ntoskrnl.

exe
Ntoskrnl.exe is a Windows system process that controls essential functions like memory management and
hardware abstraction. If it’s causing high CPU usage or a blue screen of death (BSOD), fixes can include
checking your PC’s memory, disks, updates, and system files.

hal.dll
What does hal.dll do?
HAL stands for Hardware Abstraction Layer. The hal.dll file is essentially the driver for the
motherboard, allowing communication between your computer's hardware and software.
Where is the hal.dll file located?
The Windows hal.dll file should be in the folder C:\Windows\system32\hal.dl.

bootmgr
Windows Boot Manager (BOOTMGR), a small piece of software, is loaded from the volume
boot code that is a part of the volume boot record. It enables you to boot Windows 10/8/7 or
Windows Vista operating system. Besides, MiniTool will offer more information to you. The
configuration data that BOOTMGR requires can be found in the Boot Configuration Data (BCD)
store, which is a registry-like database. The database replaces the boot.ini file used in old
Windows versions like Windows XP. The BOOTMGR file itself is both read-only and hidden,
which is located in the root directory of the partition. It is marked as “Active” in Disk
Management. In most Windows PCs, this partition is labelled as “System Reserved” without
hard drive letter.

winload.exe
Winload.exe (Windows Boot Loader) is a small piece of software, called a system loader, that's
started by BOOTMGR, the boot manager used in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8,
Windows 7, and Windows Vista operating systems. The job of winload.exe is to load essential
device drivers, as well as ntoskrnl.exe, a core part of Windows.
wink32.sys
The Win32k.sys file is a crucial component of the Windows operating system. It is responsible
for handling graphical operations and user input, making it an essential part of the Windows
Graphical Device Interface (GDI). This file is located in the C:\Windows\System\32\drivers
directory and is loaded into the kernel space during system startup.

services.exe
Services.exe is a genuine Windows process that is responsible for managing system services.
System services are applications that operate in the background and provide vital Windows
features, such as networking, security, device drivers, and more. Services.exe is located in the
%SystemRoot%\System32\services.exe executable and is launched by the Wininit process early
during the system startup. It is a small file, usually under 100 KB, and has been digitally signed
by Microsoft to verify its authenticity.

svchost.exe
Svchost.exe, or Service Host, is an important Windows process hosting one or more Windows
services. It allows Windows to group a number of services in a single process, thus reducing
resource consumption. For example, Windows could have separate processes for each network-
related service, but that would create a large number of different processes, which would be
inefficient and inconvenient. So, instead, it groups all such services into a single process.
Windows uses svchost.exe for services like firewall, Windows updates, Bluetooth support, or
network connections.

ntdll.dll
The ntdll.dll file is a file created by Microsoft with a description of "NT Layer DLL" (dynamic-
link library) and is the file containing NT kernel functions. The ntdll.dll file is located in the c:\
windows\system32 or c:\winnt\system32 directory, also found in the c:\i386 directory. The
ntdll.dll file is a legitimate dynamic link library file (DLL) and is referred to as the "NT Layer
DLL", which contains vital functions to the Windows kernel. In other words, it's a core
component of Windows.

kernell32.dll
Kernel32.dll file handles the memory usage in "Microsoft Windows". It is one of the primary
files that are needed in order for "Windows" to function properly. When you start your PC -
kernel32.dll is loaded in to a protected space in the memory, and there after it locates other
applications that wants to be loaded in to the memory. Nothing works in “Windows” if the
kernel32.dll file is damaged, moved or deleted. For this reason, we advise everyone to never
attempt replacement of this file.
Explore.exe
Explorer.exe, also known as Windows Explorer or File Explorer, is a process that manages the
graphical user interface of the Windows operating system. It is responsible for displaying the
desktop, taskbar, and file management functions such as browsing files and folders.

Rpcss.dll
The genuine rpcss.dll file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by
Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft's Remote Procedure Call (RPC) System Service ("rpcss.dll")
launches at Windows system startup via "svchost.exe". Other names are the "RPC Endpoint
Mapper" or the " DCOM Server Process Launcher." The rpcss.dll file is a dynamic link library
file associated with Microsoft’s Windows Operating System. Standing for “Remote Procedure
Call (RPC) SubSystem,” this file is a part of the integral system processes that underpin critical
communications between software programs within a computer or over a network.

The rpcss.dll file has a specific role in managing the Distributed Component Object Model
(DCOM) and Common Object Model (COM) technologies in Windows. These are frameworks
by Microsoft that allow different software components to communicate—DCOM across a
network and COM within a single computer. The primary function of rpcss.dll is to facilitate the
execution of these remote procedure calls that client applications initiate, sending and receiving
information to and from server applications, whether these components are on the same machine
or across separate computers