I would like to always show the windows CPU usage graphic in the taskbar near the system clock as it does when the task manager is open. Is there a way to make it always show with no more intervention (such as opening task manager each time I start up)?

Also, any recommended CPU monitors that show just a nice little graphic in the taskbar of the currenct usage?

you can start your pc up with task manager running minimized

1. Right click your desktop and select New then shortcut


2. Type in taskmgr and hit enter


3. Hit enter again


4. Right click the new shortcut and go to properties


5. In the Run dropdown select "Minimized"


6. Click Start and All Programs


7. Find Startup and right click the folder and select Open


8. Drag the new shortcut into that folder

Now the taskmanager will always run - minimized - when the computer boots.

I tried the above for Windows 10, but it just did not work (Task Manager started but not minimised).

I found the possibility of putting

start /min taskmgr

into a batch file and then create a task with the Task Scheduler running this batch file at logon. (See e.g. https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/0065fc23-2578-4165-8f38-c22675ae33ad/run-the-task-manager-on-startup-how or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkNzHnYYrm0)

However, with this method you will always have a minimised Task Manager sitting in your Windows task bar after logon, in spite of you having ticked Options->Hide when minimised in Task Manager. It will only disappear from the task bar -- with the tray icon remaining -- if you maximise it once again and minimised it manually. If this is annoying you, here is another method:

Create a .wsf file with the following content; e.g. C:UsersLinusAppDatataskmgr-minimised.wsf

<package>

   <job id="vbs">

      <script language="VBScript">

        set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

        WshShell.Run "taskmgr"

        WScript.Sleep 100

        WshShell.SendKeys "% n"

      </script>

   </job>

</package>

This is a VBScript that opens the task manager and subsequently emulates the button presses of Alt + Space + n, which minimises a window. If you want to test it, you have to run it as administrator! You may open a Command Prompt as administrator and run

cscript C:UsersLinusAppDatataskmgr-minimised.wsf

Now, you want this to be executed at every logon, which can again be done with the Windows Task Scheduler (similiar to the above linked batchfile method):

When creating the new task, in the General tab, make sure to tick Run with highest privileges!

In the Triggers tab, create a new "At log on" trigger and make sure to set Delay task for: 1 second! (1 second is not in the drop down menu, but you can just manually type it in.)

In the Actions tab, create a new "Start a program" action and set cscript and the path to your .wsf file in the appropriate fields:

You may change the remaining tabs to your liking.

That did the trick at least on my system.

Maybe on a slower system you may have to increase the WScript.Sleep milliseconds in the wsf file or the Delay task for time. Then just try to decrease it as long as it still works.

I have three programs for you:

1. XMeters

Taskbar appearance:

Setting:

So far I'm satisfied with this program.

2. RAM CPU (+DISK) Taskbar

It turns your taskbar into a dynamic color-changing resource meter.

3. CleanMem Mini Monitor

This one actually display a floating panel and an icon in the notification area rather than in taskbar. It also has more settings than the two above.