What is the "conhost.exe" process on windows 7? Is the "conhost.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "conhost.exe" process? Why there are multiple "conhost.exe" processes?

"conhost.exe" process represents "Console Window Host" program. "conhost.exe" process provides the console management for a command line window created by cmd.exe.

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

Boot
   csrss
      conhost

On the Processes tab of "Task Manager", "conhost.exe" process may be listed multiple times, if you run multiple command line windows.

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
conhost.exe               2,196 K   Console Window Host
conhost.exe                 540 K   Console Window Host
...

Additional information about "conhost.exe" process:

Command line:
   \C:\windows\system32\conhost.exe 
   932989049-20168490275155326021831011817-278321280-693425319-1694816696375153478

Programe file information:
   Name: conhost.exe
   Location: C:\windows\system32\conhost.exe
   Description: Console Window Host
   Version: 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
   Size: 338432 bytes
   Last modified: 10/7/2016 11:01:04 AM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\conhost.exe.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\conhost.exe.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\user32.dll.mui
C:\Windows\Fonts\StaticCache.dat
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\conhost.exe.mui
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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SESSION MANAGER

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
C:\windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\windows\system32\GDI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\USER32.dll
C:\windows\system32\LPK.dll
C:\windows\system32\USP10.dll
C:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
C:\windows\system32\IMM32.dll
C:\windows\system32\MSCTF.dll

"conhost.exe" process is not a virus. You should not terminate "conhost.exe" process. It will go away after you close the command line window.

 

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