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

"hkcmd.exe - hkcmd Module" process is the Intel Hotkey driver installed with Intel multimedia devices. "hkcmd.exe" process is created by the startup program entry called "Intel Common User Interface".

Intel Hotkey driver is controlled by "Control Panel > Intel Graphics and Media" under the "Options and Support > Hot Key Manager" section. For example, Ctrl+Alt+Left rotates the screen 90 degrees.

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

Image Name  PID   Memory  Description

hkcmd.exe   2848  700 K   hkcmd Module

Additional information about "hkcmd.exe" process:

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

Started by: explorer.exe

Files used:
   C:\Windows\System32
   C:\Windows\Fonts\StaticCache.dat
   
Registry keys: 
HKCU\Software\Classes
HKCU\Software\Intel\Display\igfxcui\Configurations
HKCU\Software\Intel\Display\igfxcui\Configurations\ActiveDevices
HKCU\Software\Intel\Display\igfxcui\Configurations\AvailableDevices
HKCU\Software\Intel\Display\igfxcui\HotKeys
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager

"hkcmd.exe" process is not a virus. You can terminate "hkcmd.exe" process or disable the startup program entry "Intel Common User Interface", if you are not using Intel hot keys.

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