processes. Overall, this is a beast of a program that is sure to delight power users with its plethora of options and powerful capabilities.

Familiar, powerful
Offer security scanning
Clunky, if customizable, interface
Developer: Mister Group
Download: System Explorer
★★★★☆

Process Explorer

A longtime favorite of many, Process Explorer is not all that different from System Explorer. Just like that program, this one comes with extras like a Crosshair tool and virus scanning option. Its interface is also rather busy, but that has got more to do with its classic roots than anything else.

The main screen offers little direction on what to do and where to go.

And while ease of use may not be its immediate strength, Process Explorer squeezes all pertinent information into the main window. This helps increase efficiency for power users but at the expense of you really having to drill down to see all the details.

If you are after something stylish and usable like Wise System Monitor, you’ll not find it here. What you’ll find is a sheer volume of data on display, with each column being color coded, as well as the option to add new ones and change fonts and colors.

One unique feature here is the ability to check the digital signatures of any executable file you are running. Also handy is the option of killing an entire process tree at once.

Familiar user interface
Tons of visible data
Confusing navigation
Developer: Mark Russinovich
Download: Process Explorer
★★★★☆

Process Hacker

Think of this as a more refined alternative of Process Explorer, with a better look but fewer features. One handy option here is the ability to scroll to new processes — this makes system monitoring a breeze for power users and professionals.

Four tabs display the Processes, Services, Network and Disk options.

You can also view load time and load reasons for process modules on Windows 8 and above. For example, if a long running process like Explorer.exe develops a problem, you have the option of sorting its modules by load time to get a clue about the cause of the issue.

Right-clicking a service provides helpful options like opening the key of a process in the Regedit, or opening its file location on the disk.

Good use of colors and icons throughout the window means you can be up and running in a snap. But at the end of the day there are better and more powerful choices available. There are programs that do more than Process Hacker, despite not looking as good.

Clean, usable UI
Shows load time and load reasons
Not as powerful for advanced users
Developer: Wen Jia Liu
Download: Process Hacker
★★★★☆

WinUtilities Process Security

More than just a task manager, WinUtilities Process Security bills itself as a packaged solution for all basic Windows utilities. You will find disk cleanup, registry backup and even an uninstall manager packed into a single program.

In terms of UI, this program certainly feels like last decade.

But at least, it does a good enough job of putting everything in front of you to manage. One very handy function in this program is that it displays the security level of every process running, and it works perfectly fine to provide you with hints on shady applications.

The program lists details like CPU, memory and page file usage on the left side, while the main window provides you with access to information and properties of the running processes on your system. You can also end processes, set priority and generate reports from here.

Neatly designed
Displays security details of processes
Shows hardware insights on the left
Old fashioned UI makes usage cumbersome
Comes as part of a suite
Developer: YL Computing
Download: WinUtilities Process Security
★★★★☆

Daphne

With a fancy name like Daphne, you would expect a stellar program. Well, the truth is, this application may not be stunning, but its real appeal is its ability to kill processes politely. That is to say, it tells programs to quit after they are finished doing their task.

It is also possible to kill processes in bulk.

And that familiar Crosshair option over a window is also available that lets you decide whether to end, hide or change size of an application. The ability to set transparency for windows or set any to be always on top is also on offer.

There may not be enough here for a full and dedicated Task Manger replacement, but as the first open source alternative, Daphne is worth a look for its power and simplicity. The UI may need some time getting used to, but at the very least all the options are neatly tucked away in menus.

Good for killing processes quietly
Tons of additional management options
Ancient UI
Developer: DRK
Download: Daphne
★★★☆☆

How To Run Windows Software On Android

September 3, 2018 by Techtly Leave a Comment

The impossible is now possible! Well, almost. Technology has advanced to levels where you can run some of your favorite Windows software on an Android device. And vice versa.

Both Windows and Android remain very different operating systems — one is designed for PCs while the other has its roots in mobile devices. The architecture for desktop and laptop computers is notably different to smartphone and tablets, and nowhere else is this more evident in the applications that are available for these two platforms.

Programs made for Windows don’t run on Android, and apps written for Android don’t work on Windows. Or at least, that is how it is supposed to be.

But some enterprising developers have found a way to run some of your favorite Windows programs on the Android operating system. We take a look at how you can too, in this short guide.

Run Windows Software on Android

You may not be aware, but Android is based on Linux — very much like how distributions like Ubuntu and Red Hat are. However, Google has designed its mobile OS a world away from these desktop Linux flavors, focusing instead on the touch and mobile side of things.

Yet, they all share a common kernel.

This is basically the central component that operating systems are built around. Android, obviously, lacks the libraries and software that you find in most versions of Linux, and this is the reason why it can’t run Linux software.

Windows has even less in common with Linux, because it runs on the Windows kernel.

That said, thanks in no small part to a program called WINE, it is possible to run Windows software on Linux. It is essentially an open source compatibility layer that runs these programs flawlessly as if they were running on a Windows computer. On top of that, WINE is also very easy to find your way around. It can be used as the default installer for these applications, saving you the hassle of configuring them yourself.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, WINE is a recursive acronym that stands for Wine Is Not an Emulator.

What programs can I run?

The latest version of the abovementioned program, WINE 3, includes an Android graphics driver that means you can run some Windows software on the Google mobile operating system. Understandably, this list is very short, and there are no guarantees that these programs work on all versions of Android.

But as long as your device has an ARM processor, it has a shot.

The trick is that you are only able to run Windows software that has been ported to Windows RT. Yes, this is the version of Windows that was dead ended a few years after it launched in 2012. Microsoft designed this to be used on tablets, but the market did not take to it. However, a handful of developers did port some programs over to this variant of the OS, recompiling them to work on Surface RT and other tablets.

The list of compatible programs is far from exhaustive, but several good ones are available, including the likes of Paint.net, Audacity, KeePass Portable and OpenTTD. It is also possible to get older games like Doom and Quack 2 up and running here.

Want to browse the full selection? This thread on the XDA Developers Forum houses the complete list, and you can easily download the programs from there too. Which is recommended, as they are more likely to work than the versions available on the official sites of the developers. So, spend some time on that thread and see what the menu is.

Installing WINE on your Android device

It is not simply possible to install WINE on your Android device from Google Play, meaning there are a few hoops you have to go through to get started. Before you begin, you must allow your phone or tablet to use apps from unknown sources. To do this, open Settings and then go to Security Options and activate the switch next to Unknown Sources.

You will be asked to accept the risks in the warning that pops up, but you are now ready to install WINE.

To do that, go to the WINE Download Server and grab the APK version of the app, which will begin to download. When it is finished, pull down the notifications menu and tap the download in the list to install it.

WINE will ask for permissions, which you will need to give. These include recording audio and reading and modifying the contents of your SD card. If you are happy to continue, press Install to progress with the installation. When it is complete, you can return to the Home Screen and press the WINE icon to launch the software.

Windows on Android

Setup is fine and fairly straightforward, but now the real fun begins! Since the virtual keyboard does not appear in the app, you may need to use an external keyboard to type in WINE. Likewise, an external mouse could come in handy too, as the onscreen buttons are likely to be very small, depending, of course, on the screen you are running it on. Large tablet users may get away with it, but those with smaller displays like smartphones will need to take care of these things.

If you have a keyboard or mouse lying around that you can use, then it is worth giving this project a go.

But buying extra peripherals until you have tried it out is not recommended. This is a remarkable experiment, but programs like Paint.net are not exactly ideal for running and using on a phone touchscreen. Just make sure you are aware of this. You may also encounter the occasional stability issue, where a program crashes or closes, but that is par for the course.

Running Windows programs on Android is exciting, a good way to impress others.

However, one thing is certain, you will not be throwing away your PC and running everything from your phone anytime soon!

8 Best Disk Defrag Software

August 20, 2018 by Techtly Leave a Comment

Although the advent of SSDs have meant that defragmentation is no longer a necessity for many PC users, disk defrag programs are still a crucial part of regular disk drive maintenance.

They are absolutely required to speed up boot and program loading times on traditional HDDs.

Defragmentation software work their magic by moving the fragments around your hard drive into what can be called a continuous stream. Meaning, instead of your large files and folder scattered around on the disk, they are placed together for faster access.

Running a defrag routine once a week is recommended — ideally in the background when you are not doing anything major on your PC. Windows comes with a fairly basic disk defragmenter utility out the box, though there is no shortage of alternate choices available. Many of these programs come with advanced features and options to schedule and finely tune your disk defragmentation.

We take a look at some of the best ones below.

Disk Defragmenter

The standard tool included in Windows is not bad, at least the one in versions Windows XP and up. While that one was slow and a tricky package overall, the utility included in Windows Vista and Windows 7 is a solid enough option.

One thing you will find is that this program lacks a good visual interface, meaning it can be a bit hard to know exactly what is going on during the whole process. However, the application is speedy, and provides relevant information both before and after the defragmentation.

Like all good utility programs, you can schedule the Disk Defragmenter tool to run daily, weekly or monthly. It also works on both internal and external hard drives. And even though newer, better options are now easily available, this one still does the job if you don’t want to, or can’t, download them.

Familiar UI
Speedy and through
Limited feature set
Lacks advanced options
Developer: Microsoft
Download:Disk Defragmenter
★★★★☆

Defraggler

Ask anyone for a disk defragmentation program, and Piriform Defraggler is always one of the first recommendations. With good reason, too. This is one of the best free defrag software out there, with a number of handy options.

It works on both internal and external drives, always a plus. Defraggler can run a boot time defrag to speed up your system booting. And the program even lets you defragment individual files and folders making it perfect for professionals and power users.

Defraggler also provides a nice visual representation of the action. Unfortunately, a few other programs have it beat in terms of speed. But overall, as far as capabilities go, this one is right up there at the top. If you will only download one program from the list, make it Defraggler.

Lightweight
Breezy operation
High on features
Can defrag both files and folders
No automatic updates on free version
Developer: Piriform
Download: Defraggler
★★★★★

Smart Defrag

Looking for a stylish little application to manage the fragments on your hard disk? This one fits the bill, and how. One of the finest disk defragmentation tools available on Windows, IObit Smart Defrag has a few new tricks up its proverbial sleeve.

Options include replacing the Windows Disk Defragmenter, prevent defragmentation of your chosen records and folders, defragging just the modern Windows 10 apps, and skipping defragging files that are over a specific size.

These finely tuned options aside, Smart Defrag is also great at scheduling an automatic defrag, and its boot time defrag does a good job of removing fragments from locked files. It also comes with a feature to remove junk files on your system to help speed up the deal.

Stylish user interface
Excellent support for SSDs
Boot and gaming optimizations
Ads on free version
Developer: IObit
Download: Smart Defrag
★★★★★

O&O Defrag

Funky name aside, O&O Defrag Free Edition offers a simple user interface that provides easy access to the more advanced options that are available here. You can analyze a drive, get a rundown of the content, and check it for errors before getting underway with the process.

In terms of scheduling, you and set it up to defrag your disk on a weekly basis, for example, or to begin a defrag process automatically when a screensaver pops up. An easy to understand wizard is also provided to setup scheduling or start the optimization process immediately.

Worth a mention that some features in the program are only available in the paid version of O&O Defrag. This can be annoying at times when you want to enable a setting. Still, with 8 defragmentation method and background monitoring of your defragmentation levels, this one is a capable piece.

Support for scheduled defrags
Simple, professional interface
Some features only limited to premium
Can’t exclude certain files from being defragged
Developer: O&O Software
Download: O&O Defrag
★★★★☆

Auslogics Disk Defrag

Coming from a land called Australia, this program keeps it straight and to the point. Auslogics Disk Defrag does an excellent job of rearranging the bits on your hard drives to maximize the free space and keep your system running in tip top shape.

Smartly, it will even move your system files to the fastest area of your hard drive. This gets everything in the right place, before the regularly scheduled programming. Disk Defrag can also be set to run on more than one drive at once, in case you have multiple disks laying around that need optimization.

Like Defraggler, the program will also show you a list of fragmented files instead of a vague fragmentation report so you can you better devise a plan of action. Auslogics offers this tool as both a regular installable program, but it can also be ported in a portable fashion for use on removable media.

Quick, easy install
Can set defrag priority
Defrags more than one drive simultaneously
No option to defrag free space
Inability to move file to the end of the disk
Developer: Auslogics
Download: Disk Defrag
★★★★☆

Disk SpeedUp

When it comes to appropriately named programs on this list, we have Disk SpeedUp. With a clean and crisp visual interface, and the ability to start a defragment process in just a couple of clicks, this software is one of the finest ones around.

Disk SpeedUp not only defragments your drives, it also arranges fragmented files consecutively. But the best part is that the program ensures that your new data has been correctly written to the drive, before overwriting old data. This allows you to easily pause the defrag process whenever you want.

Also built in is Disk Doctor, a module that checks the files and drives for errors and fixes them if it finds any. In addition to that, you also get a fairly good idea about the health and wear and tear experienced of your drive here, all of which is presented accurately. Good stuff.

Can finetune specific settings
Powerful scheduling options
Setup tries to install additional programs
Developer: Glarysoft
Download: Disk SpeedUp
★★★★☆

MyDefrag

Power users will love the power on offer here. MyDefrag can be as simple and as complex a program you can make it to be. It offers a lot of advanced features, all of which can be customized based on your needs.

The deal is that you will be loading and running scripts on your drives. Many of these scripts are included when you first install the program, and these include directives like analyzing a drive, defrag on a schedule, and consolidate the free space available on a disk.

Powers users and system administrators have the option of building their own scripts to customize how MyDefrag works. This makes it a worthwhile program for use in enterprise scenarios. The only notable downside is that this program has not been updated in a while, since May 2010.

Tons of features for power users
Support for scripts
Busy, complicated UI
Limited compatibility with newer Windows
Rarely updated
Developer: Markus Hörl
Download: MyDefrag
★★★☆☆

UltraDefrag

Another program that caters to both novices and advanced users, with powerful options at hand if you need to make specific changes to how the program runs. UltraDefrag offers a functional interface, with all the common functions that you would expect from a disk defragmentation tool.

You will find options like repairing, defragging and drive optimization on easy access using the menus, while advanced functionality is also available in the form of BAT files that you need to create. The UI, on the other hand, is simple and modern, with focus on the various commands.

UltraDefrag can be download as both an installable and potable version, for both 32-bit and 64-bit variants of Windows. In terms of speed, this came right around the middle of the pack — not the fastest program around, but one that still works at a respectable pace.

Open source
Support for boot time defrag
Old school UI
Scheduling can be confusing
Developer: UltraDefrag Development Team
Download: UltraDefrag
★★★☆☆

Complete Guide to Cleaning Up Your PC

August 20, 2018 by Techtly Leave a Comment

Often times, the problems with your PC have got nothing to do with Windows. Instead, it usually comes down to badly behaving applications that put files all over the place, or even malicious software that slow things down.

And that’s not even talking about pushy programs that take over your PC and insist that they get to run things their way all the time. Many of these programs circumvent your security settings. In cases like these, it becomes all the more important to detox your computer and prevent these intrusive programs from getting a foothold on your device again.

If you suspect your PC is acting up due to an application, or even malware, then this short guide helps you get rid of junkware to keep your system speedy and free of infections.

Check for malware

First things first. Step one of the decluttering process is checking your PC for malware and ensuring that it is free of viruses and other infections that slow down performance. For this, open your antivirus, make sure that its definitions are up to date, and then perform a full scan.

This will take time depending on the size and speed of your hard drive. But if infections are found, then follow the instructions to either quarantine or remove the malware. You will most likely be required to restart your device. Reboot when prompted and then run a scan again to verify the infection is gone.

Some infections can be stubborn, and if these types of threats are not removed after two or three attempts, then start your PC in Safe Mode to cripple them and completely remove this pesky variety of malware.

Even if your main antivirus tool comes up clean, it maybe worth getting a second opinion with other tools, just to be sure. A favorite is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which searches for a wider range of threats than most antimalware programs. It is also perfectly capable of handling potentially unwanted programs, even those that come with spyware or other privacy issues.

The free version is totally up to the task, while the premium version of Malwarebytes gets you real-time protection, which never hurts.

Remove ransomware

Ransomware is an exceptionally nasty type of virus that locks your PC or encrypts your files, demanding a ransom to get the unlock key. If you encounter ransomware, the most important thing to do is to not panic. An ideal scenario is you having an up to date backup of your files, in which case you can wipe the storage drive of your PC, reinstall Windows and live with a small data loss.

However, if you are locked out, the first thing to do is to make note of any demands like the Bitcoin wallet address, any contact details and the list of files that have been encrypted.

With that done, you should perform scans with the antimalware tools that you have installed on your device to get an idea of the underlying infection. Many vendors have special decryption tools available on their websites for certain types of ransomware threats — including Kaspersky and AVG. Trend Micro also has its Ransomware Screen Unlocker Tool that can be run in safe mode or prepared on another PC if your main one is not able to.

Get rid of PUPs

Most folks are blissfully unaware that they are running PUPs on their machines. Think of these Potentially Unwanted Programs as software, addons and files that inhabit a grey area. Most of these are installed alongside legit software, often for financial reasons where the developers bundle them up during installation of other free programs.

PUPs fall into a number of categories, ranging from software that attempt to install other applications, to programs that off your browser toolbars. Once installed, these cause issues by either changing your browser settings or homepage. If you install a lot of software, and are not particularly careful during the process, you may find your device riddled with a variety of applications and your browser sagging under the weight of multiple toolbars and search engines.

So, how to remove these annoying intruders?

If you have installed Malwarebytes Anti-Malware as suggested above, you are in good hands. Unlike your regular security software, Malwarebytes does a solid job of detecting programs with dubious reputation. It even goes ahead to clearly mark them as PUPs in the scan results.

Malwarebytes also offers AdwCleaner, which laser targets browser related items like toolbars, addons and search hijackers. It is a simple app that does not require you to install it before running, and is well worth a download to reclaim control of your browser.

One neat little program worth installing is Unchecky. It works silently in the background and if it recognizes that a dodgy program installer is deploying PUPs, it automatically unticks and deselects the options. Unchecky also popups up a warning message if you roll your mouse over any of these dangerous options during installation.

Banish bloatware

Most major manufacturers cram their PCs with an array of preloaded software — some of which is useful, most of it junk. Trial software, in particular, falls into this category. And worse yet, all this bloatware makes a return the moment you restore Windows on your device by following the instructions provided by your manufacturer.

While it is possible to manually wade through all this and remove these programs one by one, a better option is using a tool to root it all for you. The appropriately named The PC Decrapifier is what you need to uninstall a bunch of these bundled programs at once with minimum intervention. It filters the results into three categories, Recommended, Questionable and Everything Else. You can also see what software other users have chosen to remove, then remove what you feel has no place on your computer.

Uninstall the right way

One of the biggest causes of clutter are programs that leave traces of themselves behind — even when you uninstall them. These usually are in the form of leftover files and registry entries. The best way to avoid them is to try and source portable apps when you can. These applications are self-contained within their own folder, and you are done by simply deleting their folder.

Obviously, not every software is available in portable form, and a tool like IOBit Uninstaller comes really handy to scrub programs from your PC.

It will also work its magic on Microsoft Store apps, including those annoying ones that come preinstalled with Windows 10 these days like Candy Crush and Fallout Shelter. The program is neatly designed and does an excellent job of removing all traces of programs from your computer when you want to get rid of them. Definitely a better choice than the built-in uninstaller in the operating system — more powerful and one of the best ways to prevent the buildup of leftover files and other detritus on your PC.

Stay infection free

You have disinfected your computer and cleared off a load of junk that was installed over the years. Now is the perfect time to strengthen your security and keep the clutter from coming back, so you can keep enjoying your computing experience without being bogged down by unwanted software and useless files.

Threats to computers come in many shapes and forms — malware is a constantly evolving beast. The payloads have changed too. The key is how you protect against them.

While Windows Defender and the built-in firewall have come a long way in recent versions, splashing out on a feature-packed security suite is never a bad idea. Or you can mix and match your way around with free antimalware tools that do a decent enough job of keeping you and your machine safe.

Fact is, most threats are behavioral in nature and make their way onto your PC through trickery and deceit. Whether via fake emails that dupe you into clicking a link, or potentially unwanted programs bundled with genuine applications during installation. Scareware is also a menace, where websites and applications make false claims about security to con people into paying for the full version.

Identifying and removing these rogue offenders is not all that hard these days, what with free and powerful security applications. But the easier route is developing safe browsing and usage habits to prevent these unwanted installations from taking root on your PC.

A little care goes a long way in ensuring a streamlined and secure user experience.