What is taskeng.exe? Should I remove it?

Taskeng.exe is a legitimate executable that rarely causes problems

Taskeng.exe is an executable file from Microsoft which is an essential part of Windows operating system. Taskeng.exe is also known as Task Scheduler Engine – it allows the OS to launch programs or scripts at specific times or after specified time periods. This file can be found on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows XP operating systems. The typical file size ranges between 169,472 and 192,000 bytes. It is usually located in C:\Windows\System32 sub-folder.

Executable files are vital for system performance – every single application installed on the PC holds an .exe file. Without it, computer operation would be impossible. Nevertheless, these useful files might be abused by cybercriminals quite easily. Therefore, if the system is infected with malware, .exe files might be used to launch the virus and initiate other vital commands. The most important thing is that they tend to disguise themselves as legitimate files.

The first thing you should check is the location of the file. You can find it by opening Task Manager and right-clicking on file, and tapping properties. If Taskeng.exe is located anywhere else apart from C:\Windows\System32 it should cause some concerns. Secondly, check if you experience any of these symptoms on your PC:

• Boot-up or Shutdown takes a long time to complete
• Some of the programs randomly crash or become non-responsive
• The CPU usage spikes at times (or all the time), even if not performing any CPU-heavy tasks, such as online gaming or HD video editing
• Errors, related to taskeng.exe

Errors related to taskeng.exe could look like this:

taskeng.exe application error
taskeng.exe not found
taskeng.exe is not running
taskeng.exe failed
taskeng.exe is not a valid Win32 application, etc.

Some users report that taskeng.exe window appears out of nowhere, sometimes on program/system boot-up. Some individuals mention that the window can be completely empty. There are two possible explanations for these errors: either malware is causing it, or there is a problem with Windows related applications.

The first thing you should do is scan your computer with FortectIntego or Malwarebytes. This will help you find out whether malware is causing these issues. For other solutions, check our instructions below this article.

Ways you can avoid dangerous malware

Typically, executable files that spread as trojan horses are distributed via phishing emails. Similarly to ransomware delivery, the malicious file is executed as soon as user double-clicks on it. Unlike ransomware, however, trojan horses might sit in systems silently without any signs or symptoms.

Therefore, make sure you pay attention when you open emails from unknown sources. Check the original address the email was sent from, look for grammar and spelling mistakes, etc. Do not trust these emails! If in doubt, contact the original company (that the hacker is pretending to be from) and ask them if the email is legitimate.

Another critical step to protect your computer from viruses is to avoid torrent, porn, gambling, online dating, free online gaming and other shady websites. Do not forget that illegal software downloaded via the P2P client is considered pirating. What is more – these files might contain dangerous malware that you let into your computer.

Solutions to taskeng.exe related problems

Perform full system scan using a reliable security program

As we already mentioned above, the first thing you should do is install a robust security tool, like FortectIntego. As soon as installation is complete, scan your computer files fully. If any malware is present, anti-virus software will flag it up, and then you can delete it safely.

Reinstall the program related to taskeng.exe

1. Click Start button 
2. Click on Control Panel and find Programs
3. Locate the application associated with taskeng.exe under the Name column
4. Click on the program
5. Press Uninstall button and follow the on-screen instructions

Utilize Windows System Restore Function

System restore allows you to bring the computer to its previous states. To perform the system restore, follow these steps:

1. Click Start button 
2. A search box will open. Type “System Restore” and press Enter
3. Follow the instructions in the Wizard and choose a restore point

Clean your system from junk

1. Click Start and then type “command” in the search box
2. Hold Ctrl+Shift and hit Enter
3. A black window with blinking cursor will appear. Type “cleanmgr” and press Enter
4. Disk Cleanup will start and check how much space you can recover
5. Tick all the boxes by all categories and click OK

Install new Windows updates

1. Click Start button and type “update”
2. The Windows Update window will appear
3. If any updates are available, click Install Updates

Re-install Windows 

If none of the methods above work, you can re-install Windows. Before doing so, make sure you back-up all your files as all of them will be deleted in the process.