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By Daisy | Follow |
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Srtasks.exe is an executable file that is part of Microsoft Windows developed by Microsoft Corporation. But some of you don’t know if it is a virus. In addition, you may don’t know how to fix the issue caused by it. Now, read this post from MiniTool Solution, you can clearly know the above questions’ answers.
What Is Srtasks.exe
What is srtasks.exe? It is the executable of a legitimate Microsoft process called System Protection Background Tasks. Windows 10’s Task Scheduler uses it for automatic creating system restore points.
Microsoft Windows system protection background tasks is located in C:\Windows\System32 and is unique to Windows 10 and Windows 8. However, Microsoft Windows system protection background tasks doesn’t exist on Windows 7 or another older Windows version.
Potential Security Threat
Some people reported that the antivirus suites have regarded the file as a potential virus. Sometimes, it is just a false positive. There is a malware known to camouflage as the legitimate srtasks.exe process, but the name is slightly different. The virus will show up in Task Manager as srtask.exe. You can find that it’s missing the last “s“.
You can view Microsoft Windows system protection background tasks’ location to determine if you’re infected by malware. Here is how to do that:
Step 1: Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys at the same time to open Task Manager and locate the srtasks.exe process via the Processes tab.
Step 2: Then, right-click it and choose Open file location.
If the location is in Windows > System32, the Microsoft Windows system protection background tasks is definitely not a virus. If you discover the process in a different location, you’re dealing with a virus infection.
You have known if it is a virus. Then you maybe want to know if you should delete it. It’s not recommended to do that. Deleting the executable will not be possible with normal permissions, and it will probably prevent your OS from creating an automatic system restore points.
How to Fix High Usage Cause by Srtasks.exe?
Microsoft Windows system protection background tasks is often associated with high CPU usage and high disk activity. The issue is still fairly common. Some people have reported a CPU usage of almost 70% by this process alone. The only way to fix the issue is to disable System Restore.
Note: Keep in mind that doing so will prevent you from reverting your computer to a previous point in time.
If you decide to go through with it, you can follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R key at the same time to open the Run window. Then type systempropertiesprotection and click OK.
Step 2: Open the System Protection tab of System Properties.
Step 3: Then click the Configure button under Protection Settings and click Disable system protection.
Step 4: Then click Apply and OK.
Note: If you decide to re-enable System Restore, you can reverse engineer the steps above and set the Restore Settings to Turn on system protection.
Final Words
From this post, you can know what Microsoft windows system protection background tasks is and how to fix the issues caused by it.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Having been an editor at MiniTool since graduating college as an English major, Daisy specializes in writing about data backups, disk cloning, and file syncing as well as general computer knowledge and issues. In her free time, Daisy enjoys running and going with friends to the amusement park.
Microsoft Windows System Protection Background Tasks, also called SrTasks.exe, is used for creating system restore points by the Windows Task Scheduler. However, this important Windows service can also hog up your system resources.
System Protection Background Task having insanely high CPU and Disk usage is a common issue in Windows 8 and 10. Furthermore, you cannot even end the task through normal means, and SrTasks.exe gets stuck with high CPU and Disk usage.
In this article, we have listed the cause and fixes for System Protection Background Task having high CPU and Disk usage.
Why Does Srtasks.exe Hog All System Resources?
Here are some probable causes for why Microsoft Windows System Protection Background Tasks use high CPU and disk space.
- Bugs and errors in the Windows system
- Software conflict
- Malware and Viruses
- Corrupted system files
How to Fix Microsoft Windows System Protection Background Tasks Having High CPU and Disk Usage?
Fixing System Protection Background Tasks using high CPU and disk space can be very easy and relatively hard, depending on what is causing the issue.
Before jumping into any other troubleshooting methods, make sure to restart your PC first. Follow along and try the different fixes to see which one works for you.
Run Performance Troubleshooter
Windows has a built-in Performance troubleshooter to check and fix any issues that might lower your PC’s speed. We know the cause; System Protection Background Tasks use high CPU and disk space. So, you just have to run the Performance troubleshooter to fix this issue automatically.
Here’s how to run the Windows Performance troubleshooter.
- Search the Control Panel in the search bar and open it.
- In the Control Panel, next to view by, select Large icons.
- Scroll down and click on Troubleshooting.
- Under System and Security, click on Run maintenance tasks.
- In the new window, click on Advanced and Run as Administrator.
- Hit Next.
Disable System Restore
Task schedulers use System Protection Background Tasks to make a system restore point. While the SrTasks.exe isn’t supposed to hog so many system resources, bugs and errors can cause it to malfunction.
Nonetheless, disabling system restores altogether stops the function of SrTasks. While doing this will solve your issue, you won’t be able to perform a system restore in the future. System restore is essential to troubleshooting other Windows errors, and you should consider it before trying out this fix.
To disable system restore, follow the steps below.
- Open the Run box and enter systempropertiesprotection
- In the System Properties window, click on Configure.
- Select Disable system protection, click Apply and OK.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Update or Roll back Windows OS
Most users experienced this issue after a Windows update. While the newer updates have the bug fixed, some users still experience this issue after updating their windows. In this case, you can either update to the latest version or uninstall recent updates.
Here’s how you can update your Windows OS.
- Open Settings from the start menu.
- Click on Update & Security.
- In Windows update, click on Check for updates.
- Install the new update if there are any.
Here’s how to uninstall recent Windows updates.
- Open Settings from the start menu.
- Click on Update & Security.
- In Windows update, click on View update history.
- Click on Uninstall updates.
- In the new window, uninstall recent updates.
- Restart your computer.
Furthermore, if the issue started after upgrading your Windows version, you can downgrade to your previous version.
Disable Superfetch
Disabling Superfetch can also help solve this error. Superfetch pre-loads all the apps you use frequently, which could cause System Protection Background Tasks to use high CPU and Disk space. It can be because Superfetch is malfunctioning, or it thinks you use SrTasks frequently.
To disable superfetch, follow the steps below.
- Press
Windows + Rkeys to open the Run box. - Type
service.mscand press Enter. - Locate SysMain, right-click it, and click on Stop.
- After SysMain stops, right-click on SysMain again and press on Properties.
- Next to Startup type, choose Disabled and click Apply.
- Press OK.
Check for Viruses & Malware
Malware and viruses can also disguise themselves as Windows system processes and cause harm to your computer. If SrTasks uses too much CPU and Disk space, check if the process has any typos. A virus or malware usually has typos to disguise as a system process while still being named differently.
Here’s how to check if SrTasks.exe is a virus or not.
- Open Taskmanager from the taskbar.
- Locate
SrTasks.exein the Task manager and right-click it. - Click on Open file location.
If the SrTasks process is in the C:/Windows/System 32 directory, it is a legit system process. If the SrTasks process is not in System 32, it is probably a virus or malware.
However, please don’t rush to delete the virus. You should run your antivirus and let the antivirus handle it. Here’s how you can run the built-in Windows antivirus, Virus & threat protection.
- Open settings and press Update & Security.
- Select Windows Security and click on Virus & threat protection.
- In the Window security window, click on Scan options.
- Select Full scan and tap Scan now.
Run the CHKDSK Command
System Protection Background Tasks use a specified amount of disk space to create system restore points. However, if the disk space assigned to SrTasks becomes defective (damaged disk sector where the system cannot read or write), the SrTasks can get stuck trying to create a new system restore point there. It causes SrTasks to use high disk space and lag your PC.
The CHKDSK command checks and fixes any issues like the bad disk sector and stops SrTasks from trying to keep writing in the corrupt sector.
Follow the steps below to run the CHKDSK command.
- Search Command Prompt in the search bar and right-click Command Prompt.
- Select Run as Administrator and select Yes in the dialog box.
- Type
Chkdsk C: /x/f /rin the panel and press Enter. (Windows systems are usually installed in C drive. If your Windows system is on a different drive, enter that drive in the command.)
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Run in Safe Mode and Clean Boot
Safe mode starts the PC with a minimal number of drivers and files to troubleshoot if any program is interfering and causing the errors. If any programs are conflicting with SrTasks and causing this issue, you can check with safe mode and identify the program with Clean boot.
Here’s how to run in Safe mode:
- Restart your PC and hold down the shift key as it is restarting.
- An options menu will pop up. Select Troubleshoot.
- Click on the Advanced Options and tap on Startup Settings.
- Click on Restart.
- After your PC restarts, you will be given a few options. Choose either Enable Safe Mode or Enable Safe Mode with networking.
If your System Protection Background Tasks stay normal in Safe mode, a different program is likely interfering with it to cause the error. You can locate the misbehaving program with a Clean boot.
Then perform a clean boot following the steps below.
- Open the Run and enter
msconfig. - Go to the Services tab and click on Hide all Microsoft services.
- Click on Disable all and hit Apply.
- Go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
- Disable all the startup programs.
- Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Enable the services and program one by one to pinpoint which software is causing the error and disable that software. You can enable the services and programs in groups to efficiently sort it out.
Windows 10 is an operating system that was introduced by Microsoft. A file that is associated with Microsoft Windows System Protection Background Task is srtaska.exe. SRTasks stands for System Runtime Tasks. And also, it does not cause any harm to the Computer. Usually, all this procedure inhabits 50-60% of your CPU, but it consumes 70% or more than 70% of the CPU usage. It is a widespread error that can be faced by anyone. So it is part of Windows, so the location for this in Windows 10 is- C:\Windows\System32. But you can’t find this in the older versions of Windows, like in Windows 7.
What is Microsoft System Protection Background Tasks?
Microsoft Windows System Protection Background Tasks run a legitimate file, which is the srtasks.exe files. This executable file, generally used by Windows 10 task scheduler, is used to create system restore points. All these methods use some of the space of the CPU.
If you wish learn entire concept, you can attempt CCNA Practice Test Dumps.
Potential Security Threat
According to some users, the antivirus application has marked this process as a potential malware application. In the process of making it more creative, virus, malware, and trojan creators invented the same name after the appearance of its effect. This is the method that most people refer to as camouflage, which is the time to call for it. At this time, you can check if you are getting the malware threat by seeing the location of srtasks.exe’s location. In this case, you will have to open the Task Manager, and you need to find the location of the srtasks.exe process, which will be found in the process tab. After this, you will have to the right click on srtasks.exe process and click on “Open File Locator.”
Now, if you find that the process gets back to Windows>System 32, then Congratulations! There is no virus. But if you find it in a different location, then there is a virus. In this situation, try doing a full malware scan in your system.
Is deleting SRTasks.exe good thought?
SRTasks.exe is a real Windows Process that is signed by Microsoft Corporation. You should not delete this executable file. If you find that the CPU has high usage or high Disk usage in any case, you can get that also due to an error that appears while creating a system restore point. In this case, you can only do is to reboot your system and see if the CPU usage or high Disk usage has come down or if this error still occurs.
There are many methods of fixing Microsoft System Protection Background Tasks in Windows 10 and I have listed all those methods here by dividing the entire method into easy actionable steps.
Disable the System Restore (Method 1)
It is mostly related to CPU usage. This issue is prevalent. The users have reported CPU usage by 70% to 90% by this process separately. The best solution for fixing this issue is to disable the System Restore from the ‘systempropertiesprotection.’
STEP 1: Press the Windows Key+ R to open the RUN WINDOW. Then write systempropertiesprotection in the field and then press ENTER.
STEP 2: The tab on the screen named System Properties will appear on the screen and navigate to System Protection if you are already there then move on to the next step.
STEP 3: Then, the select the c: drive or your Windows 10 installed drive and click on Configure button.
STEP 4: Under System Protection Tab in the Restore Settings and select “Disable system protection.”
STEP 5: A warning message will appear (check image below), click on Yes, Click Apply and OK.
STEP 6: Click on the Apply option and hit on OK.
Run a Check Disk to Find out Hard Disk Errors and fix it (Method 2)
If disabling System Restore didn’t worked or only the CPU usage is decreased but Hard Drive usage are still high then you must run disk check on your PC or Laptop, follow the steps given below to complete this process.
- Type “Command Prompt” in the start menu search bar in Windows 10 taskbar and run Command Prompt as Administrator (it’s important).
- Give the following commands “chkdsk C: /F /R” to repair your disk and then press Enter.
- Press Y to schedule the checking.
- It will schedule a Disc Check on the next start or restart of the Computer.
- Wait until the disk check process to finish.
When the check disk procedure gets completed, check if the “SrTasks.exe High Disk Usage” has resolved or not.
Scan for Malware & Viruses on your Computer (Method 3)
If everything did not worked then there is a high chance that your Computer is infected with some virus, follow the steps below to perform a virus scan on Windows 10 using Windows Defender, if your using any other Anti-Virus program then scan your Computer with that.
- Open Windows Defender by typing Windows Defender on the Start menu search bar or click on the left side arrow near the date & time display on the right bottom corner of Windows 10 Taskbar as shown in the picture below and click on the Windows Defender icon.
- Click on Virus & threat protection tab.
- Click on Scan options.
- Select Full scan and click on Scan now.
- Wait for some time; it can take up to a few hours depending on your system disc drive used memory.
- Once a virus is detected, it will ask your permission to remove it, or it will automatically remove it from your Computer.
- Once the Scan is completed, I hope your system will start to work nicely without consuming extra CPU or HDD usage.
- If you follow all the methods, then the problem of High CPU/Disc usage due to Microsoft Windows System Protection Background Tasks will be fixed, and if still it’s not fixed, then I recommend you to backup all the files and data into a separate drive and Download Windows 10 on USB Flash Drive and make it Bootable and Install a Fresh Windows 10 on your Laptop or PC.
Hopefully, now you know the importance and of the Microsoft Windows System Protection Task. If you still have some issues or queries, leave a comment, and I would love to help you for sure.
Thank you for reading this. I hope you like it. 🙂
SrTasks.exe, also known as System Protection Background Tasks, is a legitimate Microsoft process crucial for Windows system functionality. Its primary role is to work with the Task Scheduler to automatically create system restore points, which are essential for system recovery in case of issues.
What’s “Protected Memory Access Blocked” Error & Why It Occur?
Protected Memory Access (PMA) is a Windows security feature that prevents unauthorized programs from accessing critical areas of system memory. The “SrTasks.exe Protected Memory Access Blocked” error occurs when Windows detects that SrTasks.exe is attempting to access protected memory areas. This can happen due to various reasons, including software conflicts, corrupted system files, or overzealous security software.
How to Diagnose the Issue
Before attempting any fixes, it’s important to verify that the SrTasks.exe on your system is legitimate:
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
- Find SrTasks.exe in the Processes or Details tab
- Right-click and select “Open file location”
- Verify that the file is located in C:\Windows\System32 and spelled correctly
If the file is in a different location or misspelled, it may be malware masquerading as a system file.
How to Troubleshoot SrTasks Memory Access Issue
- Clean Boot
Performing a clean boot can help identify if third-party software is causing conflicts:
a. Type “msconfig” in the Start menu and open System Configuration
b. In the Services tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services” and click “Disable all”
c. In the Startup tab, click “Open Task Manager” and disable all startup items
d. Restart your computer and check if the error persists
- Run System File Checker (SFC)
SFC can repair corrupted system files which may have been causing the issue. To fix it, do the following:
a. Open Command Prompt as administrator
b. Type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter
c. Wait for the scan to complete and restart your computer
- Manage Windows Defender and Controlled Folder Access
Windows Defender’s Controlled Folder Access feature can sometimes interfere with SrTasks.exe:
a. Open Windows Security
b. Go to “Virus & threat protection” > “Manage settings”
c. Scroll down to “Controlled folder access” and click “Manage Controlled folder access”
d. If it’s on, try turning it off temporarily to see if it resolves the issue
e. If you need to keep it on, you can add SrTasks.exe to the allowed apps list
- System Restore Management
You can use System Restore to revert recent changes or manage restore points.
To use System Restore:
a. Type “Create a restore point” in the Start menu
b. Click “System Restore” and follow the wizard
To disable System Restore (use caution):
a. In the System Protection tab, select your system drive and click “Configure”
b. Select “Disable system protection” and click Apply
c. Remember to re-enable it later for system safety
- Clear Protection History
If you’re seeing multiple “Protected Memory Access Blocked” entries in your protection history:
a. Open Windows Security
b. Go to “Virus & threat protection” > “Protection history”
c. Click “Clear history” at the bottom of the page
How to Prevent Future Issues
To prevent future issues, remember to keep your Windows updated. Use Task Manager to keep an eye on SrTasks.exe resource usage. Abnormal activity could indicate an issue.
Maintain regular backups of your system in case you need to perform a system restore or clean installation. And remember to only install software from trusted sources to minimize conflicts with system processes.
FAQs
Is it safe to disable SrTasks.exe?
While you can temporarily disable it for troubleshooting, it’s not recommended to permanently disable SrTasks.exe as it’s an important part of Windows’ system restore functionality.
Why does SrTasks.exe sometimes use high CPU or disk resources?
This can happen when Windows is creating or managing restore points. If it persists, it might indicate a system issue or conflict.
Can I delete the “Protected Memory Access Blocked” entries from my protection history?
Yes, you can clear these entries through the Windows Security app, but it’s important to investigate why they’re occurring frequently.
By following these detailed steps and best practices, you should be able to resolve the “SrTasks.exe Protected Memory Access Blocked” error and maintain a stable Windows system. Remember to approach each step cautiously, especially when making system changes, and don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you’re unsure about any process.
Meet Carlos Li, a tech enthusiast and integral member of Computer Softonic’s dedicated team. With a passion for technology and a background in content creation and digital marketing, Carlos is committed to delivering valuable insights and solutions to enhance your digital experience. Join Carlos and the Computer Softonic community to stay informed, inspired, and empowered in the ever-evolving world of technology.
The srtasks.exe file is the executable of a legitimate Microsoft process called System Protection Background Tasks. This particular executable is frequently used by Windows 10’s Task Scheduler for the automatic creation of system restore points.
Note: Srtasks.exe is located in C:\Windows\System32 and is unique to Windows 10 and Windows 8 – the file doesn’t exist on Windows 7 or another older Windows version.
The srtasks executable is often associated with high CPU usage and high disk activity – some users have reported a CPU usage of almost 70% by this process alone. Even though this particular has been addressed on every other build that came after the Windows 10 Dev preview, the issue is still fairly common.
Potential security threat
Some users have been reporting that their antivirus suites have flagged the srtasks.exe file as a potential virus. While this is probably just a false positive, it’s certainly worth investigating.
Malware creators are known to get creative, and it’s not uncommon for them to create trojans and other types of viruses that have the ability to camouflage themselves as a system process. As it turns out, a malware that is capable of camouflaging as a system process has a smaller chance of getting picked up by security scans.
There is a malware known to camouflage as the legitimate srtasks.exe process, but the name is slightly different. The virus will show up in Task Manager as srtask.exe – it’s missing the last “s“.
You can easily determine if you’re dealing with a malware by viewing srtasks.exe‘s location. To do so, open up Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and locate the srTasks.exe process via the Processes tab. Then, right-click on the srTasks.exe process and choose Open file location.
If the process is traced back to Windows > System32, the executable is definitely not a virus. In the event that you discover the process in a different location, you’re dealing with a virus infection – in this case, we recommend scanning your system with a powerful anti-malware scanner. You can use our in-depth article on using Malwarebytes to remove any viruses from your system (here).
Should I delete srtasks.exe?
No, you shouldn’t. As mentioned above, srtasks.exe is a genuine Windows process signed by Microsoft Corporation. Deleting the executable will not be possible with normal permissions, and it’s not recommended since it will probably prevent your OS from creating automatic system restore points.
If you’re getting experiencing high CPU and disk usage caused by srtasks.exe (and you’ve confirmed that it’s not a virus), it’s probably because your OS is in the middle of creating a system restore point. Give it a few hours, reboot your computer and see if the usage goes down.
How to fix high usage cause by srtasks.exe?
If you find that srtasks.exe is eating a lot of system resources in a consistent manner, you can disable it and see whether the usage goes down. But since the Microsoft System Protection background service (srtasks.exe) executes under the System account, you can’t disable the service conventionally by going to the Services screen.
The only way to prevent srtasks.exe from accessing your computer’s resources is to disable System Restore. But keep in mind that doing so will prevent you from reverting your computer to a previous point in time. If you decide to go through with it, open a run window (Windows key + R) and type “systempropertiesprotection“. Hit Enter to open the System Protection tab of System Properties.
Once you’re there, click the Configure button under Protection Settings and set the Restore Settings to Disable system protection. Once you hit Apply, System Restore will be disabled permanently and the high-usage of srtasks.exe should not be a problem anymore.
Note: If you ever decide to re-enable System Restore, you can reverse engineer the steps above and set the Restore Settings to Turn on system protection.
Kevin Arrows
Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.