October 08, 2006

Unlocking the Mysteries of Svchost.exe If you are using Windows XP, Svchost.exe launches at startup and usually runs several instances of itself, which you can see by accessing task manager (by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del). What is it? What is it doing? Do you need it running? Here is some information on it.
posted by Spock 18 years ago
  • Great tip. It's hard to do even basic checks for malware when you can't tell what's running on the machine, what's supposed to be there and what's not, etc. If you don't have Windows Defender, it may be better, as some of the comments suggest, to try the free Sysinternals Process Explorer program instead. All the utilities from Sysinternals I've tried have been impressive, providing lots of information while remaining simple and unobtrusive. Quite a contrast with meddlesome Microsoft utilities.
  • Agreed... svchost.exe has been kind of a pisser for me. I mean if you want to write spyware that nobody can detect, there you go, just call it svchost!
  • Quite a contrast with meddlesome Microsoft utilities. Not to mention that you are required to use their nagging Windows Genuine Advantage tool to validate your copy of Windows before they'll let you install their goodies. And I'll tell you right now, this tool doesn't give the consumer the "advantage." Validating your install is one thing, but having the damned thing call out every time you start your computer just to make sure your copy hasn't become pirated since the last time you turned your computer on is retarded.
  • nunia, that's why I refuse to install Defender. It's not worth it to me.
  • It's also not worth it to people who don't always have (or want) an internet connection.
  • Should we get a Mac?
  • I'm thinking of going back to linux, actually.
  • Agreed re WGA. I recommend CP/M! Good link, btw. I had no end of trouble with an old Windows machine because of this.
  • I had CPM+ for a while. Hot poop, absolutely. Particularly the graphics capability.