Computer experts

[somany]

I will preface my question with the disclaimer that I don't know what I'm talking about (but you probably already know that haha), but I'm wondering if there is a way to see what is "running" on my computer at a given point in time?  It did updates last night, and tonight when I tried to get on, it wouldn't complete the process.  I had to shut it off and then it went through a restore (took forever).  Now I am having trouble just editing a picture.  I click on "straighten photo" and it just sits there for several seconds before it finally makes the adjustment.  I would shut it down and restart it, but since I had the problem starting up earlier, I don't want to do that right now.  (Trying to get my daily allotment of listings done before 3:00 ebay time so I can count them for Wednesday!)  TIA.

[thekloset]

task manager.

you dont say which windows you are running, but if its later versions you can try control+alt+delete to bring up the sign out screen--the last choice should be task manager.

[Deleted]

Open task manager and then look along the top at your memory etc and see what it says, if any columns are in red you are maxed out on your processing or memory or something. Look down that column an see what is using the biggest #. It's really easy to see what program is hogging your resources once you see it on the task manager grid.