Easily identify services running inside Windows XP's processes

by Greg Shultz | Oct 26, 2005 8:56:00 PM

Tags: Greg Shultz, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows, Windows XP Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: When you're troubleshooting in Windows XP, you can spend a lot of time deciphering the often cryptic names of the programs and processes running on a system. Here's a timesaving trick that shows you how to use the TaskList command to identify which processes are hosting services.

Most Windows XP admins start their troubleshooting process by launching Windows Task Manager and selecting the Processes tab in order to gather information about the programs and processes that are currently running on a system. While some of the running processes are easy to identify (especially if they directly represent an application), other processes can be puzzling to identify (especially if they represent services).

For instance, when you look at the list of processes displayed in the panel, you'll probably find multiple processes listed as Svchost.exe, which is a generic host process name for services that run from dynamic-link libraries (DLLs). In addition, you may find other similarly named processes that actually represent services.

You can easily identify the processes that are hosting services by utilizing Windows XP's TaskList command-line tool and the ModualName switch to create an easy to read report. Here's how:

1. Open a Command Prompt window.
2. Type the following command and press [Enter]:
   tasklist /m > tasklist.rtf
3. Launch your word processing program, load the tasklist.rtf document, and investigate the nicely formatted report.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

Than where to find the tasklist.rtf???? frehen@... | 10/27/05

RE: Than where to find the tasklist.rtf???? madzooka | 10/27/05

null arqueiro | 10/27/05

current folder... onsiter | 10/27/05

How to find it..... pbg51 | 10/27/05

support tools kacper_j@... | 10/27/05

null El Guapo | 10/27/05

Found it jlapolla@... | 10/27/05

null dsw1ng@... | 10/27/05

Decide where it goes instead of searching! YetAnotherAdmin | 10/27/05

agreed tony_moey@... | 10/27/05

Best Advise Here dened | 11/01/05

OK, that did it frehen@... | 12/10/05

OK, that did it frehen@... | 12/10/05

Tasklist.rtf randarac@... | 10/27/05

Make it easy on yourself - create a hx folder SysAdmin | 10/27/05

Look in... BrewBaker | 10/27/05

My tasklist.rtf Document Location acecc@... | 10/27/05

decide where yourselve... lpzchav@... | 10/27/05

Does not recognize the command tasklist? rocknroll1810@... | 10/27/05

RE: Does not recognize the command tasklist DugaDugDug | 10/28/05

U can always go here kmbanner@... | 10/27/05

I can't believe robert@... | 10/28/05

Yup ... MCS-1 | 10/29/05

Not necessarily true dened | 11/01/05

The same place the command window was ChuckSomerville | 10/28/05

XP TASKLIST zonkjr@... | 10/30/05

its right here meshover@... | 11/04/05

Just add this to your task... phillips.re@... | 01/12/06

Easily identify services running inside processes ArieA | 10/27/05

null Albert Frankenstein | 10/27/05

tasklist failures.... ArieA | 10/27/05

Try a space Albert Frankenstein | 10/27/05

tasklist failures.... ArieA | 10/27/05

tasklist failures.... ArieA | 10/27/05

internal command failure AWS72544@... | 10/27/05

TaskList Doug Simmons | 10/27/05

another option ArthurP | 10/27/05

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You Are A Saint innocent_bystander | 10/27/05

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power of tasklist... xfg2kmine@... | 10/27/05

Finding tasklist.exe bridso_b@... | 10/27/05

Does anybody edit these articles? bridso_b@... | 10/27/05

I cant use this, why? jmk1024@... | 10/27/05

uhhhhh theitdude@... | 10/27/05

It looks like XP Pro only Lickett E Splitt | 10/27/05

'Borrow' tasklist from a PRO system? acampbell@... | 10/27/05

U can use this rohitkeswani_lko@... | 10/28/05

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Sysinternals Process Explorer - Free Utility ssssss@... | 10/27/05

Process Explorer - A+ noemib | 10/27/05

where can I find it? jtinagero@... | 10/27/05

Process Explorer Web Location Doug Lowry | 10/27/05

tasklist failures.... ArieA | 10/27/05

Outstanding innocent_bystander | 10/27/05

Process Explorer JerryPM | 10/28/05

If Microsoft are reading ... ArthurP | 11/07/05

Be more specific Rustys | 10/27/05

XP Home LeRoy787604@... | 10/27/05

Job Security innocent_bystander | 10/27/05

Scope of the article... rniece | 10/27/05

Mostly true jmgarvin | 10/28/05

Is there a way to get this information using Windows API or other calls venky@... | 10/27/05

Good Article, Scary Responses innocent_bystander | 10/27/05

RTF file Greg Shultz | 10/27/05

rtf MCS-1 | 10/29/05

Nice TRICK michael@... | 10/27/05

Nothing for us oldtimer's toms45 | 10/27/05

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I tried this and wow at the info ctu050555@... | 10/28/05

do you want breast feeding as well ? ArthurP | 11/07/05

Sad Sad Sad MichaelLWilliamsJr@... | 12/08/05

Tasklist Data Geek | 10/29/05