What is ntoskrnl.exe?

[Grumpy Old Man]

I uninstalled Zone Alarm as it seemed to be causing problems. (Win XP
OEM Ver 2002 SP1)

Installed Sygate Personal (Freeware) and it seems to be a little more
user friendly

However, it shows that a file app called ntoskrnl.exe is attempting to
reach the internet every few nimutes. What is this? Why is it trying
to call home? Should I let it?

Blocking it does not seem to be hurting anything at least not that I
can see.

TIA
Grumpy

 

[Ron Martell]

I uninstalled Zone Alarm as it seemed to be causing problems. (Win XP
OEM Ver 2002 SP1)

Installed Sygate Personal (Freeware) and it seems to be a little more
user friendly

However, it shows that a file app called ntoskrnl.exe is attempting to
reach the internet every few nimutes. What is this? Why is it trying
to call home? Should I let it?

Blocking it does not seem to be hurting anything at least not that I
can see.

TIA
Grumpy

NTOSKRNL.EXE is *the* operating system kernel for Windows XP. It is
an essential Windows component.

Here is one response I found to a similar question:

****
It's used for NetBios traffic and System DNS, with kernel32.dll being
called via ntoskrnl.exe.

Allow it entirely on trusted networks (home LAN), but do not allow
netbios traffic to/from the Internet. You will however need to allow
DNS.
****

And in another forum the following response was attributed to Sygate's
technical support:

****
NTOSKRNL.EXE is Windows NT Kernel. This is a low level communication
tool that allows Windows to function.
Disabling this may prevent Internet access and file print share. I
recommend that you allow this.
****

Hope this is of some assistance.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[tonylee]

Can anyone help...

Hi

I have ntoskrnl.exe and kernel, user and shell 32.dll files on my computer that my AVG scan finds but doesnt change. Most sites seem to suggest leaving them. How can I be sure what downloads, that offer to solve the problems, are safe and is it ok just to leave these infections on my PC ? Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks.

 

[ExC]

Hi

I have ntoskrnl.exe and kernel, user and shell 32.dll files on my computer that my AVG scan finds but doesnt change. Most sites seem to suggest leaving them. How can I be sure what downloads, that offer to solve the problems, are safe and is it ok just to leave these infections on my PC ? Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks.

Seriously even if AVG is ear-marking the Kernel and Shell of your Windows OS (presumably 2000/XP/Vista from the Kernel's name) as a potential threat don't do anything to it! The ntoskrnl.exe file is what is called the 'Kernel' of most recent Windows Operating systems it is arguably the most important part of Windows.So seriously don't even try to do anything to it if you don't know what you're doing as you could really mess up your PC (I'm presuming your running it on a PC).Also AVG always comes up with lot's of false positives I would use another Virus scan in tandem with it if I were you because it sometimes will mark clean files as infected and then not recognise files that are infected.Hope I was of help PM me if you need to follow up.