DBCTaskman brings Windows 8's task manager to Windows 7

Martin Brinkmann
May 10, 2013
Software
|
7

Microsoft modified the task manager in Windows 8 heavily. The interface changed quite a bit but that is not the only change that was introduced. The applications and processes tabs were joined in a single tab for example, and the same happened to the networking tab which was added to the performance tab.

If you like how the Windows 8 Task Manager looks and feels but are using Windows 7, you may be interested in DBCTaskman, a task manager replacement for the operating system that brings a copy of the newer operating system's task manager to Windows 7.

When you first start it you only see a lit of running applications. It is recommended to click on the more details link to make the task manager usable and display the detailed interface on the screen.

windows 8 task manager

It displays the running programs on top and below that the background processes and Windows processes. A right-click displays options to end a task, open its file location on the hard drive or search for information about it online. A couple of options like setting the cpu affinity or process priority are missing from the menu. You find them in the right-click menu under details in the program instead.

The performance tab displays information about cpu and memory load, all hard disks and network connections. You need to click on an entry here to display detailed information on the right of the screen. The sidebar displays relevant information, like the current load or memory usage, but if you want to dig deeper, you need to click on an item to display its graph and detailed information on the screen.

windows task manager performance

The details tab displays details about all running processes again but this time in a compact mode. Here you can also end individual processes or process trees, but also set priorities and affinities.

The program displays a couple of extra options that you can make use of. You can use it to open the system's resource monitor or services manager for example from the performance and services tab. It lacks the option to make it the default task manager of the operating system which I quite frankly would have expected as an option. For now, you can only open it manually or keep it open at all times on the system to use its functionality which is not very useful.

The author notes that it is a work in progress so that the feature could be added in a future update.

DBCTaskman Tips

  • Download the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the task manager based on the operating system you are using.
  • You can change the update speed via the View menu. If it is causing too much load, change it to a slower update frequency.
  • Selecting properties from the context menu will remove the process name column from the application. You can bring it back by selecting properties again. This appears to be a bug.
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Fahmy Corporation (FREE Software) said on May 11, 2013 at 9:19 pm
    Reply

    I think “DTaskManager” is still the best “Task Manager” :
    http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/DTaskManager.shtml

  2. Paul(us) said on May 11, 2013 at 2:58 pm
    Reply

    Which explorer is more handy/helpful and easy to use on a windows 7 system you think, system explorer (v. 4.2.1) or DBCTaskman?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on May 11, 2013 at 3:57 pm
      Reply

      System Explorer offers more features and is an “aged” program so, I’d pick it right now. DBCTaskman is nothing more than the default Windows 8 Task Manager. Still a great program though.

  3. ProcessHacker said on May 11, 2013 at 2:15 am
    Reply

    Process Hacker
    http://processhacker.sourceforge.net/

    My opinion.

  4. derond said on May 10, 2013 at 12:22 pm
    Reply

    Other tools to bring Win 8 features and look to Windows 7: http://alternativeto.net/tag/windows-8-on-previous-windows/

  5. Coyote said on May 10, 2013 at 11:21 am
    Reply

    Work in progress is right, be sure to click more info or it will look like the app is nothing more than a list of currently running programs. The layouts aren’t consistent, column headers aren’t sortable, no search, properties dialog doesn’t work…. Oh and a good number of processes aren’t even listed, only blank entries.

    Performance tab does look nice but ethernet wont update on my SBS2008 server. When the author said win8 features on 7 I didn’t think most of them would be the bugs and general UI flaws that 8 is known for.

  6. Hollister said on May 10, 2013 at 11:20 am
    Reply

    I was looking for something like this.
    Thaks a lot!

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.