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

"micmute.exe - Microphone Mute Controll Service for ThinkPad" process for "Lenovo Microphone Mute" service provides on screen display of the microphone mute status on Lenovo Windows 8 laptops.

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

Image Name  PID  User Name   Memory  Description

micmute.exe 2148 SYSTEM      926 K   Microphone Mute Controll Service 
                                         for ThinkPad

Additional information about "micmute.exe" process:

Command line:
   C:\Program Files\Lenovo\HOTKEY\micmute.exe
   
Started by: services.exe

Files used:
   C:\Windows\System32

Registry keys: 
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager
HKU\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\International
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\IBMPMSVC\Parameters\Notification

"micmute.exe" process is not a virus. You can terminate "micmute.exe" process or stop the "Lenovo Microphone Mute" service. You can restart it when you need to the built-in microphone later.

⇒ "TPKNRSVC.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇐ "CamMute.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇑ Application Service Processes on Windows 8

⇑⇑ Windows 8 Processes Tutorials