# Win98 - spurious processes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 27, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013 "2001-07-27T21:43:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MrDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/22d042/32.png) [@MrDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDeath)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/1 "2001-07-27T21:43:40Z")
I’m running a basic Windows 98 installation (self-installed) on an Athlon. Whenever I hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete, usually to kill some rogue Netscape window, the Close Program window pops up, and there are always these extra processes kicking around. Are they important? Will my computer die if I get rid of them, or are they just chewing up valuable cycles that I could be calculating the next Mersenne prime with? If the latter is the case, what do I do to get them off my system? The processes in question are: Systray Rundll Navapw32 Poproxy Thanks for your help. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/2 "2001-07-27T21:46:32Z")
I can’t speak for the others, but **systray** is that lovely little set of icons on the bottom right of your screen – the ‘system tray’ of programs pre-loaded as Windows starts. ---
**Author:** ![MrDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/22d042/32.png) [@MrDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDeath)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/3 "2001-07-27T21:49:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crusoe \* > **systray** is that lovely little set of icons on the bottom right of your screen I had guessed at that one - but then why isn’t it a ‘hidden process’ like the taskbar itself or the system clock? Seems a bit silly to me. (And the tray is at the top right on my screen - I have the taskbar on the right-hand side.) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/4 "2001-07-27T21:55:31Z")
Sorry, **MrD** , I’ll have to pass the ‘why’ onto someone more techie than I. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/5 "2001-07-27T22:14:39Z")
The link with the info does not work anymore so here is what C-Net tech aid said: "Some people press Ctrl-Alt-Delete for reasons other than a hung computer. For instance, it’s a useful way to see what programs you have running on your machine. But how do you know what they all do? Some items in the list are obvious, like Microsoft Word, Eudora Pro, or Myst–all programs you’ve opened yourself. But what about the rest of those things, like Systray, Navapw32, and Mgactrl? These programs–which may be application files, sound files, hardware drivers, or other types of files–start automatically when your computer starts and remain running until you shut down. They may perform tasks in the background or load once and remain available until the system needs them. The files listed here depend on the software you have loaded onto your system. For example, if you load a Microsoft Intellimouse, you’ll see Mswheel.exe (the program that supports the wheel on the Intellimouse) in the list of files in the Close Program dialog box. You should never close any program in the Close Program dialog box unless that program is locked up and will not respond to the normal method for closing a program (choosing File/Exit). Neither should you close any program automatically loaded to the computer if you plan to continue using the computer; if you do, your system’s functionality may become impaired. If one of these programs is not responding, then end this task and shut down Windows for a fresh start." Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Crude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Crude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Crude)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/6 "2001-07-27T22:15:05Z")
**Poproxy** is the thing that allows your POP3 mail client to work. **Rundll** is (I think) the process that lets the PC access and use .dll files and update the system registry. **Navapw32** I dunno, but it’s some kind of 32-bit app, probably something to do with the file system itself. If a real geek would like to refute these, I won’t even argue. ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/7 "2001-07-27T22:37:32Z")
I’m pretty sure **Navapw32** is Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect. Ugly ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/8 "2001-07-27T22:58:11Z")
I wouldn’t close any of them if you don’t know what they are for. Just take any of the programs you see & write them in the URL address box of your browser, hit return & presto! You’ll know what they do. You probably think that Im bleeping nuts but try it, type Navapw32 as a URL address (assuming you’re using Netscape, I haven’t tried it with IE but I don’t see why not) & youll have your answer. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/9 "2001-07-27T23:04:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*I wouldn’t close any of them if you don’t know what they are for. > > Just take any of the programs you see & write them in the URL address box of your browser, hit return & presto! You’ll know what they do. You probably think that Im bleeping nuts but try it, type Navapw32 as a URL address (assuming you’re using Netscape, I haven’t tried it with IE but I don’t see why not) & youll have your answer. \*\* If this works at all, it doesn’t work in IE (goes to MSN search). I don’t have Netscape installed, so somebody else will have to try that. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/10 "2001-07-27T23:14:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MrDeath \* > …why isn’t it a ‘hidden process’ like the taskbar itself or the system clock? The Explorer process controls the taskbar. ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/11 "2001-07-27T23:34:57Z")
Go to [http://www.pcpitstop.com](http://www.pcpitstop.com) and take their diagnostic tests for free. They will identify (mostly) all running processes on your computer at the time and tell you what they are (mostly). This is an example of what they found on mine: > [@](#): > > Internet Information Services Unknown C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\INETSRV\INETINFO.EXE > Unknown C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDTCW.EXE > APTEZBP MFC Application - Aptiva EZ Buttons run-time process Unknown c:\IBMTOOLS\APTEZBTN\APTEZBP.EXE > Spooler Sub System Process Windows C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE > Internet Explorer Windows C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\IEXPLORE.EXE > Win32 Kernel core component Windows C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL > Multimedia background task support module Windows C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MMTASK.TSK > WIN32 Network Interface Service Process Windows C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE > Windows 32-bit VxD Message Server Windows C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE > Distributed COM Services Windows C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RPCSS.EXE > System Tray Applet Windows C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SysTray.Exe > WMI service exe housing Windows C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE > Windows Explorer Windows c:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE Each one of those was linked to a description page like this: > [@](#): > > Application associated with this file > Windows > > Purpose of this program > Provides print spooling functions, which allow you to use your computer while a document is printing. Runs if a printer has spooling enabled. (To change the spool settings for a printer, go to Control Panel | Printers, right click a printer, and select Properties. Under the Details tab, click the Spool Settings button.) SPOOL32 will continue to run after printing is complete, but does not use significant resources when idle. > > Should it be disabled? > Generally should not be disabled, some apps will not work. Pretty cool, eh? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/12 "2001-07-28T00:05:24Z")
God, I don’t know how this got started but it should be in snopes. systray is NOT the system tray. Systray provides some icons which you may or may not need. I do not run systray. I have never run systray, and yet I live a happy life. 95% of the time the only reason you may need systray is because it will put the little volume control icon in your system tray. If your sound card has its own driver and icon, then you do not need to run systray. Check the MS web site for more details. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/13 "2001-07-28T00:13:27Z")
BTW, if you want to see what’s running, ctrl-alt-del is not too useful. Try running MSINFO32.EXE (I am not sure if I got it with WIN or downloaded from MS) and click on “applications running” and on “active modules”. You’ll be surprised to see how much stuff is running even when “nothing” is running. Another program which will give you a ton of info on this is SISOFT SANDRA. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/14 "2001-07-28T09:58:12Z")
Systray is the system tray. > **[InformationWeek, serving the information needs of the Business Technology...](https://www.informationweek.com/)** > > InformationWeek.com: News analysis and commentary on information technology trends, including cloud computing, DevOps, data analytics, IT leadership, cybersecurity, and IT infrastructure. I made no recommendations on whether you want to run it or not. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/15 "2001-07-28T14:31:51Z")
Crusoe, you would do well to read your own cite. It says it has nothing on systray and suggests system tray as closest match. Please check out MS for systray.exe or the several threads where this has been discussed before. I am not running systray and never have and I (obviously) have my system try right there like everybody else. If you do a survey you will see _many_ people are not running systray.exe and nevertheless they have the system tray like everybody else. Please check MS as your cite has nothing on systray.exe ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/16 "2001-07-28T15:11:41Z")
The saw that systray = system tray has been repeated so much that it is easier to find references which get it wrong than those that get it right. Even [PC WORLD](http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,18491,00.asp) gets it wrong saying “Explorer and systray: Basic parts of Windows that should always be up” and [PC MAGAZINE](http://discuss.pcmag.com/n/main.asp?webtag=pcmag&nav=messages&msg=99.4)says “Systray and explorer are really the only two programs that need to run all the time”. Obviously they have not bothered to check that _many_ computers are _NOT_ running systray. Well, the PC MAGAZINE quote is not really theirs. I just noticed it is a message on their bulletin board. Microsoft Q128129 got it right though: **The following icons provided by Systray.exe may appear on the taskbar: Battery Meter, PC Card Status, Volume Control, Quickres, Task Scheduler** If you do not need any of those, you do not need to run systray. I am amazed at how something so false and _so_ easy to check has become “common knowledge”. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/17 "2001-07-28T16:00:42Z")
Well, if that’s the case **Sailor** then consider that a successful fight against ignorance. I stand corrected, although I’m annoyed that TechWeb are propagating the idea that SysTray and System Tray are synonymous. All I could find was that MS section you quoted, which hardly made it crystal clear. I won’t give up my day job yet. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/18 "2001-07-28T16:17:40Z")
Searching some more on this issue, I come to the conclusion there is more information on the net that is wrong than is correct. You see a whole bunch of people asking what is systray.exe and the “experts” answering “it installs the system tray”. Then a few people ask “my system is not running systray.exe and everything seems ok, should I worry?”. You would think the “experts” would pause and think that _maybe_ systray does not, in fact, install the system tray. The thruth is that if you remove the entry for systray.exe from your registry “run” section you still get a fully working tray, created by explorer.exe in its incarnation as shell. You can test this for yourself. But further on the MS page: I found [pcforrest.freeserve.co.uk](http://www.pcforrest.freeserve.co.uk/streamlining_startups.htm) who seem to know what they are talking about and say > [@](#): > > The System Tray (SYSTRAY.EXE) is a program which provides three very specific services that run from the System Tray itself. Note that it doesn’t actually provide the System Tray (sometimes referred to - correctly - as the Status Area) since that is fundamentally built-in to the Taskbar provided by the Explorer shell. The three services are: Battery Meter, PC Card Status and **volume control. A** Microsoft article dealing with the System Tray icons incorrectly states that it also provides the Task Scheduler and QuickRes icons. This is categorically incorrect. These icons are actually controlled via the MSTASK.EXE file and the QUICKRES\_RUNDLLENTRY function within the DESKCP16.DLL library (launched via RUNDLL.EXE), respectively. I have added what is in bold as it is missing in the original and seems to be an obvious error. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/19 "2001-07-28T16:21:21Z")
Further down on the same page: > [@](#): > > systray provides the Volume Control, PC Card Status and Power Management icons that reside in the System Tray. SYSTRAY.EXE may be disabled if none of these services are required. It will launch as and when required if you later enable the icons. Note: SYSTRAY.EXE does NOT provide the System Tray itself - just the three services that can run from it. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013/20 "2001-07-28T16:54:13Z")
Ta **sailor**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-spurious-processes/74013.md?page=2)