task manager

harry lime · 10-27-2009, 07:25 AM

hello
i have tried a search for this but it keeps telling me there is a fatal error, so this is why i am posting this. on my task manager there are about 40 items running in my process some of them are on twice and one of which is svchost is on about 8 times i have had a look at some sites and they seem to contradict themselves as some say they are threats and some say they are needed for the running of the pc. is there a good tool that i could download and would tell me iff these items are ok and tell me what i need t6o do i run windows xp and i have the virgin pc guard thank you

**koala** · 10-27-2009, 08:43 AM

Hi Harry,

Sorry about the forum's search facility giving you errors. This is a known problem and has been reported to admin.

It's normal to have several instances of svchost listed in Task Manager (I currently have 7), and a total of 40 processes is not uncommon (I have 54), depending on how many programs are running and what system requests they are making.

Please post back with the names of all processes that are listed more than once.

**Basementgeek** · 10-27-2009, 08:50 AM

There is no problem generally with several entries for svchost files, I have 12 of them

You can look up Task list here:

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Taskl...s/tasklist.htm

BG

harry lime · 10-27-2009, 07:58 PM

hello and thank you for your quick response, the items that have more than once are
i explore twice broadband avisor twice sychost local three + network twice + system 4 i also looked at a few other sites one particular pc pitstop that says the srss and smss could be possible virus or trojans and to reccomend a scan but i am always careful about these recomendations that is why i rely on a pro site like you i might also add that the virgin pc guard is very slow on start up it takes about 4 mins to set up thank you once again for your quick response

**Basementgeek** · 10-27-2009, 08:12 PM

If you think you are infected, please and follow this link:

Please follow our pre-posting process outlined here:
NEW INSTRUCTIONS - Read This Before Posting For Malware Removal Help

After running through all the steps, please post the requested logs in the Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help forum, not here.

If you have trouble with one of the steps, simply move on to the next one, and make note of it in your reply.

Please note that the Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help forum is extremely busy, and it may take a while to receive a reply.

BG

tetonbob · 10-27-2009, 10:34 PM

@harry lime -

One of the troubles of using Task Manager is it does not show file paths. Process Explorer will.

Quote:

the srss and smss could be possible virus or trojans

C:\Windows\system32\smss.exe is a core Windows process, and expected.

I believe you mean csrss.exe, which is also a core Windows file when in system32

As already mentioned, several svchost.exe is normal, and expected. They show as running under User Name of System, Local Service, Network, depending on what Windows services are loading under that particular instance of svchost.exe

More info about svchost.exe

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056

Quote:

Multiple instances of Svchost.exe can run at the same time. Each Svchost.exe session can contain a grouping of services. Therefore, separate services can run, depending on how and where Svchost.exe is started. This grouping of services allows for better control and easier debugging.

If you're running Internet Explorer 8, two instances of iexplore.exe at one time are also expected when IE is open.

Multiple instances of iexplore.exe appearing in Task Manager is normal, and expected, in IE8.

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/mu...et-explorer-8/

10-27-2009, 07:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
harry lime Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5 OS: windowsxp	task manager hello i have tried a search for this but it keeps telling me there is a fatal error, so this is why i am posting this. on my task manager there are about 40 items running in my process some of them are on twice and one of which is svchost is on about 8 times i have had a look at some sites and they seem to contradict themselves as some say they are threats and some say they are needed for the running of the pc. is there a good tool that i could download and would tell me iff these items are ok and tell me what i need t6o do i run windows xp and i have the virgin pc guard thank you

10-27-2009, 08:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,327 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: task manager Hi Harry, Sorry about the forum's search facility giving you errors. This is a known problem and has been reported to admin. It's normal to have several instances of svchost listed in Task Manager (I currently have 7), and a total of 40 processes is not uncommon (I have 54), depending on how many programs are running and what system requests they are making. Please post back with the names of all processes that are listed more than once. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

10-27-2009, 08:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
Basementgeek Moderator, Home Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central Ohio, USA Posts: 1,483 OS: XP Pro SP2/Vista Ultimate SP2 Blog Entries: 3	Re: task manager There is no problem generally with several entries for svchost files, I have 12 of them You can look up Task list here: http://www.answersthatwork.com/Taskl...s/tasklist.htm BG __________________ Donating to the forum keeps TSF free for all. Proud member of ASAP

10-27-2009, 07:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
harry lime Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5 OS: windowsxp	Re: task manager hello and thank you for your quick response, the items that have more than once are i explore twice broadband avisor twice sychost local three + network twice + system 4 i also looked at a few other sites one particular pc pitstop that says the srss and smss could be possible virus or trojans and to reccomend a scan but i am always careful about these recomendations that is why i rely on a pro site like you i might also add that the virgin pc guard is very slow on start up it takes about 4 mins to set up thank you once again for your quick response

10-27-2009, 08:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Basementgeek Moderator, Home Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central Ohio, USA Posts: 1,483 OS: XP Pro SP2/Vista Ultimate SP2 Blog Entries: 3	Re: task manager If you think you are infected, please and follow this link: Please follow our pre-posting process outlined here: NEW INSTRUCTIONS - Read This Before Posting For Malware Removal Help After running through *all* the steps, please post the requested logs in the Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help forum, not here. If you have trouble with one of the steps, simply move on to the next one, and make note of it in your reply. Please note that the Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help forum is extremely busy, and it may take a while to receive a reply. BG __________________ Donating to the forum keeps TSF free for all. Proud member of ASAP