IT FAQs
Processes in Windows XP
Windows XP runs numerous processes. To view them,
open Task Manager and go to the Process tab. While
several of these processes are self-explanatory,
the majority of them are not.
Here's a short description of some XP processes:
- Csrss.exe: The Client Server Runtime Subsystem process,
also known as the Win32 subsystem, generates a worker
thread for client requests.
- Explorer.exe: This process is the user interface/default
Windows shell.
- Iexplorer.exe: This process is the built-in
Web browser.
- Inetinfo.exe: The Internet Information Services
(IIS) process is Microsoft's Web server.
- Lsass.exe: The Local Security Authentication
Server process receives authentication requests
from Winlogon and calls the appropriate authentication
package.
- Mdm.exe: The Machine Debug Manager is a support
process for debugging.
- Msmsgs.exe: The Microsoft Windows Messenger
process is the built-in instant messaging application.
- Services.exe: The Service Control Manager process
is responsible for starting, stopping, and interacting
with system services.
- Smss.exe: The Session Manager Subsystem is the
first user mode process that's created. It's responsible
for the initial launch of other subsystem processes.
- Svchost.exe: This is a placeholder process,
or Service Host, where all DLL-based services
execute.
- System: The System process contains the majority
of the kernel-mode system threads.
- System Idle Process: This process runs when
no other process is executing.
- Winlogon.exe: The logon process handles interactive
user logons and logoffs.
This list includes processes that are found on
most computers, but it's not exhaustive.
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