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

"SearchIndexer.exe - Microsoft Windows Search Indexer" process for "Windows Search" service provides content indexing, property caching, and search results for files, e-mail, and other content.

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

Image Name        PID   Memory  Description

SearchIndexer.exe 2660  8,560 K Microsoft Windows Search Indexer

Additional information about "SearchIndexer.exe" process:

Command line:
   C:\Windows\system32\SearchIndexer.exe /Embedding
   
Started by: services.exe

Files used:
   C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows
   C:\Windows\System32
   C:\Windows\System32\en-US\KernelBase.dll.mui
   
Registry keys: 
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PropertySystem\PropertyHandlers
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Language Groups
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale\Alternate Sorts
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\VSS\Diag\MSSearch Service Writer
   HKU\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\International
   HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
   HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
   HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts

"SearchIndexer.exe" process is not a virus. Normally you should not terminate "SearchIndexer.exe" process. But if you see it using too much CPU resource, you can terminate it or stop the "Windows Search" service. And restart it later when your computer free.

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