Normally I would post this app in "Apps Central" (I will put a link to this thread there), but this app deserves a thread of its own.
Wiz, everyone: This is one killer app. You have to see it to believe it. I’ll put up screenies, but please get this one. It even scans your drivers for updates.
Features (honestly? Too many to list):
-Detailed information about Tasks, Processes, Modules, Startups, IE Addons, Uninstallers, Windows, Services, Drivers, Connections and Opened Files. -Easy check of suspicious files via VirusTotal, Jotti service or our File Database. -Easy monitoring of processes activities and System changes. -Usage graphs of important System resources. -Tray Hint with detailed System and Battery status -WMI Browser and System Additional Info -Multilanguage Support (27)
"It displays system activity with more detail than with many expensive programs. System Explorer's tight multi-tabbed dialog-box-size interface logically arranges and displays more information than most experienced users would need. The program could use an extensive Help manual, but doesn’t have one. Operating System Explorer is primarily point-and-click. On start, the app loads all information it collects. Fourteen tabs logically spread the info into manageable portions. With a click, users can monitor tasks, processes, performance, history, windows, connections, and opened files. Each tab includes detailed information about the items included. Many details listed are easily investigated with right-click access to find information online at sites like Google and ProcessLibrary. In addition to the monitoring tools, System Explorer offers single-click access to numerous Windows tools. Disk defragmenter, computer, group policy, services, and task management aren't part of the application, but are made much easier to reach.” – c|net review
Even comes as portable.
Version: 3.0.8
Support – XP, Vista, 7.
Download link: http://download.cnet.com/System-Explorer/3000-2094_4-10784281.html?tag=nl.e784 Not “Wrapped” will redirect to "External site" which is kosher: http://systemexplorer.net/download/1315258295-b95df9f8dd516de931aacd1f3ec8a0ea/SystemExplorerSetup_308.exe
Website: http://systemexplorer.net/index.php
Whoa!! Got it! Nice......
Thanks Doc. I'll try the portable also.
Yep this is nice thanks just what the Doctor ordered.
I have this on my XP computer but for some reason never put it on my Windows 7 one. You are correct in your analysis Doc, one very nice program. Not taking anything away from Windows Task Manager but System Explorer is the 'upgrade' to it.
One thing: The Driver Scan will direct you to a paid service. I just write down the info and check for myself or use Driver Doctor or SlimDriver.
I do not trust the driver scan on this utility, it says my video card a GTX 260 is out of date I know this to be false. it also says a couple of other drivers are out of date. I also know this to be false as I use Slim driver the latest version and my drivers are all up to date. So take driver scan with a grain of salt.
I hope that Jorge weighs in on this, but users of Winstep's NextSTART beware. Starting with version 11.5 (possibly earlier) NextSTART squirrels away a PNG of each Systray icon change in C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Winstep\Systray. I first started experiencing long delays in NextSTART startup or theme changes when I first started using System Explorer. With version 11.6 I found that NextSTART was taking 2 minutes 15 seconds of one i5 thread whenever I changed themes. I finally tracked the problem down with Jorge's help to this new "feature" that had already created some 5500 PNGs which had to be processed with each NextSTART start-up.
Note: this is NOT a problem with System Explorer, but can occur with any process that dynamically updates the Systray icon. System Explorer is particularly bad because of the large number of combinations inherent with its Systray icon updates. Stopping System Explorer does not solve the problem. Only deleting all of the PNGs will get NextSTART back up to speed.
I like System Explorer, but I have had to discontinue its use for now. Jorge is supposed to be working on a fix.
And just why does NextStart even do this???
As I recall this is for some future feature that will animate the Systray icons much like Nexus.
Post to remind me to get it tomorrow.
I've run the portable, loads of info to be sure.
Pro: Driver scan showed a driver update for my USB wireless adapter. I went to the manufacturers website and updated the driver and got a slick new Config UI with it. Only thing is, the driver scan now shows the new driver but still shows an update availabe. (Possibly because I didn't download through DriverAgent?)
Con:I've not found a "driver scanner/updater" yet that didn't need cross-checking for accuracy.
Thanks for the info. I started running Nexus several months ago and wasn't aware of this.
I just checked my XP PC and C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Winstep\Systray has 3500 PNGs due to me trying out NetBalancer for a few minutes last week. It has an option to dynamically display your net in the systray icon. I'm not running NetBalancer 24/7 yet, still playing around with it. However, if I was running it full time, I shudder to think how many more PNGs there would be.
Does Jorge know about this problem?
I'd say from kku's response he knows about System Explorer, but might not regarding NetBalancer.
You should go to WinStep forums and report the problem and send him an email at: support@winstep.net .
Also, check registry entry: HKCU\Software\WinSTEP2000\Shared\TrayCache and you will probably find 10s of thousands of entries also created by NextStart. I deleted these entries and defragmented the registry which resulted in a considerably faster login because of the cleaner registry.
However, if you are not comfortable with modifying your registry, I suggest that you leave it alone or find an expert. I have posted a followup on the Winstep Beta Forum concerning this registry issue.
Ackk!! Registry pollution!!!
I only have 74 entries,maybe due to the fact I don't use NextStart. If I turn off the systray in Nexus, will it stop breeding?
I hope both of these issues get fixed. It's just silly.
I had 25 entries and about the same number of png images. I deleted the png's and since I run NextShelf and the dock and leave NextStart off, I prefer WindowBlinds, I think I'll leave the reg entries alone. These 25 entries will not likely grow.
Thanks for the info kku.
kku, I'm going to make Jorge aware of this thread. Then we can hear from him directly.
I have deleted the tray cache entries can yo safely delete the PNG's in C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Winstep\Systray.
Let me make myself quite clear. Both Winstep and System Explorer are excellent products, but the combination of the two is trouble. Only applications like System Explorer and apparently Net Balancer that create unique system tray icons can create this large number of PNG files and registry entries. More conventional applications that have just a handful of unique system tray icons will not contribute to this issue.
When I first stumbled over this problem, I had over 5500 PNG files that had been created by NextStart because of System Explorer system tray icon updates. Once I understood the problem, I would just delete the PNG files whenever I needed to (re)start NextStart. However, Jorge never said a word about the registry entries, so even though I was cleaning up the PNG file issue, the registry entries just kept growing to probably 10's of thousands.
I keep a very clean computer for my software contract business, so I am annoyed that I have easily spent over 20 hours of my time tracking down this performance problem. I can only wonder how many less sophisticated Winstep users went to one of those "Speed Up My PC" scam-sites thinking that they had been infected by a virus or other mal-ware.
This "stealth feature" should never have been released on the public unless it was disabled by default and had provision to clean up the PNG files and registry entries as easily as it created them. Better yet, it should never have left the beta testing environment.
Not really a "stealth feature". Has to do with obtaining higher res systray icon png's to use on Nexus systray dock, as you pointed out.
The issue occurs because of the animated icons for these apps presenting 'different' icons to the Nexus feature.
Jorge's answer here:
http://forums.winstep.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4401&p=16669&hilit=systray+and+pngs#p16669
is worth the read. He says it will be resolved in the next beta, and I believe him. He comes through. I also understand why it presents such an annoyance to you, kku.
A less time consuming solution (in the meantime) could be:
1. Delete all png's in the Nexus systray folder.
2. Open CCleaner to the registry tool.
3. Scan for problems.
4. Select "fix all" and make the registry backup!
5. delete the (now) empty keys.
I've tested this method and it works.
Saving this one
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