What is the "SearchIndexer.exe" process on windows 7? Is the "SearchIndexer.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "SearchIndexer.exe" process?

"SearchIndexer.exe" process represents "Microsoft Windows Search Indexer" program. "SearchIndexer.exe" is for "Windows Search" service which provides content indexing, property caching, and search results for files, e-mail, and other content.

"SearchIndexer.exe" process is normally running under the parent process "services" as shown in the process tree below:

Boot
   wininit
      services
         SearchIndexer

On the Processes tab of "Task Manager", "SearchIndexer.exe" process may be listed as:

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
SearchIndexer.exe        40,356 K   Microsoft Windows Search Indexer

Additional information about "SearchIndexer.exe" process:

Command line:
   C:\windows\system32\SearchIndexer.exe /Embedding

Programe file information:
   Name: SearchIndexer.exe
   Location: C:\windows\system32\SearchIndexer.exe
   Description: Microsoft Windows Search Indexer
   Version: 7.00.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
   Size: 591872 bytes
   Last modified: 5/4/2011 1:19:28 AM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\SearchIndexer.exe.mui
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Projects\SystemIndex\PropMap\CiPT0000.000
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\GatherLogs\SystemIndex\SystemIndex.5.gthr
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\GatherLogs\SystemIndex\SystemIndex.5.Crwl
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\tquery.dll.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\ESENT.dll.mui
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\tmp.edb
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Projects\SystemIndex\SecStore\CiST0000.000

Some registry keys used:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SESSION MANAGER
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale\Alternate Sorts
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Language Groups
HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
HKU\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\International
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gathering Manager

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
C:\windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\windows\system32\ADVAPI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\sechost.dll
C:\windows\system32\RPCRT4.dll
C:\windows\system32\USER32.dll
C:\windows\system32\GDI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\LPK.dll

"SearchIndexer.exe" process is not a virus. Normally you should not terminate "SearchIndexer.exe" process. But if you see it using too much CPU resource, you can terminate it or stop the "Windows Search" service. And restart it later when your computer free.

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⇑ System Service Processes on Windows 7

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