Windows users who experience a slowdown in computer functions may notice the file svchost.exe running on their computer taking up available memory and resources. The svchost.exe is a crucial component of the Windows operating system and is necessary in order to run Windows applications. However, the file uses quite a bit of memory, which in turn slows down the system. Knowledge of the svchost.exe process and what it does may help you understand which of the processes are necessary and speed up your operating system's functions.
Svchost.exe
- The svchost.exe application is a Windows-based program that helps control internal Windows services. As the Windows operating system grew, Windows began moving internal services from .exe extensions to .dll extensions. This move assisted with programming functions; however a .dll extension is not an executable file and is unable to launch applications directly from the Windows system. Therefore, the programs are run through the svchost.exe process, an executable file that serves as a host to the .dll files and allows the services to launch correctly.
Svchost.exe and Resources
- Because the svchost.exe file acts as a host for Windows applications with the .dll file, it may appear on your computer multiple times. The several occurrences of the same process file running all at once may cause a computer to slow down as the file takes up valuable memory and resources. If the computer has several of the processes running at once, it will become slow and sluggish, affecting various computer functions. However, Windows users need to be aware that in some cases, the slowdown may also be caused by a virus hiding in the svchost.exe application or a damaged or corrupt file.
Speeding Up the Process
- You can stop the process from slowing down your computer by stopping services that don't need to be running. If you have a working knowledge of your computer processes and their functions, you can access Task Manager and remove the Windows processes you don’t need, which in turn will speed up the system. However, if you are unsure of process functions, you may wish to download a utility such as Process Explorer, which helps identify processes before removing or disabling them from the system.
Viruses
- The svchost.exe file is not a virus. However, since the process is an executable file, it's possible for malware or viruses to hide within the file, which contributes to the computer's slowdown issue. Also, because the computer may have several instances of the svchost.exe file running at one time, a virus may pose as the file, usually under a slight variation of the file name. Therefore, if you're experiencing computer issues or slowdowns, update your anti-virus program and scan your computer on a regular basis.
