What is the "wininit.exe" process on windows 7? Is the "wininit.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "wininit.exe" process?

"wininit.exe" process represents "Windows Start-Up Application" program. "wininit.exe" runs right after the Windows 7 operating system started to launch all service processes and startup programs.

"wininit.exe" process is normally running under the parent process "Boot" as shown in the process tree below:

Boot
   wininit

On the Processes tab of "Task Manager", "wininit.exe" process may be listed as:

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
wininit.exe               3,716 K   Windows Start-Up Application

Additional information about "wininit.exe" process:

Command line:
   wininit.exe

Programe file information:
   Name: wininit.exe
   Location: C:\windows\system32\wininit.exe
   Description: Windows Start-Up Application
   Version: 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
   Size: 129024 bytes
   Last modified: 7/13/2009 9:39:52 PM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation

Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\user32.dll.mui

Some registry keys used:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SESSION MANAGER
HKU\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\International
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale\Alternate Sorts
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Language Groups
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Lsa
HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
C:\windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\windows\system32\USER32.dll
C:\windows\system32\GDI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\LPK.dll
C:\windows\system32\USP10.dll
C:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
C:\windows\system32\RPCRT4.dll
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\sechost.dll

"wininit.exe" process is not a virus. You should not terminate "wininit.exe" process.

⇒System Processes on Windows 7

⇒⇒Windows 7 Processes Tutorials