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

"ThumbnailExtractionHost.exe" process represents "Thumbnail Handler Extraction Host" program.

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

Boot
   ThumbnailExtractionHost

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
ThumbnailExtractionH      7,024 K   Thumbnail Handler Extraction Host

Additional information about "ThumbnailExtractionHost.exe" process:

Command line:
   C:\Windows\System32\ThumbnailExtractionHost.exe -Embedding

Programe file information:
   Name: ThumbnailExtractionHost.exe
   Location: C:\Windows\System32\ThumbnailExtractionHost.exe
   Description: Thumbnail Handler Extraction Host
   Version: 6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247)
   Size: 30208 bytes
   Last modified: 7/25/2012 11:08:48 PM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32

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
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Ids

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\Windows\system32\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\Windows\system32\USER32.dll
C:\Windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
C:\Windows\system32\SHLWAPI.dll
C:\Windows\system32\OLEAUT32.dll
C:\Windows\system32\GDI32.dll
C:\Windows\system32\combase.dll
C:\Windows\system32\RPCRT4.dll

"ThumbnailExtractionHost.exe" process is not a virus. You should not terminate "ThumbnailExtractionHost.exe" process. It is used by Internet Explorer (IE).

⇒Application Program Processes on Windows 8

⇒⇒Windows 8 Processes Tutorials