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

"shtctky.exe" process represents "ThinkPad Message Receiver for Shortcut Hot Keys" program.

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

Boot
   wininit
      services
         tphkload
            shtctky

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
shtctky.exe               5,716 K   ThinkPad Message Receiver for Shortcut Hot Keys

Additional information about "shtctky.exe" process:

Command line:
   C:\PROGRA~1\Lenovo\HOTKEY\SHTCTKY.EXE /UEFI\\.\pipe\{C6A9690C-33AE-4a55-8B65-9498CC0A7B34}.ShortcutKey

Programe file information:
   Name: shtctky.exe
   Location: C:\PROGRA~1\Lenovo\HOTKEY\SHTCTKY.EXE
   Description: ThinkPad Message Receiver for Shortcut Hot Keys
   Version: 2.72
   Size: 143016 bytes
   Last modified: 12/21/2015 10:19:44 PM
   Company Name: Lenovo Group Limited
   
Some data files used:
C:\PROGRA~1\Lenovo\HOTKEY
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\setupapi.dll.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
HKU\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\International
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\LENOVO.MICMUTE\Parameters
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Lenovo\OnScreenDisplay

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

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

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