In Windows, what does Task Manager allow you to do?

Task Manager in Windows is a powerful utility that provides users with the ability to monitor and manage running applications and processes. When you open Task Manager, you can view currently active programs, see how much CPU, memory, and disk resources they are using, and end tasks or processes that may be unresponsive or consuming excessive resources. This capability is essential for troubleshooting performance issues, as it allows users to identify which applications may be causing slowdowns or other problems.

Additionally, Task Manager provides insights into performance metrics and resource usage, helping to diagnose issues effectively. Although it does include some limited functionality for monitoring system performance and users can see services being run, its primary focus is on managing processes and applications actively running on the system.

The other options involve functionalities that are outside the scope of what Task Manager is designed to do. For instance, installing new software requires administrative access and involves using specific installation files or packages rather than being part of Task Manager's feature set. Changing system settings typically involves navigating through the Control Panel or Settings app, while managing network configurations is handled through tools like Network Connections or similar utilities, rather than through Task Manager. Thus, the ability of Task Manager to manage and monitor running applications and processes is its core function.