What is the "vds.exe" process on windows 8? Is the "vds.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "vds.exe" process?

"vds.exe" process represents "Virtual Disk Service" program, created by the "Virtual Disk" service.

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

Boot
   vds

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
vds.exe                   4,732 K   Virtual Disk Service

Additional information about "vds.exe" process:

Command line:
   C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe

Programe file information:
   Name: vds.exe
   Location: C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe
   Description: Virtual Disk Service
   Version: 6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247)
   Size: 680960 bytes
   Last modified: 6/1/2013 5:23:06 AM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\vds.exe.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\ulib.dll.mui

Some registry keys used:
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SESSION MANAGER
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKU\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\International
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale\Alternate Sorts
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Language Groups
HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WindowsRuntime\CLSID
HKCR\ActivatableClasses\CLSID
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Ids

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\Windows\system32\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\Windows\system32\USER32.dll
C:\Windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
C:\Windows\System32\ATL.DLL
C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\sechost.dll
C:\Windows\system32\SETUPAPI.dll
C:\Windows\System32\OSUNINST.dll
C:\Windows\System32\vdsutil.dll

"vds.exe" process is not a virus. You should not terminate "vds.exe" process.

⇒ "WmiApSrv.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇐ "sppsvc.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇑ System Service Processes on Windows 8

⇑⇑ Windows 8 Processes Tutorials