How can I get a list of running tasks on a remote Windows 7 computer?

Question

I know that I can do Remote Session into a remote computer and then run a task manager on it to get a list of running processes. What I'm curious, if there is a way that can show running tasks on a remote machine without doing a remote session?

Solution 1

Use tasklist, specifically tasklist /S system.

Solution 2

There are few other ways to get list of remote processes: WMI query, wmic tool and PowerShell script.

With PowerShell it becomes really powerful: you can query multiple computers at the same time, filter and sort by processes name.

For example, query computers in an AD domain for list of running processes:
Get-ADComputer -Filter {OperatingSystem -Like “Windows 10*”} | ForEach-Object {Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Process -Computer $_.Name}
^{(typed as all one line)}

Here is detailed description of the syntax: https://www.action1.com/kb/list_of_running_processes_on_remote_computer.html

Solution 3

There are a few tool to use:

pslist to list all processes on a remote PC; see SS64.com for more information (free, from MS/SysInternals)

Remote Task Manager to "Monitor all running tasks, processes, services and events on remote computers." (shareware, from DeviceLock.com)

Remote Process Explorer to "get the list of processes and... manage them... on a local or remote computer." (free for non-commercial use, from System Lizerd)

Check these and other downloads in VirusTotal; I've not tried the last two.

Solution 4

ProcInsp allows you to monitor running windows processes using web ui. It can show not only processes, but also their threads and stackstraces. I'm ProcInsp's developer, the tool is free for use.

View more solutions

Comments

[MikeF]

Thanks. Although I can't seem to configure it. I get access denied errors.

[Steven]

You may have to specify the remote username and password. technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730909.aspx

[MikeF]

That's what I did. It hangs up for a little bit and then gives me "ERROR: Access denied". The same by the way happens if I try Remote Task Manager suggested below.

[MikeF]

Found additional steps needed to make tasklist work: social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/…