What is 'svchost.exe' 1

[leeym]

Can someone please tell me what the 'svchost.exe' application does? I always have several instances running in the background.

Thanks

 

[vacunita]

svchost - svchost.exe - Process Information

Process File: svchost or svchost.exe
Process Name: Microsoft Service Host Process

Description:
svchost.exe is a system process belonging to the Microsoft Windows Operating System which handles processes executed from DLLs. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.

Note: svchost.exe is also a process which is registered as the Trojan.W32.Dasher. It takes advantage of the Windows LSASS vulnerability, which creates a buffer overflow and instigates your computer to shut down. To see more information about this vulnerability please look at the following Microsoft bulletin:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-011.mspx

This is a registered security risk and should be removed immediately.

Determining whether this process is a virus or a Windows process depends on the directory location it executes or runs from in WinTasks.

Googling for it yields a whole bunch of relevant results, you should try it.

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[linney]

A Description of Svchost.exe (Q314056)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314056&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[lexner]

I bought this computer at a estate sale. everything was updating fine. now I can't find my windows firewall and i'm being told by microsoft that this computer has a illeagal copy of windows xp pro. Has anyone heard of this before or had it happen to them?

 

[Leozack]

Svchost is a service shell that is running your services. If you look in task manager (ctrl shift escape) on the "process" tab, selevt "select columns" from the "view" menu and choose "PID (Process identifier)" you will see a number next to each svchost. Note it down.
Then goto a command prompt and type "tasklist /svc". Match the number by the svchost to the one causing you problems. You can see what services it is running.
As for the illegal copy of windows - chances are you have updated your windows update to the latest version, or installed service pack 2. Your pc has a dodgy copy of windows so you can no longer use windows update.


Unless you were to google around for a solution ...

_________________________________
Leozack

MakeUniverse($infinity,1,42);

 

[vacunita]

Probably the previous Owner reclaimed their Activation Code rendering your windows illegal. You will need to buy a copy of Windows XP, to reactivate your Windows with the new code.





----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.