List of system processes
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:20 pm
This is half for developmental purposes but also half just for general knowledge; I'm compiling a list of critical Windows processes that a user should avoid terminating.
A really good resource for information about which services are critical:
http://www.blackviper.com/index.html
For WinXP:
System (the system process; I assume kernel)
smss.exe
csrss.exe
winlogon.exe
services.exe
lsass.exe
svchost.exe
explorer.exe (will restart if it crashes but stays closed if terminated)
spoolsv.exe (this is printing related, not actually critical)
alg.exe (firewall related, see note at end of post*)
For Win98SE:
kernel32.dll
msgsrv32.exe
mprexe.exe
mmtask.tsk
explorer.exe (actually fairly safe to close since it'll restart)
systray.exe
ddhelp.exe
wmiexe.exe
Are there any more which shouldn't be closed? Are any on this list not actually critical and safe to close?
I'll update this post with new information so it'll hopefully be a useful resource for... well, anyone who searches for this type of thing I guess.
Queue
* According to Neuber.com: Application Layer Gateway service is a component of [the] Windows OS. It is required if you use a 3rd party firewall or Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to connect to the internet. Do not end this program in task manager - you will lose all internet connectivity until next restart or login.
A really good resource for information about which services are critical:
http://www.blackviper.com/index.html
For WinXP:
System (the system process; I assume kernel)
smss.exe
csrss.exe
winlogon.exe
services.exe
lsass.exe
svchost.exe
explorer.exe (will restart if it crashes but stays closed if terminated)
spoolsv.exe (this is printing related, not actually critical)
alg.exe (firewall related, see note at end of post*)
For Win98SE:
kernel32.dll
msgsrv32.exe
mprexe.exe
mmtask.tsk
explorer.exe (actually fairly safe to close since it'll restart)
systray.exe
ddhelp.exe
wmiexe.exe
Are there any more which shouldn't be closed? Are any on this list not actually critical and safe to close?
I'll update this post with new information so it'll hopefully be a useful resource for... well, anyone who searches for this type of thing I guess.
Queue
* According to Neuber.com: Application Layer Gateway service is a component of [the] Windows OS. It is required if you use a 3rd party firewall or Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to connect to the internet. Do not end this program in task manager - you will lose all internet connectivity until next restart or login.