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General discussion

Winmgmt.exe

Mar 11, 2005 5:21AM PST

help: I normally keep checking what is running while I'm on, to be sure I'm not sapping machine speed running unnecessary background programs. It's only in the last couple of weeks, I noticed Winmgmt being listed. I can't correlate it with anything I did with the machine. I had never seen it listed before, and in the interest of having as few necessary background programs running as possible, I have a couple of questions.

First I've tracked it to the following path: C:\Windows\System\WBEM. What does it really do? Do I need it to be running? If not, How do I either DISABLE or DELETE it.

I've searched Google, but only find a confusing array of possibilities; from "it's Spyware" to it is a required process file and logger. I understand it to be "Used for Enterprise Management. If you are not an IT Administrator you don't need this to be running".

I'd appreciate some input on this question. Thank You-DRT

Discussion is locked

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Widely documented, but what OS?
Mar 11, 2005 5:44AM PST

Just so you know, I usually don't duplicate web content you can find with google, but you didn't note the OS. I did come across that if WBEM wasn't running, some items don't work such as System Configuration. Just so you know.

Bob

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Winmgmt.exe
Mar 11, 2005 8:32AM PST

Bob,
OS is Windows Me. I'm looking for anything but a duplication of what I found elsewhere. I'm looking for an answer, not a complete spectrum of possibilities. I'm using a Dell 933 mhz; Pentium III Desktop.

Thx-DRT

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"anything but a duplication of what I found elsewhere"
Mar 11, 2005 8:40AM PST

Given the age of Windows ME, the item has been literally beat to death and there is no new information about it that I've read in over 2 years.

Bob

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What's the point?
Mar 11, 2005 8:52AM PST

Just so you know - thanks anyway. I think we are both missing the point. What's the age of Me got to do with it? You do have a way with words. I am sorry I asked. No need to answer this.
Thank you.-DRT

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Winmgmt
Mar 11, 2005 11:41AM PST

Maybe it stands for Window(s) Management ? If so, it is needed.

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Thank You!
Mar 11, 2005 9:54PM PST

It is Windows Management, but I'm wondering why I'm suddenly seeing it running in the background as of two weeks ago. 5 Star Support says "Used for Enterprise Management. If you are not an IT Administrator you don't need this to be running". As far as I know, I fit neither of these cases, so I'm wondering, if I don't need it running, how do I disable it?-DRT

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Just asking..
Mar 11, 2005 10:17PM PST

Since that's a duplication of what we read elsewhere, why is that something you wanted to read?

I do know a bit about this part of Windows ME since I had to dig around in that area a long time ago, but you wrote you didn't want anything that was a duplication of readily available information.

I honored your words and you seemed to get upset.

If you meant something else, please update it.

Bob

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I guess I'm getting frustrated.
Mar 11, 2005 11:38PM PST

Bob,

My original post had two questions in it. I felt, I needed someone elses input, since what I had seen was confusing and varied all over the map. I didn't ask for a performance review on what was previously written about this subject or OS Windows Me. Instead of directing answers to my questions, I felt I was being lectured on how much has already been written about it. I'm getting too old for lectures. Sorry, but that is how I received your response. If my questions are unanswerable, a simple statement to that effect would suffice. The fact that I involve myself in other site forums on the same questions, is to get a consensus I'm comfortable with, and not an attempt to pit one source against another. Thx-DRT

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If we can toss that one requirement...
Mar 11, 2005 11:46PM PST

That I don't duplicate prior works, then here's what I do on Windows ME to get it fairly clean. Most of what I do is at Aumha's Optimizing Windows at http://www.aumha.org/articles.htm

I'm also fanatical about any SPYWARE. Besides the usual Spybot/Adaware/Cwshredder automatic tools, I run HIJACKTHIS and let the following 2 web sites give me a first look for possible items to toss:
- http://www.help2go.com/modules.php?name=HJTDetective
- http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php

Next I select Firefox or Mozilla and use such to sidestep the spyware issues.

There's not much else one can do, unless they need every scrap of memory then they can disable System Restore. But I don't suggest such since Windows ME didn't implement the SFC tool (was in 98, vanished in ME, back again in XP. Go figure?)

The WEBEM stuff is optional, but if you disable, some quirky things can happen such as MSINFO32 has been known to show up blank.

Again, I would have written this, but was under the impression you didn't want anything you could find on the web...

Bob

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Clarification!
Mar 12, 2005 12:06AM PST

Bob,

You are operating on a plane other than mine. Forget about not duplicating other material. My only point there was I found what I read confusing.
Again my questions were:
1.DO I NEED TO HAVE IT RUNNING? (Since it only showed up recently).
2.IF NOT, HOW DO I DISABLE IT?
My understanding is, from your response, not having it running, can effect other computer processes. Correct?
Thx-DRT

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This discussion at...
Mar 12, 2005 12:15AM PST

Read http://www.ntcompatible.com/thread31267-1.html and you see the note about how to whack it out of the system for good, but with the caveat that MSINFO32 will suffer since it uses that interface to gather it's report.

From memory it doesn't affect much else, but always the same sort of effect such as a tool that doesn't run or is blank.

I can't answer if you need to have it running. I can share I didn't bother with it and it didn't bother me.

Bob

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Thanks
Mar 12, 2005 12:18AM PST

Bob,

That's a wrap. Thx-DRT

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P.S.
Mar 12, 2005 12:16AM PST

Maybe my approach to troubleshooting is somewhat tainted by the fact that I am a retired Process Machinery Engineer. Having spent better than half my life with the "What, When, Where", I like to take the shortest route to the "Why". Thanks again for your help, but there are times I do have trouble understanding your replies. Your qualifications were never in doubt.
Thx-DRT

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Didn't phase me a bit.
Mar 12, 2005 1:06AM PST

I am here to chat and help if I can. Sometimes I read what people write and get into trouble. I bet you've seen what happens at times when the instructions were followed to the letter.

Bob