PCPowerGuide.com » EXE Files

Why is There More Than One Svchost.exe Running on My Computer?

donna — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:51:22 +0000

If you are reading this article, I assume that you noticed that there are multiple instances of svchost.exe listed in the Task Manager Process list as shown in the picture below. You have no clue what they are so you are afraid to kill them but don’t remember starting anything.

When asked, Microsoft gave us this definition, “svchost.exe is a generic host process name for services that run from dynamic-link libraries”.

Basically svchost.exe is a process that allows applications to access DLL files which are part of the C programming language procedure calls.

The Svchost.exe file is normally located in the c:\System32 folder. At start up, Svchost.exe checks the services part of the registry and creates a list of services to load. Each DLL needs it own instance of svchost.exe I to be able to execute without risking an error in the DLL file crashing the operating system. In fact the operating groups services to allow for better control of the services running.

The list of service groups can be found in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Svchost in the registry. Each value identifies a separate group as shown below. Each of the folders below the SvcHost Key is a separate group.

If you want to see a list of each service running in each instance of svchost.exe, do the following:

Click Start on the Windows task bar, and then click Run

In the Open dialogue box, type CMD, and then press ENTER.

Type Tasklist /SVC, and then press ENTER.

Tasklist uses the SVC switch will produce results similar to those shown below:

See the different services running in each instance of svchost.exe. PID (Process ID) 752 has 31 services running in it while PID 1604 has only one.

Can ScvHost.exe Be a Virus, Trojan or Some Other Type of Malware?

Like all system files if they are located anywhere besides the windows directory, they are probably some form of malware. You can use the Tasklist /svc command to see what services are running in each instance of svchost.exe. Use your favorite search engine to see what each service does and whether it is legitimate.

However, it is much safer to use a good anti virus and anti spyware program to get rid of any svchost.exe files that contain malware. In the picture below, notice that the offending file is in a directory names SVCHOST. EXE. There should not be any directory anywhere on your computer with that name.

Plugging the Memory Leak in SvcHost.exe

Sometimes these processes have a memory leak and start consuming most, if not all, of the free memory available to your computer. The result is anything from ridiculously slow performance to a complete freeze up. You may also get an error message similar to the one below.

The following steps can correct the memory leak caused by svchost.exe:

Download and install all service packs and security updates from Microsoft

Run a good virus scanner

Run an anti-spyware program

Run a good registry cleaner

Reboot the machine

The steps above usually fix the problem. If it doesn’t fix it:

Search for all files named svchost.exe on your computer. The search results from my computer show that all of the svchost.exe files in windows folder where they belong

Delete any that are not in the windows folder or one of it sub directories

Reboot the machine

Recommendation

Perform steps 1 through 5 above at least once a month. More frequently if you download a lot of files from the internet. Routine maintenance will prevent most system file errors and catch most viruses and malware files and remove them.

How to Fix a Wkufind.exe Error

donna — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:49:18 +0000

Every installed software application has a set of functions, subroutines, dynamic link libraries (.dll files) and configuration files associated with it. Any of these files can cause you to get errors if something is not working properly.

Wkufind.exe is an application file that is a normal windows file. It is part of the Microsoft PictureIt! software application program. This file serves as an internet download manager whose job is to download the application’s software updates when they become available.

The file is normally found in the c:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\works shared\ folder but can sometimes be found in other directories. If the file becomes corrupted, it can cause errors.

Can Wkufind.exe by a Virus or Malware?

Like many application files, if it is located anywhere besides the program files directory, there is a real possibility that it is a virus or some other form of malware. So it is always a good idea to run regular periodic virus and malware scans. I recommend that you run the scans at least once a month. If you do a lot of downloading from the internet, then you should do them weekly.

Causes of the Wkufind.exe Error

The first sign of the wkufind.exe error is when the firewall opens a pop-up stating that wkufind.exe is attempting to connect a remote computer. This is not really a problem because that is what the file is supposed to do but unless you make it an exception, the firewall will give you an error.

Sometimes if the file is really corrupted, it will lock up the computer. The fact that it periodically contacts its parent looking for updates can also cause the computer to run more slowly.

How to Fix a Wkufind.exe Error

If you don’t use Microsoft PictureIt!, the easiest solution is to disable the automatic update process by performing the following steps:

Open the Microsoft PictureIt! Application

Load an image

Click Tools and then select Options

Uncheck the Check for Updates Online box

Exit the application

Reboot your computer

The only drawback is that you will have to manually update the PictureIt! Program if you actually use it.

Conclusion

If you use PictureIt! and don’t want to manually update the application, you will just have to live with occasional error messages unless it locks up your PC. Then you will have to disable the automatic updates. No matter what you choose to do, you should always run a registry cleaner after you install new software, delete or disable existing software, or make any other major configurations changes to remove the stuff that gets left over when making changes.

Csrss.exe Removal

donna — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:32:53 +0000

What is Csrss.exe?

Csrss.exe is the executable file for the Microsoft Client Server Runtime Server Subsystem. By default, this file is located, in the C:\Windows \System32 directory. This application has been used by every windows operating system since Windows NT to manage graphical instruction sets. Basically, Csrss.exe is a process controller which means that is can create, delete and schedule threads as needed. Threads are the smallest piece of executable that can be scheduled for a processor. Processes are functions and sub-routines that perform tasks and are usually made up of many different threads. Hence, the need for a controller.

Csrss.exe is an essential part of the windows operating system and deleting it can cause stop errors which is the infamous “Blue Screen of Death”.

Can Csrss.exe be a Virus or Trojan?

Yes, there is at least one Trojan that disguises itself as the csrss.exe process controller that can allow hackers to access your computer remotely and steal private information such as credit card numbers, bank data, birth dates and passwords. Some viruses, spyware and worms can also disguise themselves as csrss.exe. One example is the Nimda.E virus.

You may have a Trojan, virus or other malware if there is more than one instance of csrss.exe running on your machine. You can check to see what processes are running by opening the task manager. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete or right click on the task bar and select Task Manager as shown below.

Next, click on the Process tab. Then click on Image Name to list the running processes in alphabetical order to see if there is more than one instance running. Depending on what version of windows you are using, the list should look something like the picture below.

You can see that there is only one csrss.exe instance running on this machine and it is using approximately 1% of the processor capacity and 7,388 K of memory. So, there is no Trojan disguising itself as csrss.exe.

If there is more than one instance running, you will need to delete any file named csrss.exe that is NOT located in the C:\Windows \System32 directory.

What does it mean if you receive a Csrss.exe Error?

The most common error is “The csrss.exe file is using 99%, 100%, or other high abnormal percentage of CPU.”

Cause of the Error

This error is usually caused by the user profile that you logged in with getting corrupted.

How to Fix the Problem

To fix the problem you will need to delete and recreate the corrupted user profile.

IMPORTANT: Deleting and recreating the user profile will delete the following folders: my documents folder, files stored on the desktop, email files, address book and favorites folder. Be sure to back ALL of these items up before you delete the user’s profile.

Once everything is backed up:
Log off as the user and log on as a system administrator
Right click My Computer either on the Desktop or on the Start Menu
Select Properties
Display the Advanced Tab and click on Settings as show below

6. Highlight the corrupted profile and click Delete.

The next time you log onto windows a new user profile will be created and you can restore the files to it that you backed up earlier.

Recommendation

First, make sure your system is clean. Download and run RegGenie.

You should scan your computer with a good virus and malware program and configure it for continuous scanning to prevent Trojans, viruses, spyware and worms from taking up residence on your hard drive.

Computers are just like most other electronic equipment. They need periodic maintenance tasks performed. You should do a complete registry scan and cleaning as part of your routine computer maintenance. Scanning the registry once a month is fine. A good anti-virus program and periodic registry cleaning should prevent most errors.

Fix .EXE File Association Errors

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:12:30 +0000

The operating system has to know where a file is located and what to do with it before it can open the file. File extensions are a method of telling the operating system what kind of file it is and by using associations what application should be used to open the file. The operating system uses the file extension…the three letters after the period such as “word.exe” to determine the association. The .exe extension states that a file is an executable application. For example, a “.doc” extension identifies the file as a word processing document that can be opened with MS Word, Wordperfect, Wordpad and several other word processing applications.

File associations are stored in the windows registry in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT hive. The picture below shows the .exe entry in my windows registry.

The registry key also contains the following information:

preferred program that can open the file
the full path to the location of the preferred program
Actions that can be performed on the file
A default action (what happens if you double click on it)
Other programs that can open the file
Other actions that can be performed

For example, the registry entry for the .mp3 file extension on my machine is shown below. On my machine both Quick Time and Real Player are associated with and therefore can play the file. Notice that Quick Time is the default.

Since an executable file is an application that runs on your computer. Every program you open in windows has an executable file associated with it. .exe executable files are opened by the windows application launcher. If the file association listed in the registry for .exe files is incorrect, applications using that file extension will not be able to run.

EXE File Association Error in Windows Vista

How does the registry entry get changed? It can happen when someone inadvertently assigns the .exe extension to an incorrect program. If they have not established a system restore point before making the change, the registry gets changed and executables using the .exe extension stop working. Usually the first symptom is that shortcuts suddenly have the .lnk extension which means they are no longer pointing to a valid operation.

Solutions

First off, if you are not comfortable changing your windows registry files, you should try a free registry cleaner scan first and check for any potential errors that might be able to be fixed automatically.

Since programs like anti virus, spyware detectors and firewalls monitor the registry in real time, you must turn them off before you edit the registry to avoid unexpected unpleasant consequences. At worst they can either trash your system or prevent you from making the necessary corrections by not letting you save your changes.

Creating a New File Extension

Since almost all of the tools available in windows use the .exe extension very little will work. If you can get windows explorer, My Documents or My Computer to open, perform the following steps:

Open the File Types dialog box from Windows Explorer, My Documents or My Computer by selecting Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types as shown below.
Click on the New button and the Create New Extension window will open up
Next, click on the Advanced button. Your window should look like the one below.

Type in EXE for the extension and select Application from the drop down list if it doesn’t appear automatically.
Click OK and reboot the machine.

If this procedure does not work or none of the applications would run, you will have to edit the registry.

Editing the Registry

Warning—Back up all of the files you created before you attempt to edit the registry. Also create a restore point so that you will be able to restore the system if you accidentally trash the operating system to the point that it will not boot up.

The EXE association problem can occur in all versions of windows and is normally fixed by editing the registry. We will only discuss how to fix the problem in windows vista. You must delete a registry key to correct this problem. Perform the following steps:

Open up the registry editor by going to Start -> Run
Type regedit in the dialog box.
Select Edit -> Find as shown below.

The dialog box shown below will open. If the file association problem exists the registry key listed below will exist. Type exe in the search field as shown below or you can manually navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.exe Manual navigation is usually faster.

By existing, this registry key’s configuration is overwriting the default file association for .exe files. Therefore, to fix the problem you must delete the registry key by right clicking and selecting Delete from the drop down context menu.
Reboot the machine. When it reboots, the system will use the default values. Therefore, the EXE extension should work properly again.

How To Fix iExplore.exe Application Errors

admin — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:29:23 +0000

The process iexplore.exe is the executable application file that runs Microsoft Internet Explorer, which is used by approximately 85% of all web surfers. It is a part of the operating system and deleting or disabling the process may cause unexpected things to stop working. Many applications that connect to the internet will create an instance if iexplore.exe when they load so they can contact the internet. For example, I just used TaxAct to do my income taxes. When I click on the efile button, the application uses the instance it loaded of iexplore.exe when I opened the program to send my return to the server that processes income tax returns.

However, in this day and age of viruses and Trojans, a process called iexplore.exe could also be a Trojan that is disguising itself as the legitimate web browser file. One way to determine whether an instance of iexplore.exe that is running on your computer is legitimate or bogus is to check what folder it is in. The legitimate internet explorer application is located in the C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer folder. If the file is located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder, there is a relatively high probability that it may be a virus, Trojan or worm. In any other folder, the iexplore.exe file may or may not be being used to create instances of internet explorer for the application whose folder it resides in.

Iexplore.exe Errors

This is a very common runtime error. Unfortunately not all of the reported errors are actually caused by the iexplore.exe process which can be extremely frustrating to the person trying to fix the problem.

“What?” You ask. “How can an error message about iexplore.exe be caused by some other process?”

Internet explorer has an extensibility model that allows programmers to write add-ons to the browser such as the yahoo or google toolbar. These programs add an additional toolbar to the internet explorer’s standard set by integrating its code very tightly with the iexplore.exe code so that for all practical purposes it becomes a part of the code. As a result if the add-on crashes, the operating system will report it as a problem with iexplore.exe and since not all add-ons are obvious and many could be spyware, figuring out the problem can be frustrating.

The second way that an error can be caused by another process involves the use of ActiveX components. ActiveX allows code to be downloaded from websites within the browser to provide all kinds of enhancements and interactive features on web pages. So if the problem is within an ActiveX component, the operating system will report it as a problem with iexplore.exe. Again, some ActiveX components could also be spyware.

Fixing iexplore.exe Errors

Follow the following steps to fix an iexplore.exe error”:

Scan your computer for spyware. This is one of the most common causes of the iexplore.exe error message. Fortunately most of the spyware found is the benign adware variety but still a royal pain in the butt if it is causes your browser to crash.
Next scan for viruses even though they are less likely to be causing the problem without you having a lot of other problems as well. Make sure you check just to be sure.
On windows 2000, XP and Vista run the system file checker (SFC.exe) to detect and repair any system files that are missing or corrupt.
Run the windows update program. Frequently the updates are patches to fix know bugs that cause crashes.
If you are running any other operating system, uninstall internet explorer, reboot the system and reinstall the application.

Preventing iexplore.exe Errors

Debugging these problems is tricky as I have already explained. One way to determine if an instance of iexplore.exe is legitimate is to check out what processes are running on your computer and when they were loaded into memory.

If you are running windows XP or Vista, there is a program called msconfig that shows what is being loaded into memory. Select Start -> Run then type msconfig into the dialogue box.

The System Configuration Utility window will open. Select the Startup tab. It should look something like the picture below.

You can expand the Command column to see the full path of whatever is loading into memory. To disable an item and prevent it from loading at startup, just remove the check mark and click on OK.

Under the Services tab, you can check to see if any suspicious services are loading. You can disable the service to prevent it from starting by removing the check mark. Be aware that disabling services may cause applications to stop working so I recommend you google the service or the executable to see what it does before disabling it.

If you are using an earlier version of windows, there is a free download from sysinternals.com that will show you all of the processes running on your machine.

How to Fix Ccapp EXE Errors

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:41:11 +0000

Ccapp.exe is a process that runs on your computer. Processes are small bits of stand alone executable code that are used by applications to perform specific tasks. For you programmers, they are sub routines and functions. The code can be called by more than one application.

The process ccapp.exe stands for “common client application” and is used by a number of Symantec Norton programs, such as Norton Anti Spam or Norton Antivirus. The process runs in the background and is responsible for the system auto-protect and email program scanning for threats such as viruses and Trojans.

Ccapp.exe should not be stopped or disabled because it is required for your Norton anti-virus and anti-spam application to work properly. However, ccapp.exe could also be an adware process that monitors your browsing habits and sends the data back to the author’s servers for analysis. If ccapp.exe is adware, it also prompts advertising popups.

You can decide if the ccapp.exe process is a legitimate file being used by Symantec’s Norton applications or adware depending on the directory it is loading and executing from. Of course, if you don’t have any Norton programs installed, it will definitely be an adware program. If it adware, the process is a security risk and should be removed from your system.

Ccapp.exe Errors

Some common error messages you might receive are:

ccApp.exe is not responding – this messages is usually displayed during startup and shutdown.

“Symantec User Session has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Application Name: ccapp.exe”- this can happen at anytime and usually means the application has terminated.

According to the information posted on their website, Symantec claims that these two errors have been fixed in the latest revision.

“The ccApp.exe problem has been fixed … in the latest Common Client and Norton Anti Spam program updates. To install the update, “start your Norton product, run Live Update, download the updates (including any Common Client updates and the Norton Anti Spam program update if it is listed), and then restart the computer when you are asked to do so.” (Source: symantec.com)

To fix either of these problems, the first thing you should do is download and install a registry cleaner here, then delete all of the temporary files on your computer by:

Select Start -> Run.
Then type cmd in the dialog box. A window will open up.
At the command prompt, type del c:\*.tmp /s to delete all of the temporary files on your computer.

Then run the live update feature in your Norton anti virus program to see if that stops the error messages.

If the live update fails to correct the problem. Try the following procedure.

Open the Norton Anti virus management window
Select Options
In the options dialogue box select the Auto Protect option
Choose the Advanced button
Next, clear the Scan floppy disk in A: for boot viruses when shutting down option
Select the OK button and reboot your PC so the changes will take effect.

“Runtime error: CCApp.exe”

You can fix this error on windows XP using the following steps:

Open Windows Explorer.
Select -> Tools -> Folder Options.
On the View tab, select the Show hidden files and folders option.
Next, open the Start menu and then select Search.
Select All files and folders
Type rpawinet.dll in the All or part of the file name box.
Expand More advanced options and select Search system folders, Search subfolders, and Search hidden files and folders options. Then click on the Search button.
In the right pane, right-click on the rpawinet.dll file and select rename. Then change the file name to rpawinet.old.
If you are unable to rename the file in Normal mode, then restart your PC in Safe mode by pressing F8 at system startup. Then repeat the steps outlined above to rename the file.

Ccapp.exe Error when Norton is Not Installed

If you get ccapp.exe errors when Norton is not installed on your computer, you have a spyware infection. Spyware install malicious files on your computer and frequently names them the same or very similar to legitimate system files to trick you into believing these files belong there.

You need to run an anti spyware program to eliminate the spyware. When you finish with that, I recommend you also run a registry cleaner to be certain there are no pieces of spyware code left in the registry.

Conclusion

Most ccapp.exe errors can be fixed by downloading a registry cleaner, (click “run” when the dialog box appears) then deleting the temporary files on your computer and then running the Live Update program. In the cases where that doesn’t work try using the other procedures described in this article.

EXE File Errors

admin — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:28:26 +0000

One of the many file format types that are recognized by different operating systems is the exe file. These exe files are computer files that end using the extension ‘.exe’ and are also referred to as executable files. On clicking on an .exe file, it is possible to automatically start different functions with the built-in routine found in the exe. Basically, exe files are used for installing and running programs and routines.

As exe files run programs, they can also cause problems. They can at times actually prove to be rather harmful. This is because an exe file can work as a delivery system for both viruses and malicious routines. It will not be possible to identify an infected exe file as it looks benign from the outside. In fact, when you click on it, it looks like the file launches nothing more than a simple arcade game, animated cartoon, or a dos window.

However, there can be more going on behind the scene than meets the eye. It is highly likely that there may be some unseen code in the background that will infect or compromise your computer. On clicking a malicious .exe file the computer becomes unstable in a matter of a few hours.

You may not realize that this exe file is the cause of the problem and usually attribute it to something else like the need of defragmentation or the need of replacing your hard drive or OS. With the computer becoming unstable, your personal information and password keystrokes may be passed to unknown websites without you being aware of it. Sometimes, the computer even deletes its files or crashes altogether.

It is because of all this that it is better to always scan an exe file with a good virus scanner before clicking on it. It would be even better if you set your browser so that it is not possible for websites to load programs until you monitor and approve the program. However it is not possible to edit or change an exe file (except for a special HEX editor) as this will only make it inoperable. Exe files are usually programs that are protected by copyright laws. So hacking or modifying the code is illegal.

Exe errors are quite common when you use your computer where you get to see error messages popping up on your PC from time to time. You may notice that there are some programs that seem to be more susceptible to .exe files than others. Internet explorer is one of them as Internet Explorer is considered to be the ‘front line’ of your computer when using it to gather information from the Internet.

Moreover, Internet Explorer tends to accept numerous ‘add-ons’ which when accepted, become a de facto part of the IE system. This is why exe errors that occur here look like it had occurred in the original IE element and not in an add-on. You have no control over these add-ons as they are added to IE on your machine without your knowledge. This is why it may prove to be difficult to find the exact exe error.

When you have an exe error, there is nothing to worry about as an exe repair is rather easy. When fixing common exe errors, there are basically two choices. The first choice is to search Microsoft’s website to find pages offering step by step solutions for the most common exe errors.

However to some people, these step by step instructions may not be easy to use as they can be rather complicated and time consuming. There are also people who are not interested in following these processes every time an exe error pops up. The second choice of exe repairs for exe errors is to use the right tools for the job by using a professional registry cleaner like RegistrySmart.

Once the exe errors are checked and highlighted by this tool, you just have to use RegistrySmart to fix the problems efficiently. Remember that exe errors are rather common on the computer. However regular use of programs like RegistrySmart helps minimize problems and gives you maximum efficiency.

There are some steps that can be employed to prevent .exe errors. However it is important that you first remember that everything done on the computer is ran through exe files. Downloads, viewing websites with active content and windows programs in your PC all use .exe files for its operation.

So taking the right precautions when doing all this helps in preventing exe errors. Downloading with a bad Internet connection leads to incomplete or corrupted downloads; so to avoid this, download when your connection is not busy. Avoid downloading large files with slow connections as the download may not work properly.

Though free downloads are tempting, remember that these are the best places for spy ware programs that will install their own .exe files on your computer. This in turn prevents the program that you want form running properly. So avoid free downloads of small programs that promise “fun” things like desktop screensavers, warez programs, etc.

Another way to prevent exe errors is to keep your antivirus and Firewall protection up to date on your computer, to prevent malicious programs from being installed on your PC. And last, but not the least method of preventing exe errors is to avoid installing and uninstalling programs unless your 100% sure what it is.

PCPowerGuide.com » EXE Files

Why is There More Than One Svchost.exe Running on My Computer?

Can ScvHost.exe Be a Virus, Trojan or Some Other Type of Malware?

Plugging the Memory Leak in SvcHost.exe

Recommendation

Related Searches

How to Fix a Wkufind.exe Error

Can Wkufind.exe by a Virus or Malware?

Causes of the Wkufind.exe Error

How to Fix a Wkufind.exe Error

Conclusion

Related Searches

Csrss.exe Removal

What is Csrss.exe?

Can Csrss.exe be a Virus or Trojan?

What does it mean if you receive a Csrss.exe Error?

Cause of the Error

How to Fix the Problem

Recommendation

Related Searches

Fix .EXE File Association Errors

Solutions

Related Searches

How To Fix iExplore.exe Application Errors

Iexplore.exe Errors

Fixing iexplore.exe Errors

Preventing iexplore.exe Errors

Related Searches

How to Fix Ccapp EXE Errors

Ccapp.exe Errors

Ccapp.exe Error when Norton is Not Installed

Conclusion

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EXE File Errors

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