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

"cmd.exe" process represents "Windows Command Processor" program. "cmd.exe" process represents a command line window you are running on the desktop.

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

Boot
   explorer
      cmd

On the Processes tab of "Task Manager", "cmd.exe" process may be listed multiple times, if you launch the command line window multiple times.

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
cmd.exe                   3,896 K   Windows Command Processor
cmd.exe                     144 K   Windows Command Processor
...

Additional information about "cmd.exe" process:

Command line:
   "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" 

Programe file information:
   Name: cmd.exe
   Location: C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe
   Description: Windows Command Processor
   Version: 6.1.7601.17514 (win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850)
   Size: 345088 bytes
   Last modified: 11/20/2010 10:23:55 PM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\cmd.exe.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\KernelBase.dll.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\cmd.exe.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\setupapi.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
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale\Alternate Sorts
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Language Groups
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions

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

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

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