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

"VSSVC.exe" process represents "Microsoftr Volume Shadow Copy Service" program. "VSSVC.exe" process is created by the service: "Microsoftr Volume Shadow Copy Service".

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

Boot
   wininit
      services
         VSSVC

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
VSSVC.exe                 6,688 K   Microsoftr Volume Shadow Copy Service

Additional information about "VSSVC.exe" process:

Command line:
   C:\windows\system32\vssvc.exe

Programe file information:
   Name: VSSVC.exe
   Location: C:\windows\system32\vssvc.exe
   Description: Microsoftr Volume Shadow Copy Service
   Version: 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
   Size: 1600512 bytes
   Last modified: 11/20/2010 10:23:55 PM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\VSSVC.exe.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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSDTC\Tracing
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\VSS\Diag\Registry Writer
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\VSS\Diag\COM+ REGDB Writer
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\VSS\Diag\ASR Writer
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\VSS\Diag\Shadow Copy Optimization Writer

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
C:\windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\windows\system32\ADVAPI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\sechost.dll
C:\windows\system32\RPCRT4.dll
C:\windows\system32\USER32.dll
C:\windows\system32\GDI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\LPK.dll

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

⇒ "vds.exe" Process on Windows 7

⇐ "TrustedInstaller.exe" Process on Windows 7

⇑ System Service Processes on Windows 7

⇑⇑ Windows 7 Processes Tutorials