How to increase priority of Windows interface?

Lamberto Vitali · May 10, 2023

I'm constantly infuriated by how stupidly Windows operates. The interface between me and the computer should always ALWAYS come first. If the CPU or whatever is overloaded by a program or programs, always take a mouse click first at a higher priority than whatever is already running.

How can I take action to stop the overload if I have no control over the machine?!

Is there some way to correct this? Can I change the priority of something in the task manager?

t0mmy1977 · May 10, 2023

Maybe you could try Process Lasso. It is like task manager, but on steroids. The default installation can improve performance, but you can also fine tune it. Bitsum. Real-time CPU Optimization and Automation

pparks1 · May 10, 2023

i think when processes spiral out of control, it doesn't really matter what OS you are running, you lose the ability to interact with it to some degree. I don't usually experience much issue on my home machines, but from work at time to time, I'll get alerted for a high CPU and it's almost impossible to logon or otherwise stop the runaway processes.

Ghot · May 10, 2023

Reboot, and THEN fix the problem that causes the problem.

glasskuter · May 10, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
The interface between me and the computer should always ALWAYS come first.

The OS has, and has always had, top priority. The interface, as you call it, is only a small part of Windows. If the OS cannot perform its tasks because of a piece of flaky hardware or interfering software, you can't blame the OS. It's the user's responsibility to find the offending root of the problem. That's why Windows gives the user tools (task manager, clean boot, safe boot, etc) to figure out where the problem lies.

AndreTen · May 10, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
I'm constantly infuriated by how stupidly Windows operates. The interface between me and the computer should always ALWAYS come first. If the CPU or whatever is overloaded by a program or programs, always take a mouse click first at a higher priority than whatever is already running.

How can I take action to stop the overload if I have no control over the machine?!

Is there some way to correct this? Can I change the priority of something in the task manager?

Not in Task manager - you can only disable startup programs there.
But there is a setting in Control panel. It's a bit old, for computers that didn't have 8 or more cores

Press Win key, type "Advanced system setting" and run it

You have some options there under Advanced tab: Click on Performance and you can deselect some

And you can also check that under another advanced tab you don't have background processes selected

Lamberto Vitali · Jul 18, 2023

t0mmy1977 said:
Maybe you could try Process Lasso. It is like task manager, but on steroids. The default installation can improve performance, but you can also fine tune it. Bitsum. Real-time CPU Optimization and Automation

What would I tell it to do so the interface takes priority?

glasskuter said:
The OS has, and has always had, top priority. The interface, as you call it, is only a small part of Windows. If the OS cannot perform its tasks because of a piece of flaky hardware or interfering software, you can't blame the OS. It's the user's responsibility to find the offending root of the problem. That's why Windows gives the user tools (task manager, clean boot, safe boot, etc) to figure out where the problem lies.

That is not a helpful answer at all. It is not my "responsibility", that's a new age buzzword. The computer is overloaded for whatever reason, I cannot do anything to fix it if the OS is so stupid it doesn't put itself first.

Bree · Jul 18, 2023

AndreTen said:
Not in Task manager - you can only disable startup programs there.

Actually, you can change the priority of any process using Task Manager's Details tab.

Lamberto Vitali · Jul 18, 2023

Bree said:
Actually, you can change the priority of any process using Task Manager's Details tab.

View attachment 65046

Which one is the Windows interface? And would it change it permanently?

Bree · Jul 18, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
Which one is the Windows interface? And would it change it permanently?

In the Processes tab look for Windows Input Experience. Click the > to expand it, then right-click on Windows Input Experience below it.

Choose 'Go to details' and it should take you to TextInputHost.exe on the Detail tab.

No, changes are not permanent, it will reset to the default when you reboot.

Lamberto Vitali · Jul 18, 2023

Bree said:
In the Processes tab look for Windows Input Experience. Click the > to expand it, then right-click on Windows Input Experience below it.

View attachment 65049

Choose 'Go to details' and it should take you to TextInputHost.exe on the Detail tab.

No, changes are not permanent, it will reset to the default when you reboot.

So could I change this in process Lasso and it would remember it through reboots?

f14tomcat · Jul 18, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
So could I change this in process Lasso and it would remember it through reboots?

Try it.

Lamberto Vitali · Jul 18, 2023

f14tomcat said:
Try it.

Windows input experience shows up in task manager, but process lasso doesn't list it.

f14tomcat · Jul 18, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
Windows input experience shows up in task manager, but process lasso doesn't list it.

You'll have to ask the member who suggested Lasso since he's the most likely one to help.

Lamberto Vitali · Jul 18, 2023

t0mmy1977 said:
Maybe you could try Process Lasso. It is like task manager, but on steroids. The default installation can improve performance, but you can also fine tune it. Bitsum. Real-time CPU Optimization and Automation

I cannot find "Windows input experience" as mentioned by other members in Process Lasso. Please advise.

Bree · Jul 18, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
I cannot find "Windows input experience" as mentioned by other members in Process Lasso. Please advise.

Maybe it's ther under the name of its .exe, TextInputHost.

EdKiefer · Jul 18, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
Windows input experience shows up in task manager, but process lasso doesn't list it.

Hi, I wouldn't try an raise the priority of that service, probably will not help.
But back to Processlasso, make sure you have this option unchecked in the menu options>general ="ignore problematic processes"

That should show most processes but that setting is meant so you don't have troubles depending on what rule you add to it.

Back to your issue, the better way is to lower the priority of the process you have issues with. PL will do this automatically but you can lower the priority to a static value (below normal) or even lower (idle) if needed.

Process lasso with remember all settings you make as long as you choose "always" (this is a right-click context menu option).

Anyway, badly coded programs are tough to control, there is only so much you can do externally from the user end.

If you have any questions on PL just ask I am a beta tester for it.

Lamberto Vitali · Jul 18, 2023

Thanks for your help. So simply having Process Lasso running might solve any problems? It would be easier if I could up one thing instead of lowering anything else, which by the time it's a problem is too late. I guess "the windows interface" isn't just one process. But I'm surprised Windows doesn't have it way above the priority of everything else. Just as a human prioritises a fire alarm over whatever work they're in the middle of.

EdKiefer · Jul 18, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
Thanks for your help. So simply having Process Lasso running might solve any problems? It would be easier if I could up one thing instead of lowering anything else, which by the time it's a problem is too late. I guess "the windows interface" isn't just one process. But I'm surprised Windows doesn't have it way above the priority of everything else. Just as a human prioritises a fire alarm over whatever work they're in the middle of.

I need more info on your problem, you could also try CPU limiter (under CPU options).
Is this program using high CPU% and what kind of program is it?

But yes, out of the box it may help, just depends on what the program is doing.

Lamberto Vitali · Jul 18, 2023

EdKiefer said:
I need more info on your problem, you could also try CPU limiter (under CPU options).
Is this program using high CPU% and what kind of program is it?

But yes, out of the box it may help, just depends on what the program is doing.

It's not always the same program. It's Boinc, which schedules various science projects. Sometimes things go wrong and too many things run.