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Measure CPU Usage from System Tray Icon in Windows 7

By Codrut Nistor

Posted in How-to, Windows-7

Whether Windows 7 is used in home environments or production every user or administrator is curious to know about the CPU usage of the computer. This is because of the fact that the more the CPU is used the lesser performance it offers. In order to avoid excessive CPU usage users need to reduce the numbers of simultaneously running applications. A user can view the CPU usage by going to Task Manager and sometimes in case of Windows 7 or Windows Vista he can also place CPU meter gadget on the desktop. However many users do not know that there is another simpler way to place a small icon of CPU usage meter in the system tray by following the steps given below:

  1. Logon to Windows 7 computer.

  2. Click on Start button and go to All Programs.

  3. Locate and right click on Startup container and from the available menu click on Open.

  4. On the opened window right click anywhere in blank space and go to New.

  5. From the submenu click on Shortcut and on the opened box click on Browse button to locate TASKMGR.EXE.

  6. Click on Next button and on the next window specify the name of the shortcut.

  7. Click on Finish button.

  8. Right click on the created shortcut and from the menu click on Properties.

  9. On Properties box make sure that you are on Shortcut tab and from the available Run drop-down list choose Minimized.

  10. Click on Ok button to save the changes.

  11. Right click on Taskbar and click on Start Task Manager.

  12. On Windows Task Manager box from the Options menu choose Hide When Minimized option to select.

  13. Close Windows Task Manager.

  14. Check your configuration by restarting the Windows. You will be displayed with a small CPU meter icon in the system tray.