How to fix csrss.exe errors?
What is CSRSS.EXE?
The csrss.exe file is short for Client/Server Runtime Server Subsystem and is the subsystem’s main executable. This process handles most of the graphical user interactions in Windows. It is responsible for managing the console windows, creating and deleting threads. In addition, it also manages some parts of the 16-bit MS-DOS virtual environment. While win32.sys is the kernel-mode part of the Win32 subsystem, csrss.exe is its user-mode part.
This essential subsystem should be running at all times and is important for the stability and security of your computer. Do not terminate it.
The csrss.exe file is stored in the c:\windows\system32 or c:\winnt\system32 folder with the file description: "Client Server Runtime process". If this file is found in any other place other than these, it may be a virus, trojan, spyware, or worm. You can check its legitimacy with Security Task Manager. If your machine has a false csrss.exe, then the Task Manager will show two processes with name csrss.exe running at one time. You can identify the correct one from its location in the System32 folder, and size, which will be less than 1MB.
Fix CSRSS.EXE errors
Although csrss.exe is a core process of Microsoft Windows, it can, like any file on your system, be infected by a virus, worm, or trojan. Since this file comes with Microsoft Windows, you should not remove this file even if you think it is infected. Instead, run anti-virus software to remove infected file and clean registry.
Because csrss.exe is an essential system process, any attempt to delete it from the Task Manager will cause conflict with Windows. If you try to end the csrss.exe process, the Unable to Terminate Process window will be displayed with an error message.
If your csrss.exe file is using abnormally high percentage of CPU such as 99-100%, your Microsoft Windows user profile may be corrupt. To solve this problem, you need to recreate the user profile.
Recreate the user profile
1. Backup all the files in My Documents as they will be lost. It's also recommended you backup any other important files you may be concerned about loosing.
2. Log out of the account that is causing the problem and into a different account. If you do not have another account you can create a new account through the User Accounts icon in the Control Panel.
3. Once in the other account right-click My Computer icon and click Properties.
4. In the Properties window click the Advanced tab.
5. In Advanced click the Settings button under User Profiles.
6. Finally, in the User Profiles window highlight the name of the profile that is encountering this issue and click the Delete button.
Remove infected file and clean registry
Manually open and run your security applications in order to ensure that you remove the infected version of csrss.exe and not the critical Windows component. Clean or remove the infected files that it finds. Once finished you may find it necessary, in order to use some applications or files, to remove corrupt file versions and replace them with clean versions. You may also run a registry cleaner to ensure that your registry is in full working order.
