Task Manager is a Windows-based utility that dbplays applicatiOns currently loaded into memory, processes that are currently running, microprocessor usage information, and memory usage data. To activate the Task Manager utility, press the etrl + Ait + Del keys. Another way of accessing Task Manager is to right¬click on the taskbar and then click on the Task Manager option.

One of the common uses of Task Manager is to exit from an application that is "hung up" or not responding. Task Manager can help with exiting the program. Once inside the Task Manager window, click on the Applications tab. Locate the name of the troublesome application and click on it. Normally, if an application is causing a problem, the status shows the application as "not responding." Select the problem application and click on the End Task button. Let's perform a few exercises to help you understand Windows XP Task Manager and Event Viewer. The goal of this exercise is to use Task manager to halt an application. You need a computer with Windows XP installed.

1. Turn the computer on and verify that the operating system loads. Log in to Windows XPusing the userid and password provided by the instructor or lab assistant. Ensure that the userid is one that has Administrator rights

2. From the Start menu, choose All Programs, Accessories, and then select Notepad. The Notepad utility opens.

3. To access Task Manager, simultaneously press Control, Alt, and Delete. The Task Manager window opens.

4.Select the Applications tab.

5. Click on the Untitled-Notepad option and click on the End Task button. Notepad closes.

6. Close the Task Manager window.

Dr. Watson is a utility that automatically loads when an application starts. Dr. Watson can detect and display troubleshooting information as well as create a text log file (DRWTSN32.LOG) when a system or application error occurs. A techn ician might need this information when communicating with Microsoft or the application developer's technical support. Make notes of any messages that appear on the screen when any type of problem occurs. To start Dr. Watson in Windows XP, click on the Start button, click on thtS Run option, and type drwtsn32 and press Enter. Click on the application error and click on the View button. The default location for the log file is C: \ Documents and Settings \ All Users \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ DrWatson. When an error occurs, Dr. Watson appends information to the end of this log file.

Event Viewer is a Windows tool used to monitor various events in your computer such as when a driver or service does not start properly. The EventLog service starts automatically'every time a computer boots to Windows XP. This service is what allows the events to be logged and then Event Viewer is used to see the log. Access the Event Viewer by clicking on the Start button, then click on the Control Panel option, and if in Category view, click on the Performance and Maintenance category, click on Administrative Tools icon, and double-click on the Event Viewer icon. If in Classic Control Panel view, double-click on the Administrative Tools control panel icon. Then, double-click on the Event Viewer icon.

The left window contains the type of Event Viewer logs such as the application log, the security log, and the system log. The application log displays events associated with a specific program. The programmers who design software decide which events to display in the Event Viewer's application log. The security log displays events such as when different users log in to the computer (both valid and invalid log ins). A technician can pick which events are displayed in the security log. All users can view the system log and the application log, but only a member of Administrators can enable security log information.

The most commonly used log is the system log. The system log displays events that deal with various system components such as a driver or service that loads during startup. The type of system log events cannot be changed, added, or deleted. Click on the system log option in the left panel. The system log events displays in the right window. Figure XP-7 shows an example of Event Viewer's system log. Event viewer logs can be saved as files and viewed later. This is especially useful with intermittent problems. Use the Action menu item to save and retrieve saved event viewer log files. Let's perform a few exercises to help you understand Windows XP Task Manager and Event Viewer. The goal of this exercise is to use Event Viewer. You need a computer with Windows XP installed.

1. Turn the computer on and verify that the operating system loads, Log in to Windows XP using the userid and password provided by the instructor or lab assistant. Ensure that the userid is one that has Administrator rights.

2 . Event Viewer is used to monitor various events such as when drivers and services load (or fail to load and have problemsl, Click on the Start button, click on the Control Panel option. If in Control Panel Category view, click on Performance and Maintenance category, and click on Administrative Tools, If in Classic view, double-click on Administrative Tools control panel icon, and then double-click on the Event Viewer icon. The Event Viewer window opens.

3. Click on the Application log located in the left pane. Application events list in the right pane.

4. Double-click on any application event.

5. Close the Event Properties window. Click on the System log located in the left plane, System events list in the right pane,

6. Double-click on any of the individual events. Click on the button that looks like two pieces of paper. It is the button directly under the up and down arrow buttons.

7. Click on the Start button, Click on the Run option.
Type c1ipbrd and press Enter. The event is copied to the Clipboard and the clipbrd command opens the Clipboard Viewer.

8 . Open Notepad by clicking on the Start button, pointing to All Programs, pointing to Accessories, and clicking on the Notepad option.

9. Click on the Edit menu option and select Paste.

10. The event information can be saved as a text file and referenced later especially when there is a problem.

11. Close Event Viewer.