Error message dialog boxes usually have title bar text containing the application or process name that generated the error. However, you may sometimes encounter a pop-up window with no text in the title bar, making you guess which program has caused the error.
Let’ say there are 100+ processes are showing up in the Task Manager. Terminating each one at a time to narrow down the process is cumbersome. To track down the respective app easily, use Process Explorer. Use Process Explorer’s “Find Windows’ Process” button (with the crosshair icon) to know a currently open window’s process name.
Find Which Program Owns a Window or Dialog
Using Process Explorer – “Find Windows’ Process” button
- Download Process Explorer and run it as administrator.
- Keep the error message window and Process Explorer side by side
- Click and drag the Window finder (crosshair icon) button in the toolbar area and drop it on the target window — i.e., the error message dialog or the application window you want to track.
Process Explorer will now automatically select the Process name that owns the target window. If the selection doesn’t happen, it’s possible that the program you want to track is running elevated, but Process Explorer is running unelevated. Ensure Process Monitor is elevated; click the File menu and then click “Show Details for All Processes” to re-launch the program as administrator.
- Double-click it and look at the “Image” tab to know more about that process.
Now you know which application had raised that error message.
You can also use Window Inspector and Spy++ to track the application that created the window or dialog.
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Oh, yeah. The lovely Process Explorer, of course. This freeware system program is certainly #1 in its class.
By the way, Process Explorer is not the only program that can do it. Spy++, a component of Visual C++ can also do this.
This will be very practical, especially for computer repair technicians.
Oh my god. Ive been using process explorer for years, but never knew this. Ive been so annoyed with error windows that I have no idea where come from. Thanks to you (and google).
This is some new info for me! Real helpful.
If the error message is visible in the task bar, you should also be able to go into Task Manager (ctrl+alt+del) and find it listed under the “Applications” tab, then right-click on its entry and hit “Go to Process” and it will tell you the name of the EXE that’s running.
Unfortunately, Windows versions earlier than 6 (Vista) don’t have the option of showing the full path or command line to the process… If you have Vista or later though it comes in handy once in a while.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I had a dialog box that kept raising itself but even a Google search couldn’t determine which application it was.
Thank you. This helped me out. I had a window pop up announcing an error from and unknown source. I was concerned that it was evil. However, it was from a Samsung utility. Not friendly of Samsung.