What is the "taskhostex.exe" process on Windows 8? Is the "taskhostex.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "taskhostex.exe" process?

"taskhostex.exe" process represents "Host Process for Windows Tasks" program.

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

Boot
   taskhostex

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
taskhostex.exe           10,652 K   Host Process for Windows Tasks

Additional information about "taskhostex.exe" process:

Command line:
   taskhostex.exe 

Programe file information:
   Name: taskhostex.exe
   Location: C:\Windows\system32\taskhostex.exe
   Description: Host Process for Windows Tasks
   Version: 6.2.9200.16420 (win8_gdr.120919-1813)
   Size: 72192 bytes
   Last modified: 3/1/2013 9:45:35 PM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\taskhostex.exe.mui
C:\Users\fyi\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache\WebCacheV01.dat
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\MMDevAPI.dll.mui
C:\Users\fyi\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache\V01.log
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\wdmaud.drv.mui

Some registry keys used:
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SESSION MANAGER
HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WindowsRuntime\CLSID
HKCR\ActivatableClasses\CLSID
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Ids
HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\DRIVERS32
HKCU\Keyboard Layout\Toggle
HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\CTF\TIP
HKCU\Keyboard Layout\Preload

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\RPCRT4.dll
C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\combase.dll
C:\Windows\system32\OLEAUT32.dll
C:\Windows\system32\CRYPTBASE.dll
C:\Windows\system32\bcryptPrimitives.dll
C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\sechost.dll

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

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