What is DellMMKb.exe doing?

[Danno]

Lately when I re-boot my computer it has been taking way too long to boot
up. I look at the task manager to see what is going on and I see that
DellMMKb.exe is using up 75% of my CPU's capacity and is doing so for at
least a minute, maybe more. Then it will finally settle down and the rest
of the boot process continues, and the computer seems to finally boot up
properly. It seems to run fine after this initial (annoying) extra long
boot time. My computer didn't used to behave like this.

Can anyone tell me what DellMMKb.exe is doing and why it is taking so long
to 'load' (or whatever it's doing)?

I have a Dell Dimension with P-4 and Windows XP Pro.

Thanks for your help.

Danno

 

[Parish]

Lately when I re-boot my computer it has been taking way too long to boot
up. I look at the task manager to see what is going on and I see that
DellMMKb.exe is using up 75% of my CPU's capacity and is doing so for at
least a minute, maybe more. Then it will finally settle down and the rest
of the boot process continues, and the computer seems to finally boot up
properly. It seems to run fine after this initial (annoying) extra long
boot time. My computer didn't used to behave like this.

Can anyone tell me what DellMMKb.exe is doing and why it is taking so long
to 'load' (or whatever it's doing)?

I would guess from the filename that it is the Dell Multi-Media Keyboard
driver. As to why it's taking so long to start I don't know, but if you
don't have a Dell MM keyboard attached to your system that could explain it.

 

[Danno]

Thanks Parish! I don't think that's the problem though because the keyboard
I'm using is the Dell keyboard I've had for two years now (came with the
computer). I just re-booted again and this time DellMKKb.exe used up 95% of
CPU for a full two minutes before things settled down. Any further ideas
would be appreciated.

Thanks again!
Danno

 

[BitzChick]

Any further ideas would be appreciated.

It's a Multimedia keyboard control for Dell based PCs - only required if you
use the multimedia keys

HTH
Regards
Sheri

 

[Danno]

Thanks Sheri! I guess we're zeroing in on where the problems is. If you
mean the keys at the top of the keyboard where I can adjust sound volume up
or down, etc., yes that's the kind of keyboard I have and yes, I do use
those keys.

But I'm still concerned that there is an underlying problem because of the
unusually long boot time. This is something new, and surely it can't be a
good sign.

Would it possibly be fixed if I ran sfc/ scannow or some other remedy?

Thanks again!
Danno

 

[BitzChick]

Would it possibly be fixed if I ran sfc/ scannow or some other remedy?

It might be worth running AdaWare or another spyware cleaner. A quick search
on google seems to associate that file with spyware, viruses etc as far as I
can gather. Not much help I know, but good luck!
Regards
Sheri

 

[D.Currie]

SFC isn't going to do anything because it's not a Windows file, it's a Dell
file. You might want to check Dell's site to see if they have any ideas or
patches.

 

[Danno]

Thanks D. Currie,

I would have responded sooner but I've been stuck in limbo because our ISP
has been down for a full 50 hours now. They refuse to admit that they've
been hacked, and claim that this interruption has been a scheduled 'repair'.
Bull!

Anyway, I took your advise and went to Dell, and sure enough this very issue
that has been bugging me is addressed there. And the fix is tantalizingly
close (they show the topic that describes the issue and the first few words
of the fix). In order to get to the page that describes the fix, they
insist that I identify myself. And in order to do that, I have to identify
my email address. And I can't verify my address until my ISP gets their
shit together and fixes their email issues. Can you spell I.N.S.A.N.I.T.Y?

But I think you sent me in the right direction. Thanks in advance. I'm
pretty sure I'll find the solution there, eventually.

Danno

 

[D.Currie]

Glad you're getting close to a solution. And I think you're right about that
ISP. 50 hours is not "scheduled maintenance. Sheesh, a local ISP here had
phone and power lines outside their building accidentally cut my a
maintenance crew and they were up and running again in about 2 hours. I
understand the wiring a was a bit messy, though!

 

[Danno]

Thanks D. Currie,

Sorry it took so long to let you know the result, but you deserve to know
none-the-less. You were right on the money! BINGO!

I found the solution on the Dell site as you suggested. And man, did that
speed up the re-boot process. From a full two minutes to about 15 seconds.
I have a good fast computer and it bugs me when it isn't working as it
should.

I am more or less a computer moron, 50+ years of age, but thankfully have a
more-or-less logical approach to problem solving. And the one thing I
learned is, if you have a problem, ask for help!

And you helped me!

Thanks a million D.

Danno
(Canada)