Windows Processes - Introduction

Introduction to Processes

To make it more versatile, Microsoft Windows is structured around services (processes) which run in the background. The list of processes currently running may be viewed by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL simultaneously, then clicking on the Processes tab. The window then displays the list of processes being run and the system resources allocated to each one.

Many of these processes are system processes which are an integral part of Windows, while some are third-party applications. When the operating system seems to "hang," it may be helpful to determine which process is consuming the most resources.

What's more, the presence of worms, viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, and adware on the system is usually indicate by the presence of suspicious processes. This is why they often take the name of a true system process in order to go unnoticed (for example, system32.exe instead of system32.dll, or isass.exe instead of lsass.exe).

The goal of this folder is to help you recognize system processes, application processes, and several false processes.

Task Manager

The Task Manager is a tool that supervises system performance and monitors the status of Windows processes in real time. You may view the Task Manager by pressing the keys CTRL+ALT+DEL simultaneously, or by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting "Task Manager", or by running it from Start Menu / Run with the command taskmgr.exe.

The Task Manager has 5 tabs:

• Applications: Shows which applications are running, and lets the user make changes to them by opening the context menu with the right mouse button. You can:
  • Switch to the task
  • End the task
  • Minimize the window or task
  • Maximize the window or task
  • Bring the task to front
  • Display the process which corresponds to the task
• Processes: Shows the list of processes running, and gives information about what they do. By default, the Task Manager displays the following information:
  • Image Name (name of the executable file)
  • User Name
  • CPU
  • Memory Usage
  Other indicators can be displayed -- in all, 25 are available -- by going to View / Select Columns.
• Performance: Gives graphical representations of processor and page file (swap file) usage.
• Networking: Gives statistics for bandwidth usage on computer network interfaces
• Users: Displays information on which users can access the computer and their session status. Right-clicking on the user name brings up a context menu which can be used to disconnect the user or log him or her off.

Several processes

Below is a non-exhaustive list of common processes, grouped by category (the third colum indicates the name of processes which may constitute a security risk).

System processes	Applications	Risks
agentsvr.exe alg.exe autorun.exe cconnect.exe cidaemon.exe cisvc.exe clisvcl.exe cmd.exe csrss.exe ctfmon.exe ddhelp.exe dfssvc.exe dllhost.exe dmadmin.exe dns.exe dumprep.exe explorer.exe grpconv.exe helpctr.exe hidserv.exe iexplore.exe imapi.exe inetinfo.exe internat.exe ireike.exe ismserv.exe kernel32.dll launch32.exe lights.exe locator.exe lsass.exe mad.exe mapisp32.exe mdm.exe mmc.exe mmtask.tsk mnmsrvc.exe monitor.exe mprexe.exe msconfig.exe msdtc.exe msgsrv32.exe msiexec.exe msoobe.exe mssearch.exe mstask.exe mtx.exe netdde.exe ntfrs.exe ntoskrnl.exe ntvdm.exe pstores.exe regsvc.exe regsvr32.exe rnaapp.exe rpcss.exe rundll32.exe runonce.exe sage.exe scanregw.exe scardsvr.exe scm.exe services.exe smss.exe snmp.exe snmptrap.exe spool32.exe spoolss.exe spoolsv.exe srvany.exe svchost.exe system systray.exe tapisrv.exe taskmgr.exe taskmon.exe taskswitch.exe winlogon.exe winmgmt.exe winoa386.mod wins.exe wisptis.exe wkdetect.exe wmiexe.exe wmiprvse.exe wowexec.exe wuauclt.exe	acrord32.exe acrotray.exe acsd.exe actalert.exe agrsmmsg.exe aim.exe apoint.exe ati2evxx.exe atiptaxx.exe atrack.exe avgcc32.exe avgserv.exe avsynmgr.exe backweb-8876480.exe bcmsmmsg.exe btwdins.exe carpserv.exe ccapp.exe ccevtmgr.exe ccpxysvc.exe ccregvfy.exe cdac11ba.exe cdplayer.exe cmmpu.exe cpd.exe cthelper.exe ctsvccda.exe cvpnd.exe dadapp.exe damon.exe ddcman.exe defwatch.exe devldr32.exe directcd.exe dit.exe dlg.exe dsentry.exe dw.exe dxdllreg.exe em_exec.exe evntsvc.exe ezsp_px.exe findfast.exe firedaemon.exe gamechannel.exe hh.exe hkcmd.exe htpatch.exe iamapp.exe igfxtray.exe javaw.exe jusched.exe kazaa.exe kbd.exe lexbces.exe lexpps.exe livenote.exe loadqm.exe loadwc.exe lucomserver.exe lvcoms.exe mcshield.exe mgabg.exe mm_tray.exe mmtask.exe mobsync.exe mplayer2.exe msgsys.exe mshta.exe msimn.exe msmsgs.exe msnmsgr.exe mspaint.exe mspmspsv.exe mssvc.exe navapsvc.exe navapw32.exe nerocheck.exe netscape.exe netscp6.exe nisum.exe nopdb.exe notepad.exe nwiz.exe nvsvc32.exe osa.exe osd.exe pctspk.exe pds.exe pinger.exe point32.exe promon.exe prpcui.exe ps2.exe psfree.exe ptsnoop.exe qserver.exe qttask.exe ramsys.exe realplay.exe realsched.exe reboot.exe regedit.exe rnathchk.exe rndal.exe rtvscan.exe rulaunch.exe sagent2.exe sbhc.exe schwizex.exe sentry.exe setup.exe sgtray.exe smc.exe sndvol32.exe soffice.exe soundman.exe ssdpsrv.exe starteak.exe steam.exe stimon.exe stisvc.exe studio.exe tcpsvcs.exe tfswctrl.exe tgcmd.exe tkbell.exe unwise.exe updatestats.exe updreg.exe uptodate.exe urlmap.exe userinit.exe wanmpsvc.exe wcescomm.exe wcmdmgr.exe webscanx.exe winamp.exe winvnc.exe winword.exe winzip32.exe wjview.exe wkcalrem.exe wkufind.exe wmplayer.exe wordpad.exe vptray.exe wscript.exe vshwin32.exe vsmon.exe wuser32.exe wzqkpick.exe xfr.exe xl.exe ypager.exe zlclient.exe	adaware.exe alevir.exe arr.exe ascv.exe backWeb.exe bargains.exe blss.exe bootconf.exe bpc.exe brasil.exe bundle.exe bvt.exe cfd.exe cmd32.exe cmesys.exe datemanager.exe dcomx.exe divx.exe dllreg.exe dpps2.exe dssagent.exe emsw.exe explore.exe fsg_4104.exe gator.exe gmt.exe hbinst.exe hbsrv.exe hxdl.exe hxiul.exe iedll.exe iedriver.exe iexplorer.exe image.dll infus.exe infwin.exe intdel.exe isass.exe istsvc.exe jdbgmgr.exe kazza.exe keenvalue.exe kernel32.exe launcher.exe loader.exe mapisvc32.exe md.exe mfin32.exe mmod.exe mostat.exe msapp.exe msbb.exe msblast.exe mscache.exe msccn32.exe mscman.exe msdm.exe msiexec16.exe mslagent.exe mslaugh.exe msmgt.exe msmsgri32.exe msrexe.exe mssys.exe msvxd.exe netd32.exe nssys32.exe nstask32.exe nsupdate.exe onsrvr.exe optimize.exe patch.exe pgmonitr.exe powerscan.exe prizesurfer.exe prmt.exe prmvr.exe ray.exe rb32.exe rcsync.exe run32dll.exe rundll.exe rundll16exe ruxdll32.exe sahagent.exe save.exe savenow.exe sc.exe scam32.exe scrsvr.exe scvhost.exe service.exe showbehind.exe skynetave.exe soap.exe spoler.exe srng.exe start.exe stcloader.exe support.exe svc.exe svchosts.exe svshost.exe system.exe system32.exe teekids.exe trickler.exe tsadbot.exe tvmd.exe tvtmd.exe webdav.exe win32.exe win32us.exe winactive.exe win-bugsfix.exe windows.exe wininetd.exe wininit.exe winlogin.exe winmain.exe winnet.exe winppr32.exe winservn.exe winssk32.exe winstart.exe winstart001.exe wintsk32.exe winupdate.exe wnad.exe wuamgrd.exe wupdt.exe

Véase también

Comunidad de asistencia y consejos.

• Foro de Windows
• Foro procesador
• Foro drivers