dwm.exe - Desktop Window Manager
Dwm.exe is the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) from Microsoft; it's a component of the Windows Vista operating system and should not be disabled since it will cause the OS to revert to the Classic Mode of video processing. The dwm.exe process is a core element in Windows Aero. This is a new process in Windows Vista, and does not exist in prior releases of the OS.The dwm.exe process manages graphical effects in the Vista operating system. These include functions such as 3D effects, live previews, and window transparencies. For instance, it generates live window previews and a glass-like frame around windows ("Aero Glass"), allegedly without over-taxing the CPU. The Aero interface in Windows Vista can have a negative impact on performance on certain computers. Switching back to Classic Mode or using a lower screen resolution may improve performance.
Note that the use of the Aero video interface requires an Aero-compliant video card. Users whose PCs do not contain such cards can only run Vista in Classic Mode, and therefore will never see Aero-related processes. The dwm.exe process should not be found on such machines. A list of compliant video cards can be found on Microsoft's site, and most hardware vendors also note whether particular cards are compatible.
Reports indicate this process can use significant amounts of memory and CPU time. Some users may therefore mistake it for a virus or other illicit program, but this is not the case as long as the binary is found in the correct location as noted below.
As usual, dwm.exe is found in c:\windows\system32. Copies found in other locations, or in any location on PCs running XP and other variants of Windows, may indicate the presence of some form of malware. If you're suspicious about a particular program or process, you should obtain and run a current copy of a spyware and antivirus removal tool. Be sure to retrieve the latest virus and malware signature updates to ensure all known applications can be caught and removed.
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