How to remove corrupt csrss.exe process?

Question

Okay, so our ISP Comcast recently called about a problem with our PC having to do with the (apparently infamous) csrss.exe corruption/virus. It ultimately led to them giving us offers about potential programs and services to help correct the problem. I'm not sure if it was just them fishing for money, but they did point out to us problems on our XP PC of many Windows programs and services not running correctly or even at all, and our computer has already been running extremely slow for much time. I have seen the csrss.exe running in processes before, I just wasn't aware that something could have been wrong with it or that it might be adding to the problem of our slow computer. I only have one instance of the csrss process running, so I'm pretty sure that is the legitimate one which is simply corrupted (unless the fake ones are maybe hidden). Assuming it is the legitimate one and is just corrupted, how would I fix it (with the least amount of headache and spending)?

I came across a (seemingly too) simple solution online. If it was a corrupted legitimate csrss.exe process, all I would have to do is remove the user profile(s) and make a new one(s) it said? Of course, backing up important documents, etc.

If that is the case, having multiple profiles, would I have to back documents up to an external, remove all profiles, then make new ones and restore? I'm asking because I don't think there is a separate csrss.exe for each user. With just a main one, restoring on a new profile with an already messed up profile that still needs to be removed would be just like making a new profile that uses the messed up process already, so it wouldn't really be getting rid of it.
Or can I simply remove/replace the current csrss.exe process with a prime one?

I hope I'm not too difficult to understand because I'd like to resolve the problem in one big shot if I can without a lot of hassle and spending if I don't need to.

If I'm misunderstanding things or that method is invalid or I need to elaborate better somehow, please let me know, and an explanation of the original problem or how to fix it is very much appreciated.
Thank you.

Answer 1

I've never known Comcast to contact their customers to tell them they have computer problems. Sounds like a scam to me. They're not in the business to fix computers and they could care less about your computer as long as they get their monthly payment. How did they get into your computer? Did you provide access so they could take control remotely? Not a very good idea if you did. How do you know they really were from Comcast? Surely can't show you and ID over the phone.



EDIT:



He said to call your local company and ask yourself if they call for these types of services.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

This is the user-mode portion of the Win32 subsystem; Win32.sys is the kernel-mode portion. Csrss stands for Client/Server Run-Time Subsystem, and is an essential subsystem that must be running at all times. Csrss is responsible for console windows, creating and/or deleting threads, and implementing some portions of the 16-bit virtual MS-DOS environment. http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/csrss.exe.html



Note: The csrss.exe file is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32. In other cases, csrss.exe is a virus, spyware, trojan or worm! Check this with Security Task Manager.



Virus with same file name: Nimda.E

Answer 4

We cant. We have a 2 party system, and both are full of corruption. Power corrupts, etc. It's the nature of politics. The best thing we can do is have a completely transparent government.

Answer 5

There is an EHow document on how to fix this issue: http://www.ehow.com/how_7193261_fix-csrss_exe-error.html