In the Windows operating system, background processes are programs that run without user interaction, often performing essential tasks like system monitoring, updates, or scheduled tasks. Managing these processes can help optimize system performance and troubleshoot issues. This article will guide you through managing background processes using Command Prompt (CMD) and PowerShell.

Understanding Background Processes

Background processes in Windows can be system processes or user-initiated processes. They are crucial for the smooth operation of the OS and various applications. However, sometimes they can consume significant system resources, leading to performance issues.

How to View Background Processes

Using Task Manager

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the "Processes" tab to view all running processes, including background processes.

Using Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd in the search bar and pressing Enter.

2. Type the following command to list all running processes:

   tasklist

   This command will display a list of all currently running processes with their respective Process IDs (PIDs).

Using PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell by typing powershell in the search bar and pressing Enter.

2. Use the following command to list all processes:

   Get-Process

   This will show a detailed list of all processes, including their names and IDs.

How to End Background Processes

Using Command Prompt

1. Identify the PID of the process you want to end using the tasklist command.

2. Use the following command to terminate the process:

   taskkill /PID <PID> /F

   Replace <PID> with the actual Process ID of the process you want to terminate.

Using PowerShell

1. Identify the process name or PID using the Get-Process command.

2. Use the following command to stop the process:

   Stop-Process -Name "<ProcessName>" -Force

   Or, if you prefer using the PID:

   Stop-Process -Id <PID> -Force

   Replace <ProcessName> or <PID> with the actual process name or ID.

How to Start a Process in the Background

Using Command Prompt

To start a new process in the background, use the start command:

start /b <ApplicationName>

Replace <ApplicationName> with the name of the application you want to run.

Using PowerShell

To start a new process in the background, use the Start-Process cmdlet:

Start-Process -FilePath "<ApplicationPath>" -NoNewWindow

Replace <ApplicationPath> with the full path to the application executable.

Examples

1. Listing Processes with CMD:

   tasklist

2. Ending a Process with PowerShell:

   Stop-Process -Name "notepad" -Force

3. Starting Notepad in the Background with CMD:

   start /b notepad.exe

4. Starting Calculator in the Background with PowerShell:

   Start-Process -FilePath "calc.exe" -NoNewWindow