Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Process Explorer VS Starter

Compare Process Explorer VS Starter and see what are their differences

Process Explorer logo Process Explorer

The top window always shows a list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, whereas the information displayed in the bottom window depends on the mode that Process Explorer is in: if it is in handle mode you'lโ€ฆ

Starter logo Starter

STARTER Commissioning Software. Commissioning and diagnostics - intelligent and simple. The STARTER commissioning tool supports you when parameterizing, commissioning, troubleshooting and when service is required.
  • Process Explorer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • Starter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-12-23

Process Explorer features and specs

  • Detailed System Information
    Process Explorer provides in-depth information about system processes, including detailed CPU and memory usage stats.
  • Hierarchical View
    It shows processes in a tree structure, making it easy to understand parent-child relationships between processes.
  • Advanced Diagnostic Capabilities
    The tool offers advanced features like DLL and handle viewing, allowing detailed investigation of system issues.
  • Real-Time Monitoring
    It allows real-time monitoring of system performance, including CPU, GPU, and I/O activity, which is critical for diagnosing performance bottlenecks.
  • Integration with VirusTotal
    Process Explorer can integrate with VirusTotal to check the safety of running processes, adding an extra layer of security.
  • Free to Use
    Process Explorer is part of the Sysinternals suite, which is freely available for use, making it accessible for both individual users and organizations.

Possible disadvantages of Process Explorer

  • Complexity
    The extensive features and detailed information can be overwhelming for novice users who may find the interface complex to navigate.
  • Resource Intensive
    While generally lightweight, the comprehensive monitoring features can consume a noticeable amount of system resources, which might affect performance on older or less powerful systems.
  • Windows Only
    Process Explorer is designed specifically for Windows operating systems, limiting its use for those who work in cross-platform environments.
  • No Built-In Reporting
    The tool does not offer built-in reporting capabilities, requiring users to manually capture and document information.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its advanced features and detailed information, new users might face a steep learning curve before being able to fully utilize all its capabilities.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there are some resources available, the documentation can be sparse, making it difficult for users to find solutions to specific problems.

Starter features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Starter provides a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to manage startup applications without requiring technical expertise.
  • Comprehensive Control
    The software allows detailed management of startup programs, services, and drivers, enabling users to optimize their system's performance efficiently.
  • Portable Version
    Starter offers a portable version that can be used without installation, making it convenient for users who work across multiple computers.
  • Resource Monitoring
    The tool includes features for monitoring system resources in real-time, helping users keep track of CPU and memory usage by startup applications.

Possible disadvantages of Starter

  • Legacy Software
    As of the latest updates, Starter has not received recent updates and may lack support for newer operating systems or technologies.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to other modern startup management tools, Starter may lack some advanced features or customization options, which might be necessary for power users.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Users may encounter compatibility issues with newer versions of Windows, given that the software has not been updated recently.
  • Outdated User Experience
    The interface design may appear outdated compared to contemporary applications, potentially impacting usability for users accustomed to modern software aesthetics.

Analysis of Process Explorer

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Process Explorer is generally regarded as a good and reliable tool by both system administrators and other IT professionals. It is frequently recommended for its depth of features, ease of use, and the detailed process information it provides.

Why this product is good

  • Process Explorer is considered a valuable tool because it offers comprehensive insights into system processes, threads, and resource usage. It provides detailed information about which files and directories individual processes have open, the DLLs they have loaded, and more. Its ability to offer real-time data and powerful searching capabilities makes it invaluable for troubleshooting and performance monitoring.

Recommended for

  • System administrators
  • IT professionals
  • Software developers
  • Anyone interested in detailed system diagnostics
  • Users troubleshooting application issues

Process Explorer videos

Sysinternals Process Explorer Review + download link and method

More videos:

  • Review - Scan for Malware Using Process Explorer and Virus Total
  • Review - What Is?: Process Explorer?

Starter videos

NZXT BLD Starter Pre-Built Gaming PC Review

More videos:

  • Review - Which Car Jump Starter Is Best? Let's find out! NOCO GB40 vs Duracell vs Audew
  • Review - Call of Cthulhu Starter Set - RPG Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Process Explorer and Starter)
Monitoring Tools
95 95%
5% 5
Utilities
81 81%
19% 19
Command Line Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Performance Monitoring
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Process Explorer seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 289 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Process Explorer mentions (289)

  • Stats โ€“ macOS system monitor in your menu bar
    Unclear what you mean by programmable, but https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer is the bee's knees and you can set an option to have it take over taskmon.exe, launch on login, and put as many of the widgets in the taskbar as you fancy. I love it I've heard about running them directly from SMB but have never been the kind of person to try out such a stunt... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What tools do you recommend for working on Windows?
    Always put all your portable programs in the "A:\MyPC\Programs\" folder. Always put all your documents in the "A:\MyPC\Documents\" folder. Put driver files and runtime libraries in the "A:\MyPC\Install\" folder. For all three, feel free to create subfolders as needed, either per topic, per group, or however your brain envisions data trees. You can find plenty of portable windows software in the links provided... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Hidden dependencies in Linux binaries.
    On windows, this is Dependency Walker versus ProcExp. Similar eye-goggling results. https://www.dependencywalker.com/ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Windows Explorer and Desktop Window Manager high RAM usage
    If you run Process Explorer (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer) and enable process tree view, you can see what processes are running under explorer.exe. That should give you a better idea of what's consuming that memory if you're genuinely concerned about this. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Roblox doesn't launch for months on PC
    If you have any suspicious processes running onto your computer, close them IMMEDIATELY. I suggest using Process Explorer, as it has a Virustotal which submits all Executables to virustotal under 70+ antiviruses. If any of the processes have 3+ detections, Close them down as anticheats will detect it and stop you from running Roblox. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Starter mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Starter yet. Tracking of Starter recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Process Explorer and Starter, you can also consider the following products

Process Monitor - Monitor file system, Registry, process, thread and DLL activity in real-time.

Autoruns - See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots and you login.

htop - htop - an interactive process viewer for Unix. This is htop, an interactive process viewer for Unix systems. It is a text-mode application (for console or X terminals) and requires ncurses. Latest release: htop 2.

Startup Delayer - Startup Delayer gives you the power to optimize your Startup Process by delaying applications from starting up as soon as you log into your computer. By delaying the applications during start up, your computer becomes usable a lot faster.

Autorun Organizer - Free startup manager with delay option.

Process Hacker - Process Hacker is a feature-packed tool for manipulating processes and services on your computer.