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

"taskeng.exe" process represents "Task Scheduler Engine" program. "taskeng.exe" is created by "Task Scheduler" service hosted by a "svchost.exe" process. "taskeng.exe" launches scheduled background jobs.

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

Boot
   wininit
      services
         svchost
            taskeng

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
taskeng.exe               7,352 K   Task Scheduler Engine

Additional information about "taskeng.exe" process:

Command line:
   taskeng.exe {B16338BE-23B4-447C-8731-519EFB167CBD}

Programe file information:
   Name: taskeng.exe
   Location: C:\windows\system32\taskeng.exe
   Description: Task Scheduler Engine
   Version: 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
   Size: 464384 bytes
   Last modified: 11/20/2010 10:24:27 PM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\TaskEng.exe.mui
C:\Windows\Fonts\StaticCache.dat

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
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale\Alternate Sorts
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\Configuration
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Language Groups

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\ole32.dll
C:\windows\system32\RPCRT4.dll

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

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