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

"tphkload.exe" process represents "ThinkPad Message Client Loader" program. "tphkload.exe" is for "Lenovo Hotkey Client Loader" service which is related to the Thinkpad On Screen Display Utility to display the function keys on the desktop screen.

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

Boot
   wininit
      services
         tphkload

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
tphkload.exe              9,460 K   ThinkPad Message Client Loader

Additional information about "tphkload.exe" process:

Command line:
   "C:\Program Files\LENOVO\HOTKEY\TPHKLOAD.exe"

Programe file information:
   Name: tphkload.exe
   Location: C:\Program Files\LENOVO\HOTKEY\TPHKLOAD.exe
   Description: ThinkPad Message Client Loader
   Version: 1.64
   Size: 126120 bytes
   Last modified: 11/27/2015 3:55:00 PM
   Company Name: Lenovo Group Limited
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\setupapi.dll.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\crypt32.dll.mui
C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My

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
HKU\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\International
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\crypt32
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\OID\EncodingType 0\CertDllCreateCertificateChainEngine\Config
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\ROOT
HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My
HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\CA
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\CA

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\WTSAPI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\SHLWAPI.dll
C:\windows\system32\GDI32.dll

"tphkload.exe" process is not a virus. You can terminate "tphkload.exe" process or stop the "Lenovo Hotkey Client Loader" service. You don't need to display functions keys on the screen.

⇒ "TPHKSVC.exe" Process on Windows 7

⇐ "dsNcService.exe" Process on Windows 7

⇑ Application Service Processes on Windows 7

⇑⇑ Windows 7 Processes Tutorials