Windows

• 1). Open the Run dialog box by selecting "Run" from the Start menu or by pressing Windows+R.
  
  
• 2). Open a command line window by typing "cmd" and pressing "Enter."
  
  
• 3). Use the start command to launch the program with low priority by entering the following:
  
  start /low notepad.exe
  
  where notepad.exe is the executable being launched.
  
  
• 4). Alternatively, use the start command to open a new command window where all batch files launched will run with low priority. Enter the following:
  
  start /low cmd.exe
  
  

Linux/UNIX/OS X

• 1). Launch Terminal. In Mac OS X, Terminal is usually found in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder. In Linux/UNIX, Terminal is usually found under the Applications menu.
  
  
• 2). Log in to Terminal by typing your password when prompted, if necessary.
  
  
• 3). Set the priority of a program by setting its "niceness" to a higher value. The highest priority is -20, and the lowest priority is 20. The default priority is usually 0. Only the root user can change the niceness to a higher priority (lower numerical) value. Use the following command:
  
  nice +10 vim
  
  where +10 is the desired priority and vim is the process being launched (for example, textedit or notepad).