PuList.exe is a historical Windows command-line utility described in an archived Microsoft Knowledge Base article as listing processes on local or remote computers. The archived description says a local listing also shows the user name associated with each process. PuList’s current Microsoft support and standalone download availability are unverified, so readers looking for a documented current option should consider Microsoft Sysinternals PsList instead.
What PuList.exe does
An archived copy of Microsoft Knowledge Base article 927229 describes PuList (pulist.exe) as a command-line tool that displays processes running on a local or remote computer. It says the local listing includes the user name associated with each process. The archive is hosted by a third party, so this describes the historical reference rather than confirming a currently supported Microsoft product.
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The archived reference is available at Microsoft Knowledge Base article 927229. Current Microsoft documentation or a current standalone download for PuList was not verified. That does not establish that no copy exists; it means readers should not assume a downloaded copy is current, supported, or compatible with a modern Windows release.
Current documented alternatives
PsList for command-line process listings
Microsoft Sysinternals documents PsList, part of PsTools, as a command-line utility for viewing processes and statistics. Run pslist to list current processes and statistical information; its options also support targeting a named remote computer and showing additional process, thread, memory, or process-tree detail. These capabilities make PsList a useful related option, not a verified drop-in replacement for PuList.
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See Microsoft’s PsList documentation for its options and usage. For the remote-computer use case, consult the page’s remote-targeting option syntax and specify the target computer as documented there.
Process Explorer for visual inspection
If a basic process list is not enough, Microsoft’s graphical Process Explorer shows active processes and provides deeper inspection, including owning accounts, handles, and loaded DLLs. Choose it when you need to examine those details visually rather than work from a command-line listing.
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What PsTools requirements do—and do not—tell you
Microsoft’s PsTools documentation says no special installation is required for the tools in that suite. It lists Windows 8.1 and higher for clients and Windows Server 2012 and higher for servers. Those statements apply to the documented PsTools suite; they do not establish installation requirements or compatibility for historical PuList.exe.
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Which option fits your task?
| Need | Option | What the documentation establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Understand the historical PuList name or reported behavior | PuList.exe | An archived copy of Microsoft KB article 927229 describes local and remote process listings and user names in a local listing; current support and download availability are unverified. |
| List processes from a command line, including on a remote computer | PsList | Microsoft documents process listings and statistics, remote targeting, and options for more process, thread, memory, and tree detail. |
| Inspect process ownership, handles, or loaded DLLs in a graphical interface | Process Explorer | Microsoft documents an active process list with those additional inspection details. |
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