Script to Display the Processes Running on a Computer
By Stephen Bucaro
Processes are the programs or tasks running on a computer. The most common way
to view the processes is with Task Manager. To get a quick list you could
use a script. Below is a script that displays the processes running on a computer.
Set objWMI = GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\cimv2")
Set colProcesses = objWMi.InstancesOf("Win32_Process")
strProcesses = ""
For each objProcess In colProcesses
strProcesses = strProcesses & objProcess.Name & vbTab & "(" & objProcess.ProcessID & ")" & VbCrLf
Next
MsgBox(strProcesses)
WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) is Microsoft’s implementation of the
DMTF (Distributed Management Task Force) WBEM (Web-Based Enterprise Manage)
standard. WMI is an extension of the Windows drivers model that provides an
interface through which scripting languages like Java Script and VB Script can
access information and manage components of a computer like hardware, applications,
services, security, processes, the file system, etc. locally and across a network.
The WMI is extremely complex and it would require a book full of alphabet soup to
provide even a simplified description of it (and many books have been written on
the subject). However, using the WMI is extremely easy. You access its incredible
power by writing simple scripts. The
Microsoft Scripting Center
provides hundreds of scripts to perform common administrative tasks through WMI, and
there are many other web sites dedicated to WMI scripts.
WMI a hierarchical arrangement of namespaces to organize objects. The example script
creates a WMI object to access "Win32_Process" object's Processes collection.
The root directory is named root. Four predefined namespaces reside below the
root: cimv2, default, security, and wmi. The "Win32_Process" object resides
in the cimv2 namespace.
• Scripts that access the WMI require Administrator rights.
Note: The script in this article is provided AS IS without warranty of any kind.
Bucaro TecHelp disclaims all implied warranties including, without limitation, any
implied warranties of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose. The
entire risk arising out of the use of the script remains with you. In no event shall
Bucaro TecHelp be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of the use of or
inability to use this script.
More Windows Administration Information:
• Common Issues With Windows Firewall
• PC Technician Certifications and Professional Organizations
• A Handful of Useful Run Commands: calc, notepad, wordpad, voice recorder, control
• How to Become a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional)
• For Quick Information About System - DOS Systeminfo Command
• Script to Print a Directory File List
• Retrieving Information from Computers Belonging to an Active Directory OU
• Uninstall OneNote from Windows 10
• To Protect Your PC Disable the Windows Scripting Host
• Windows Server 2019 and PowerShell All-in-One For Dummies
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