pherguvsel

1) Actually, Systinternals Process Explorer is a much recommended FREEWARE replacement for Task Manager. Just download, run, then choose Options > Replace Task Manager and it will run instead wherever there's a system short cut (e.g., the toolbar context menu or ALT + CTRL +DEL). Less confusing, more powerful. 2) For novice users, there are many help forums on the internet where experts are willing to analyze a Hijack This! report and help advise as to which entries are potentially spyware (and/or unnecessary). 3) Like most of the apps that come with Windows (such as Task Manager as noted above, with CharMap being the only exception I can think of all the top of my head), there is at least one better freeware option than Microsoft's defrag utility.