A csrss.exe, also known as the Client/Server Runtime System, pertains to a component of the Windows operating system, particularly Windows NT. It is responsible for the user mode of the Win32 console windows, mainly on the graphical user interface (GUI) and threading of transactions.
This is a very important component in your computer, hence, if you see that there is a problem pertaining to the csrss.exe on your computer according to a virus scan, do not delete it immediately. This issue is relatively common as some computers do not detect this as an integral program file. But there is also a worm that creates a file of the same name.
If you encounter a csrss.exe problem, here are the steps that you should take.
- Scan your computer. It is important that you ensure that your computer is free from malware and other viruses. These can corrupt the data you have and cause your computer to malfunction. Install virus scanning applications in your computer. You can download programs like these online, or you can purchase an installer from most computer shops. Having a virus scan can help you identify if the csrss.exe file you have has been corrupted or has been mislabeled.
- Locate your csrss.exe file. If your anti-virus reported a problem with this file, check if you have duplicate files first. Click the “Start” button on the lower left portion of your screen and go to “My Computer”. Click the “Tools” command on the upper menu bar, then, select “Folder Options”. Enable the display of hidden files and folders by ticking the radio button. Then go to “My Computer” again. Select drive “C” and the “Windows” folder. Locate “System32” from the list of folders and find out how many csrss.exe files are placed here.
- Know what a csrss.exe looks like. This file is an executable program and should have the appropriate icon in place. If the csrss.exe program you see appears to be a start-up folder or others, delete it.
- Investigate other folders. If you only have one csrss.exe file under the System32 folder, search for similar files on other folders. This can easily be done by using the Search function of your computer. Click on the “Start” button and type in “csrss.exe” on the field to start a search. If the result displays a file of the same name, but is not located inside the System32 folder, delete this.
- Search for related worms and delete them. Use the Search feature again of your computer, search for the files “iemsg.dllcsrss.exe” and “iemsg.dll”. Delete both.
- Restart your computer. After doing all the steps above and making sure that the csrss.exe problem has been resolved, restart your computer. Wait for it to boot completely and run the anti-virus scan again.
Remember to delete all the contents of your Recycle Bin afterwards. Also, make it a habit to run thevirus scan application at least once a week to save your computer from being infected by worms and viruses. If you are to plug in any external disks into your computer, run a scan first before sharing any files with it.
