Monitoring and optimizing your Windows 10 system is one of the most effective ways to keep your PC running smoothly. Whether you are a beginner who simply wants to understand what’s happening in the background, or an advanced user looking to fine-tune performance, Windows provides several built-in system tools that make this possible. Additionally, third-party utilities such as Glary Utilities extend these capabilities further, giving you more control and automation in maintaining your computer.
What are Windows system monitoring tools?
System monitoring tools are utilities that help you observe how your computer’s resources are being used. These include CPU usage, memory allocation, disk activity, and network traffic. Knowing how these resources behave allows you to identify slowdowns, troubleshoot issues, and optimize performance.
Beginner’s guide: Using built-in tools in Windows 10
For new users, the simplest way to monitor system performance is through Task Manager.
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the “Performance” tab.
3. Here, you can see real-time information about CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.
For example, if your system feels slow, checking Task Manager may reveal that memory usage is consistently above 90%. This indicates that too many applications are running at once, and closing unused programs can free up memory immediately.
Another useful tool is Resource Monitor, which provides a more detailed view.
1. Type “Resource Monitor” into the Windows search bar and open it.
2. Navigate through the CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network tabs.
3. Watch which processes consume the most resources.
Resource Monitor is particularly useful for identifying processes that are unnecessarily using disk activity or bandwidth, an issue that often causes lag when running multiple applications.
Intermediate level: Event Viewer and Performance Monitor
For users who want deeper insights, Event Viewer and Performance Monitor provide advanced options.
Event Viewer records logs about system events such as application crashes, driver errors, and hardware warnings. Reviewing these logs can help pinpoint the cause of recurring problems. For example, if your PC crashes frequently, Event Viewer may show consistent disk errors, pointing toward a failing hard drive.
Performance Monitor allows you to create custom monitoring reports.
1. Search for “Performance Monitor” in the Start menu.
2. In the left pane, expand Data Collector Sets.
3. Create a new data collector to track specific performance counters such as disk write speed or memory usage over time.
This is especially useful for advanced troubleshooting or when you want to analyze long-term performance trends.
Advanced optimization with Glary Utilities
While Windows provides useful tools, maintaining performance often requires cleanup and optimization tasks beyond simple monitoring. Glary Utilities is a comprehensive suite designed for this purpose.
For beginners, Glary Utilities offers a 1-Click Maintenance feature. This automatically scans for unnecessary startup items, temporary files, invalid registry entries, and broken shortcuts. Running this regularly speeds up boot times and frees storage without requiring technical expertise.
For advanced users, Glary Utilities includes powerful modules such as:
– Startup Manager: Gives complete control over which programs launch at startup, helping reduce boot delays.
– Disk Cleaner: Removes hidden junk and temporary files that Windows built-in tools often miss.
– Memory Optimizer: Frees up RAM in real-time, useful for users running demanding applications.
– File Shredder: Ensures sensitive data is permanently erased, offering higher security than simple deletion.
A practical example of combining tools would be using Task Manager to identify slow startup caused by multiple background apps, then using Glary Utilities’ Startup Manager to disable unnecessary entries in one step.
Why system tools matter for every user
Whether you are a beginner checking Task Manager for the first time, or an advanced user building custom performance reports in Performance Monitor, system monitoring tools provide valuable insights that keep your PC efficient and stable. When paired with optimization suites like Glary Utilities, you not only monitor but also actively improve system performance.
Windows 10 gives you the foundation with built-in system monitoring tools, and Glary Utilities enhances this with cleanup, automation, and advanced optimization features. Together, they make managing and optimizing your computer straightforward and effective.