Task List Programs - AnswersThatWork's famous Database of Processes, Windows Startups, Windows XP Services, Windows Vista Services, Process Library

Task List
Name

PROGRAM &
MANUFACTURER

WHAT IT IS
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO

KB891711

KB891711.exe

(Microsoft)

Microsoft Security Update 891711 which addresses a vulnerability in Cursor and Icon Format Handling and which is installed as a startup task. This task first appeared at the beginning of March 2005. Since it is not normal Microsoft practice to install patches to Windows as startup tasks, we believe that this is a temporary and necessary fix which Microsoft will eventually convert to a transparent patch in future Windows updates. This patch applies to all versions of Windows except Windows XP SP2 although it often fails to install properly on Windows 98 PCs.

Recommendation :
Necessary to close a security loophole which Microsoft have identified. In principle you should leave this task alone. However, Windows 98/ME users may need to disable it on the Startups tab of The Ultimate Troubleshooter as, from the many reports we have been receiving from users, this task can cause serious instability problems under Windows 98/98SE/ME on some PCs.

Kbd

Kbd.exe

(Hewlett-Packard)

Multimedia Keyboard Manager found on HP and Compaq PCs and laptops (Compaq is owned by HP). This task enables the user to configure and/or use the configurable keys on the HP keyboard, such as Internet, Email, Wordprocessing keys, Volume Control, keyboard shortcuts to specific websites, etc...

Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference. If you do not use the multimedia and configurable keys on your keyboard, then disable this task on the Startups tab of The Ultimate Troubleshooter. Otherwise, for those who do need to have KBD running, be mindful that there is a history of problems with KBD. Most of those problems occur when the user has to do a System Recovery, occasionally when the user has to do a System Restore, and, in our experience, almost every time that Microsoft issues a major Service Pack such as, for example, XP SP1 and XP SP2. When it is the latter (new Microsoft Service Pack), to their credit HP are quick in producing a fix, so simply visit the HP site for fixes to the multimedia keyboard software if you have problems with KBD. When there are problems they range from KBD errors on boot‑up or shutdown, or software crashes when using the HP Media Center software, to sluggish PCs as a result of KBD using upwards of 50% of all your resources.

KBDAP32A

KBDAP32A.EXE

(Lee, Wei-Bin)

Multimedia Keyboard Application installed by the driver CD of a number of keyboard manufacturers (Belkin, GE, Labtec, Medion, Micro Innovations, Omni, Trust, amongst others). This task enables the user to configure and/or use the configurable keys on their multimedia keyboard, such as Internet, Email, Wordprocessing keys, Volume Control, keyboard shortcuts to specific websites, etc…

Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference. If you do not use the multimedia and configurable keys on your keyboard, then disable this task on the Startups tab of The Ultimate Troubleshooter.

Kbdtray

KbdTray.exe

(Logitech)

System Tray icon installed by the Logitech iTouch keyboard drivers. This System Tray icon enables you to set up the Logitech keyboard special keys and programmable keys. It also implements your programmed keys at start-up.

Recommendation :
Some versions of the iTouch software install a version of KBDTRAY which generates endless shutdown or startup errors. If you have this problem, go to our Drivers page and download the latest version of iTouch. If you still have problems after having installed the latest version of iTouch, simply disable KBDTRAY with The Ultimate Troubleshooter – all this means is that you will not be able to use the keyboard special keys nor any of the programmable keys.

Kern32

Kern32.exe

(???)

You have the BADTRANS virus.

Kernel32

Kern32.exe

Kernel32.exe

Krnl32.exe

(???)

You have one of the Badtrans viruses, or the W32.HLLW.Epon@mm virus.

Kernel32.dll

Kernel32.dll

(Microsoft)

Windows itself (in layman terms).

Recommendation :
Leave alone !

Keybdmgr

KeybdMgr.exe

(Netropa)

This background task is related to MMKEYBD and MMUSBKB2 elsewhere in these Task List pages, but we do not yet know what it does.

Recommendation :
Whatever you do with MMKEYBD and MMUSBKB2, do it with KEYBDMGR.

Keymap

KeyMap.exe

(Kesmai – Interactive Magic ???)

Keymap is the System Tray utility and background task used by games produced by Kesmai (published by Interactive Magic) and which enables you to program keys to do specific actions during the game. One of their most well known product is Air Warrior 3, a flight simulation game.

Recommendation :
Needed if you program keyboard keys to do specific actions during your games.

Khooker

KHooker.exe

(Silicon Integrated Systems – SiS)

SiS Keyboard Daemon. System Tray utility which gets installed by the drivers of the latter day SiS VGA cards. The utility itself is not of much use in our opinion and may occasionally be contributing to Windows startup problems, although we have not been able to establish this for certain.

Recommendation :
Delete using The Ultimate Troubleshooter.

KHost

KDX

KHost.exe

(VeriSign Inc)

Kontiki Delivery Manager Client. VeriSign’s Kontiki is peer‑to‑peer software (P2P) used to deliver in a totally secure manner full-screen video over the Internet. It can also be used for delivering software, electronic manuals, etc.., but its primary use remains the secure delivery of full-screen video. At the time of writing, 20-Jun-2007, the Kontiki software is used mainly in the UK by broadcasters such as Channel 4 On-Demand, Sky Broadband Movies, Sky Anytime, or BBC Digital through their iPlayer. Of late, however, the Kontiki software is starting to appear in the US & Canada with some broadcasters such as AOL Hi-Q Video.

This particular startup background task enforces the security implemented by the provider of the content you want to view and then enables you to view it.

Recommendation :
Given the possible consequences on your Internet connection in having this process run when you are not watching a video, our advice is to ensure that it is disabled on the Startups tab of The Ultimate Troubleshooter – Read our write-up of this task’s sister service, KSERVICE.EXE, the Kontiki Delivery Manager Service on the Services tab of TUT (look for KSERVICE in the Service Name column).

From our tests double-clicking on the icon installed on your desktop by the software from your favourite broadcaster, starts this program if it is not already started, thus ensuring that you can still watch downloaded content even this program did not run automatically at Windows boot-up.

KodakCCS

Kodak Camera Connection Software

KodakCCS.exe

(Kodak)

Kodak Camera Connection Software (also called “Kodak DC Ring 3 Conduit (Win32)”). This task is installed by the Kodak EasyShare software as a startup item on Windows 98/ME, or as a service on Windows 2000/XP. This task/service recognizes when your Kodak camera is plugged via the USB port and fires up the EasyShare software so that you can transfer your pictures to the PC.

Recommendation :
The history of this task/service is not a good one, from the days that it used to be called DCFSSVC to now in 2005 (Time of writing : 30‑May‑2005). From problems transferring pictures, problems shutting Windows 98/ME down, inability to use other USB devices while this software is installed (not in the current version of the software), and a general instability of the software when the PC has other programs installed on it which also work with USB ports. From a technical standpoint we do not understand why Kodak still insists on using this task on Windows XP. While it made sense when Windows 98SE was still on over 50% of PCs back in 2003 and earlier, it makes no sense with Windows ME/2000/XP since those versions of Windows have the inbuilt facility to associate an event on a USB port with the running of a specific program which can then use Windows to transfer from the USB device (your Kodak camera) to the hard disk. In our view it is because Kodak insist on using KODAKCCS that there are still more problems with this software than there should be. That said :

1)   If you are not experiencing any problems with either the Kodak EasyShare software or your PC, leave this task alone. There is no point fixing what ain’t broke !

2)   If you are experiencing problems, you may first try to download the latest version of the EasyShare software, either through our Drivers page, or through www.EasyShare.com (read everything thoroughly before downloading and upgrading).

3)   If you still have problems after installing the latest version of the EasyShare software, and you have Windows XP, then switch to the Services tab of The Ultimate Troubleshooter and set the Startup Mode of this service to Disabled; next, reboot your PC, with your Kodak camera still plugged in, and, once Windows has restarted, right-click on the drive which corresponds to your camera in Windows Explorer (or “My Computer”), choose the AUTOPLAY tab, choose “Pictures” in the drop-down, choose “Select an action to perform”, choose the “Kodak EasyShare” software and then OK all the way out. We have found this to work.

4)   Alternatively, purchase a card-reader and transfer your pictures using the card reader and Windows Explorer (or “My Computer”) (after disabling this startup task, Win98/ME, or setting the startup mode of this service to disabled, Win2000/XP). Note that in Windows XP you can make the same AUTOPLAY modifications mentioned in (3) above on the drive letters used by the card reader.

Krnl32

Krnl32.exe

(???)

You have the W32.HLLW.Epon@mm virus.

All of the tasks below, and many more, although not detailed on this page, are explained in full in The Ultimate Troubleshooter.

The Ultimate Troubleshooter (TUT), has the full database in a remarkably easy and pleasing interface which makes the process of fine tuning your PC, or troubleshooting your computer problems, a snip. Get it here.

K9.exe, Kane.exe, Kasperskyaveng.exe, Kav.exe, Kavmm.exe, KAVPF.exe, Kavsvc.exe, KaZaA.exe, KazaaLite.kpp, KB08953265.exe, KB918547.EXE, KdzEregli.exe, KeenValue.exe, KEM.exe, KEMailKb.EXE, Kernel32.DLi, Kernel32.win, Kernel32dll.exe, KeyboardSurrogate.exe, Keyhook.exe, Keynote.exe, KeyPatrol.exe, KeyText.exe, KeyTick.exe, Kgjdie27.exe, Kgzgjkpcw.exe, KHALMNPR.exe, KillBush.exe, KillWind.exe, KMaestro.exe, KMW_Run.exe, KMW_Show.exe, KnockOut.exe, KnockOutOutlook.exe, Kodak Software Updater.exe, KPDrv4XP.EXE, Kpf4gui.exe, Kpf4ss.exe, Kpp.exe, KService.exe, KZPRLK.exe

If you know of a background program that is missing from our database, but which you feel others should know about because of its potential side-effects, then let us know via the Feedback button.