Task Manager indicating processes running as 32-bit. Is this normal?

kdub100 · 23 Sep 2013

Hi Buck,

Did you ever resolve this? I'm having the identical problem and it's also newish and my machine was also fast as fast and is now junk.

Do you run.... Kaspersky?

My problems coincide exactly when I took off Norton (expired) and added Kaspersky. I did these things within a day of one another. Did I get a virus? Who knows. Is Kaspersky screwing me up? More likely, since it hasn't picked up any viruses in its scans.

So... yeah, I'm going to switch back to Norton and probably restore my computer right back to a factory install.

Also, Kaspersky keeps being turned off... by a virus? I don't know Kaspersky, you tell me: is there a virus turning you off? Yes? Well, would you recommend we have an anti-virus program to detect and remove that virus? Yes? Ok, can you recommend one? Ah, Kaspersky. You are recommending Kaspersky. What's that? Oh, you, yourself are an anti-virus program? Well, how convenient. May I suggest something, then? DO YOUR $!^&%#@% job!

That feels a wee bit better. Not much, but a wee bit. Really, even less than that. But something. Epsilon. 10 seconds pass. Yeah, about what I was saying, you know, about feeling better... well... you get the idea.

buckscaper said:

Hi,

I have a 2 month old HP Pavilion with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

The past few weeks, the machine has started acting up - freezing, not sleeping, not waking when it has been sleeping, etc.

Coincident with these issues, I've recently noticed in Task Manager that a lot of processes are now running with a *32 after their name. I do not believe this was the case when I first started using the machine. But now, the overwhelming majority of processes have that *32 after them.

For example:
chrome.exe *32 (there are 8 instances of this process)
Dropbox.exe *32
SkyDrive.exe *32
AvastUI.exe *32
rundll32.exe *32
hpsysdrv.exe *32
HPTouchSmartSyncCalReminderApp.exe *32
hpwusched2.exe *32

I think this is especially suspicious because it's an HP computer running Windows (a Microsoft product). I'd think that at the very least, Skydrive (also a Microsoft product) and HP installed processes would know that this is a 64-bit machine and run as such.

Does anyone know what's going on and why these apps are running like this? Can it be fixed?

This was a rockin' fast and awesome machine when I got it 2 months ago and after just those 2 months, it's definitely not running the way it was.

Some additional details:
HP Pavilion p7-1226s
6GB
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Updates on auto - all have been installed.
Avast antivirus
Threatfire

On another note...a couple of days ago when the machine was especially bad (IE freezing every time I opened it) and the whole machine not sleeping at all, I did a system restore to prior to the last series of Windows updates and that seemed to fix things. But then over night the machine re-installed all of its updates and put me back to where I started.

Thanks,
Buck

LMiller7 · 23 Sep 2013

32 bit and 64 bit processes are very different in design and implementation. A 32 bit process will always be a 32 bit process whether run under a 32 or 64 bit OS. A 32 bit process run under a 64 bit OS will always be a 32 bit process. Some applications will have dual 32 and 64 bit installers but this simply selects which version to install. Once installed a process remains what it is with no power known to man that can change it.

posh99 · 08 Nov 2014

I am having this same problem. Did anyone solve this. MY laptop is actually a few years old, but typically runs great. I woke it up to use it this morning (haven't used it in a couple of weeks), and all my programs were gone. I restarted and then it continued to startup then freeze after only a few minutes. This happened a few times, so then I ran Malwarebytes in safemode and removed a number of items.... most importantly Yantoo.... Every time I restart this Yantoo crap keeps coming back. I notice on the processes running that they are all *32 (never before). Also of note, when I Google what the processes are it comes up that they are Vista programs? I don't have vista I have windows 7 64 bit. Additionally, at times I get a never ending C++ runtime error popups. Everyone here is saying that running 32 on a 64 bit machine is fine, but that's not really the question. I feel like this is clearly a virus that is spoofing (probably wrong word) these programs to run that wouldn't normally run otherwise. Also interesting is that most of the programs have multiple instances running (5-10). Does anyone know what this is and how I can remove it? Thank you.

bongo042 · 25 Oct 2015

The original creator of this thread buckscaper has/had an authentic problem and put a ton of effort into assisting the experts into giving him help. It seems the only help he got was mere speculation. In addition it started with the 32bit vs. 64bit concern which ended up being the dead horse that was beaten over and over with so many differing explanation on the same thing. Buck clearly understood that and was asking for additional help beyond the 32 vs 64 thing. Some of comments seem arrogant and just waste peoples time. Like asking him to do some more research that he hasn't yet done which he does and still he received no help. Or the typical, "go download this and try it" which from my experience is an exercise in futility and patience. After this you see several more people that have the same or similar issues asking for more help and still they get nothing? When this issue seems so prevalent why doesn't anyone have a clue how to fix it?
Maybe I have no clue how these forums work or created by or something else I'm ignorant about. So my apologies in advance, I have no desire to criticize anyone on here! I thank all for their efforts! I guess here is my ultimate question- who are the experts answering the questions on here? Do they have specific credentials or are they self proclaimed experts that enjoy helping people? It just seems so rare that I see anything that gets resolved. Like the typical engineer type, never do I see anyone I DONT KNOW! I do see a lot of responses with instruction/suggestions that should have been I DONT KNOW or better yet non-existent. Is there anyone with the necessary credentials that can and know how to correct this over ignored problem?
Again please don't take my rant as criticism, its not meant like that. Its just frustration because these forums always end up wasting my time
Peace
PS- I doubt anyone will respond to this but if anyone has a valid answer this problem, I'm all ears/eyes>>>>>>>>

UsernameIssues · 25 Oct 2015

bongo042 said:

The original creator of this thread buckscaper has/had an authentic problem and put a ton of effort into assisting the experts into giving him help. It seems the only help he got was mere speculation.

I failed to find the speculation in the replies. Please be more specific.

The OP states that the computer is "freezing, not sleeping, not waking when it has been sleeping, etc." Then discusses 32bit apps running on 64bit OS and asks, "Does anyone know what's going on and why these apps are running like this? Can it be fixed?" Followed by "IE freezing every time I opened it".

Posts #2 and 3 are attempting to get the OP off of the red herring of 32bit apps running on a 64bit OS. The bit level of the apps has nothing to do with the problems that the OP was experiencing. If the OP had accepted the truth of posts #2 and 3, then the thread could move on to look for a solution to the multiple problems listed in the original post.

Post #4 shows that the OP thinks that a change has occurred on his computer which caused 64bit apps to be run as 32bit apps. This is a new bit of info and it is the cause for posts #5 and 6 saying that this is not possible. You might have seen posts #5 and 6 as beating a dead horse, but the OP brought it up again in a totally new way.

Post #7 states agreement with some or all of the previous replies - then offers a good theory and proposed solution.

Post #8 makes it clear that the OP is not going to accept the info presented in the previous replies. The OP brings up the 32bit vs 64bit yet again. The OP sheds some new light on why the OP thinks that apps like MalwareBytes Antimalware tool should be a 64bit app.

I disagree with your assessment that "In addition it started with the 32bit vs. 64bit concern which ended up being the dead horse that was beaten over and over with so many differing explanation on the same thing. Buck clearly understood that and was asking for additional help beyond the 32 vs 64 thing." While I agree that the OP asked for other help (SFC & repair IE); it was the OP that continued to bring up the 32bit/64bit issue. Each time with a bit more insight as to why the OP thought this was the cause of the slowdown.

Post #9 starts off by saying that the questions from post #8 are still an issue. Most of post #8 was about the 32bit/64bit issue. I think that this alone shows that the OP never understood the nature of 32bit apps running on a 64bit OS. The screenshots do not show all processes, but they do indeed point to a memory leak issue. Posts #10 is pointing to the correct tool to help us help the OP with a memory leak issue.

Post #11 makes it clear thru the post's title "Back to the original question... *32" that kdub100 was also stuck on the theory that 32bit apps on a 64bit OS causes problems. The Kaspersky issue should have been in a separate thread and therefore was not addressed in post #12.

Post #13 admits that 32bit on 64bit is not the issue and goes on to detail why his computer is slow. That post should not have been made to this thread.

As a sidebar, many posts never get read by anyone that is capable of helping. There are far more people seeking help than there are those offering help.

bongo042 said:

When this issue seems so prevalent why doesn't anyone have a clue how to fix it? ~~~~~ Is there anyone with the necessary credentials that can and know how to correct this over ignored problem?

What is the issue/problem? IE freezing? Computer not sleeping? Computer slow? Computer out of memory?

Layback Bear · 25 Oct 2015

UsernameIssues said:

bongo042 said:

The original creator of this thread buckscaper has/had an authentic problem and put a ton of effort into assisting the experts into giving him help. It seems the only help he got was mere speculation.

I failed to find the speculation in the replies. Please be more specific.

The OP states that the computer is "freezing, not sleeping, not waking when it has been sleeping, etc." Then discusses 32bit apps running on 64bit OS and asks, "Does anyone know what's going on and why these apps are running like this? Can it be fixed?" Followed by "IE freezing every time I opened it".

Posts #2 and 3 are attempting to get the OP off of the red herring of 32bit apps running on a 64bit OS. The bit level of the apps has nothing to do with the problems that the OP was experiencing. If the OP had accepted the truth of posts #2 and 3, then the thread could move on to look for a solution to the multiple problems listed in the original post.

Post #4 shows that the OP thinks that a change has occurred on his computer which caused 64bit apps to be run as 32bit apps. This is a new bit of info and it is the cause for posts #5 and 6 saying that this is not possible. You might have seen posts #5 and 6 as beating a dead horse, but the OP brought it up again in a totally new way.

Post #7 states agreement with some or all of the previous replies - then offers a good theory and proposed solution.

Post #8 makes it clear that the OP is not going to accept the info presented in the previous replies. The OP brings up the 32bit vs 64bit yet again. The OP sheds some new light on why the OP thinks that apps like MalwareBytes Antimalware tool should be a 64bit app.

I disagree with your assessment that "In addition it started with the 32bit vs. 64bit concern which ended up being the dead horse that was beaten over and over with so many differing explanation on the same thing. Buck clearly understood that and was asking for additional help beyond the 32 vs 64 thing." While I agree that the OP asked for other help (SFC & repair IE); it was the OP that continued to bring up the 32bit/64bit issue. Each time with a bit more insight as to why the OP thought this was the cause of the slowdown.

Post #9 starts off by saying that the questions from post #8 are still an issue. Most of post #8 was about the 32bit/64bit issue. I think that this alone shows that the OP never understood the nature of 32bit apps running on a 64bit OS. The screenshots do not show all processes, but they do indeed point to a memory leak issue. Posts #10 is pointing to the correct tool to help us help the OP with a memory leak issue.

Post #11 makes it clear thru the post's title "Back to the original question... *32" that kdub100 was also stuck on the theory that 32bit apps on a 64bit OS causes problems. The Kaspersky issue should have been in a separate thread and therefore was not addressed in post #12.

Post #13 admits that 32bit on 64bit is not the issue and goes on to detail why his computer is slow. That post should not have been made to this thread.

As a sidebar, many posts never get read by anyone that is capable of helping. There are far more people seeking help than there are those offering help.

bongo042 said:

When this issue seems so prevalent why doesn't anyone have a clue how to fix it? ~~~~~ Is there anyone with the necessary credentials that can and know how to correct this over ignored problem?

What is the issue/problem? IE freezing? Computer not sleeping? Computer slow? Computer out of memory?

Task Manager indicating processes running as 32-bit. Is this normal?

Back to the original question... *32

A Solution

Sorry for my vent.