What is SVCHOST.EXE ?

For computer geeks or owners of slow computers, svchost.exe can be both puzzling and frustrating. When checking cpu usage on a computer, the task manager oftentimes shows svchost.exe, and sometimes multiples of them, which may, depending on what programs you are running, be taking up a considerable amount of cpu. An unknown process eating away at your cpu is frustrating, especially if you are clueless as to the cause.

In short, svshost.exe is a process run in Windows for the hosting/usage of .dll files. In order to execute something in windows, it needs to be executable, and dll files cannot be directly run. To handle that, svchost.exe hosts the .dll files and allows them to run. Microsoft began shifting the functionality and programming of Windows into dll files some time back because it allows for easier usage and management, but as they are not directly executable, svchost.exe is their burdensome fix.

If you haven't already done so, you can investigate svchost.exe on your computer by opening up the task manager and then clicking the processes tab. Don't make the mistake of looking into your applications tab to see if your computer is being unnecessarily burdened by processes. Once in the processes tab, you will see a massive list of running processes, along with the amount of cpu and memory they are consuming alongside. You should see svchost.exe, and probably multiple of them, in your processes tab. If you see that together they are consuming a considerable amount of cpu, there is a quick fix.

The simple fix to alleviate the burden on your processor is to simply select one of the tabs labeled SVCHOST.EXE, and click the end process button. This is not advisable if you only have one running, but assuming you have multiple Windows should distribute the dll burden along the other running processes. The other way is to select each svchost.exe, right click it, and modify the priority. Setting the priority to low, or just one notch lower than it already was, should allow your processor some significant freedom so you can run some applications of your own at a reasonable speed.