dwm.exe Process
What is dwm.exe?
It is a Desktop Window Manager which is a part of the Microsoft Windows Operating System. It is a property of Microsoft Corporation.
dwm.exe Location
The genuine dwm.exe is located in C:\Windows\System32. It may be found at C:\Windows\System32\dwm.exe. However, the drive may differ based on your system. In some cases, it may also be found in c:\documents and settings\user\local settings\temp which is not it actual location.
dwm.exe Memory (CPU) Usage
The memory space occupied by the application is based on the number of Windows open on the system that you are using. The usual range of memory space occupied can vary between 30 and 50 MB. The amount can increase in accordance with the amount of multitasking that is to be completed. This simply means, the more you open the number of windows the more will be the memory that you will use.
If you change the Windows Vista operating system to the Basic Theme, it will not disable DWM. However, a smaller quantity of memory will be used. It is best for you to use a compositing window manager. This will limit the amount of memory used.
If you change to the Vista Basic Theme, the memory usage can be drastically reduced. Here are some step-by-step directions to help you switch to Vista Basic.
- Right click on the desktop screen. Choose the “Personalize” option from the drop down menu that is displayed. Then, choose the option “Window Color and Appearance”.
- Click on the classic appearance properties button that is located underneath.
- Choose Windows Vista Basic. Click on the “Apply” button to make changes.
Why dwm.exe is Necessary?
This application is required for the visual effects that occur in the MS Windows operating system versions like Vista and Windows 7, such as live Windows previews. It is also responsible for the 3D effects like Flip3D alt tab windows switcher. It provides the Windows Aero glass themes with the glass-like transparent frame. It is a system process that is essential for proper functioning of the Windows operating system.
This process handles the rendering of all the windows being displayed on a computer. It also controls themes and taskbar icons in Windows OS.
Is dwm.exe a Virus?
No. This is not a harmful process. It is considered to be safe and does not cause any harm to the operating system. However, there are some reports that suggest the file can be used as a carrier for Trojan viruses.
dwm.exe Trojan
In some cases, trojan viruses can conceal themselves in the system as dwm.exe. The app, in such cases, is a Trojan-Win32.Agent and may be found in the location C:\Users\Nate\AppData\Roaming\dwm.exe. It makes unauthorized entry into the system and gains access to the user data or performs malicious activities. A malware scan can help you determine whether or not the file is an actual threat to your system. If it is, the file should be deactivated and removed immediately.
dwm.exe Removal
Computer users often view dwm.exe with suspicion and consider it to be taking up a lot of the memory space of their system. In truth, the process only uses a nominal amount of disk space. dwm.exe is a core file in Windows system and naturally, it is not a particularly good idea to remove the process. Instead, users can go back to the Windows Classic theme or disable support for themes to stop using this process.
If you decide to get rid of the application for some reason, here are a few steps that you should follow to disable it in your system.
- Click on the start menu.
- Type services.msc into the Windows search box at the bottom of the start menu window.
- Click on the services menu appearing on the search results list.
- Right-click on the Desktop Window Manager option in the services management window. Next, click on the option “Properties” in the right-click menu.
- Click on the tab entitled “General” in the Properties window. Under startup type, select Disabled. Click on the “Stop” button below that.
- Click OK to finish.
This will help you get rid of the application. If you opt for remove, you will find all Windows themes have got disabled as you disable Desktop Window Manager. Although some people love the classic theme, most individuals find it quite dull. In case you want to revert to normal, simply follow the first two aforementioned steps and set the startup type to Automatic in the third point.
dwm.exe Download
If you find the process missing in your system, you may be notified by a message that will tell you whether you have the wrong version of the application or whether it is damaged or missing. If you want to download and set up this process, you have to download the MS Windows OS DLL file and register it on your system. In MS Windows OS, .exe files do not have to be registered manually.
Once you have downloaded and registered it successfully, back up the previous version of your DLL file. Click on Start>Run and type in the following command:
For Windows 95,98 or Me
regsvr32 \windows\system\dwm.exe
For Windows NT or 2000
regsvr32 \WINNT\system32\dwm.exe
For Windows XP, Vista or 7
regsvr32 \windows\system32\dwm.exe (if you use Windows XP or Vista or Windows 7)
dwm.exe Errors
This error is common if the exe file gets corrupt or deleted. In such cases, the system pops up error messages like:
- “Cannot find dwm.exe”
- “dwm.exe not found”"Cannot start application. A required component is missing: dwm.exe. Please install the application again.”
These error messages are displayed whenever a problem with the dwm file occurs. They are also displayed once Windows starts or every time you run Symantec Security Suite.
These problems are mainly a result of:
- Damages in swap file
- Corrupt registry files
- Void password list
- Outdated drivers
- Viruses and other vulnerable software apps
Unless fixed immediately, these errors may lead to serious system problems like:
- Increased load time of programs
- Abnormal termination of PC
- Problems in booting
In extreme cases, the problems may result in permanent freezing of the system. Thus, it is necessary to fix dwm.exe errors as soon as you receive them.
How to fix dwm.exe Error?
You may try fixing these manually or by setting up a third party application in your system that takes care of the problem automatically. However you should first check the status of your driver. As aforementioned, an oudated driver is the cause of many Windows problems and can be a cause for the error messages being displayed. You can install the latest driver update software and run it to make sure of the problem.
You should also download a registry repair tool to make sure that the errors are not displayed due to corrupt registry files. Corrupt registry files are often responsible for changing the structure of the system. It is better to uninstall the dwm application and run a registry scan to get rid of all traces of any corrupt entries.
In some cases, a spyware attack may be the only cause of these error notifications. Downloading and running an anti-spyware problem in your system can take care of these problems.
