Monitoring your Windows system is essential for maintaining performance, diagnosing issues, and ensuring overall health. Windows comes equipped with several built-in tools that can help you keep an eye on system resources, processes, and performance. In this guide, we’ll explore these native features, show you how to use them step-by-step, and discuss when a third-party tool like Glary Utilities might offer even more comprehensive monitoring and optimization.
What Are Windows System Monitoring Tools?
System monitoring tools are software utilities that help you track your computer’s resources—such as CPU, memory, disk usage, network activity, and running processes. These tools allow you to spot problems, identify performance bottlenecks, and understand what’s happening inside your machine.
Which Built-in Tools Does Windows Offer for System Monitoring?
Windows provides several built-in options for monitoring system performance and activity. Let’s look at the most important ones and how to use them.
1. Task Manager
Task Manager is the go-to tool for quickly checking what’s running on your PC and how resources are being used.
How to Open Task Manager:
– Right-click the taskbar and select “Task Manager”
– Or, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
How to Use Task Manager:
– On the Processes tab, see how much CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network each application is using.
– The Performance tab gives you real-time graphs for CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network usage.
– The Startup tab lets you manage which programs launch at startup.
Example: If your PC feels slow, open Task Manager. On the Processes tab, sort by CPU or Memory to find out which app is hogging resources. You can right-click and choose “End Task” if necessary.
2. Resource Monitor
For more detailed information, Resource Monitor provides deeper insight into resource usage.
How to Open Resource Monitor:
– Open Task Manager, go to the Performance tab, then click “Open Resource Monitor” at the bottom.
– Or, type “Resource Monitor” in the Start menu search and select it.
How to Use Resource Monitor:
– The Overview tab summarizes CPU, Disk, Network, and Memory activity.
– Other tabs offer detailed breakdowns. For example, the CPU tab shows all active processes and their individual CPU usage.
– You can identify which services or processes are using the most disk or network resources.
Example: If you notice your hard drive is very active, use Resource Monitor to see which files and processes are accessing the disk.
3. Performance Monitor
Performance Monitor is a powerful tool for advanced users who want to track system performance over time.
How to Open Performance Monitor:
– Press Windows Key + R, type “perfmon”, and press Enter.
How to Use Performance Monitor:
– In the left pane, choose “Performance Monitor”.
– Click the green plus (+) icon to add performance counters such as Processor Time, Available Memory, Disk Queue Length, and more.
– You can create custom reports and logs to track performance trends.
Example: If you want to see if your system memory is often full, add the “Available MBytes” counter and observe it over a few sessions.
4. Event Viewer
Event Viewer logs system events, errors, and warnings that can help diagnose hardware or software problems.
How to Open Event Viewer:
– Press Windows Key + R, type “eventvwr”, and press Enter.
How to Use Event Viewer:
– In the left pane, look under “Windows Logs” for “System” and “Application”.
– Scroll through events to spot recent errors or critical warnings.
– Double-click an event for details that can help with troubleshooting.
Example: If your PC is unexpectedly shutting down, search Event Viewer’s System log for events around the shutdown time.
Are Built-in Tools Enough for All Users?
Windows’ built-in tools provide a strong foundation for monitoring your system. For everyday tasks, such as checking resource usage or identifying problematic programs, Task Manager and Resource Monitor are usually sufficient. Performance Monitor and Event Viewer are powerful for users who need deeper analysis or long-term monitoring.
However, these tools do not offer automated maintenance, easy-to-understand reports, or optimization features. They also require manual effort and technical understanding, especially for ongoing cleanup and performance tuning.
When Should You Use Glary Utilities for System Monitoring and Optimization?
While built-in Windows tools give you monitoring capabilities, a third-party tool like Glary Utilities simplifies the process of maintaining and optimizing your PC.
Benefits of Glary Utilities:
– Provides an easy-to-use dashboard with real-time system monitoring.
– Offers 1-Click Maintenance to clean junk files, fix registry errors, and optimize startup.
– Includes detailed modules for tracking software, hardware, and system health.
– Allows scheduling of automatic maintenance tasks, so you don’t have to remember.
How to Get Started with Glary Utilities:
– Download and install Glary Utilities from the official website.
– Open the program and use the “Overview” to see current system health.
– Try the “1-Click Maintenance” feature for instant cleanup and optimization.
– Explore tools like “Startup Manager”, “Disk Cleaner”, and “Performance Monitor” under the “Advanced Tools” menu for deeper monitoring and management.
Example: If your PC is running slow and you’re not sure why, Glary Utilities can show you real-time resource usage, find unnecessary startup programs, and clean out leftover junk in just a few clicks—no technical background required.
Conclusion: Which Option Should You Choose?
For most everyday monitoring needs, Windows’ built-in tools are sufficient and immediately accessible. They are perfect for checking performance, tracking down high-resource apps, or diagnosing basic issues.
For users who want a more automated, user-friendly, and comprehensive solution, Glary Utilities is an excellent addition. It not only monitors your system but also helps keep it running smoothly with minimal effort. Combining built-in Windows monitoring with the optimization features of Glary Utilities ensures your PC stays in top shape—no matter your level of technical expertise.