As you know, for many users who are not particularly versed in Windows system processes, the appearance of obscure modules in the same "Task Manager", if not scary, then puzzling, is quite strong. One of these processes is igfxtray.exe. What is it, of ordinary users, few people imagine. In most cases, based on the abbreviation that is completely incomprehensible to many in the name of the executable file of the process, which looks very suspicious, users begin to assume that they have a virus process in spite of the fact that it does not have a special effect on system resources. Therefore, it is proposed to deal with this component, considering what it is, what it is for, and how to disable this module if it is not in demand by the user.
The igfxtray.exe process : what is it in startup and in the Task Manager »Windows?
As is already clear, the appearance of this process, presented in the form of a special module, can be observed not only at startup, but in some other system tools, which include the Task Manager, the system registry, and the Group Policy Editor. Only in the "Task Manager" it is shown in full form, that is, the executable file of the EXE format corresponds to the process of the same name, for which a description of what it is is issued. The abbreviation in the name of the topic frightens users that most processes have more or less intelligible file names, while virus applets are often presented as meaningless sets of letters. But in this case, all users can be encouraged: the igfxtray.exe process (igfxtray module) is not a viral threat, since it refers to the means of displaying the control panel icon on the graphics control panel by Intel integrated video-on-board video chips) mounted on the motherboard, which is displayed in the system tray.
This icon is used to provide quick access to the main settings and parameters of the video card. Actually, the reduction itself in its entirety looks like Intel Graphics Tray). This is the igfxtray.exe process launched with the system. What is so a little clear. But let's see how appropriate it is to keep it active in the system.
Is igfxtray.exe module needed?
By and large, the activation of this module does not make much sense, since access to the main parameters of the video chip can be quite elementary if you refer to the item of graphic characteristics, which is located in the PCM menu, called up on the free space of the "Desktop". Its launch at system startup is provided rather for easy access to options and settings - nothing more. As mentioned above, it does not have a special effect on the loading of computing resources of the central processor and the use of RAM, and you can disable it completely elementarily.
How to remove igfxtray.exe from the auto start section using the standard method?
So, let's see how to disable the program so that it does not start with the operating system. The standard method for deactivating any applet launched with the system is to use the configurator, in which there is an appropriate startup section. On Windows 7 and below, it is called through the Run console by entering the msconfig command. In the eighth and tenth modifications, this technique can also be used, but the autoload tab in them has been moved to the "Task Manager", where redirection will be made, so it is better to use it right away.
The essence of disabling is simply to uncheck the process or click the deactivation button, after which a restart of Windows will be required. The corresponding notification in Windows 7 and below will be issued immediately, but on systems of a rank higher it does not appear and, as it were, is taken for granted.
Deactivating a process in the registry
But what is it? Igfxtray.exe is present in the system tray, but is it not in the startup section? How to deactivate a module in such a situation. Here you can offer to change the settings of group policies or use the registry. Both editors duplicate each other, but the registry has a higher priority for applying settings, so we will consider it.
The editor is called up via the Run menu with the regedit command.
After that, in order not to go through sections for a long time, it is better to immediately use the search (Ctrl + F) and find the Run folders (we only need the two with the RunOnce directories next to them). Disabling is only to simply delete the key corresponding to the process being launched, and then, as in the case of the configurator, restart the system.
A little trick when shutting down the process
But that is not all, as far as disabling the igfxtray.exe process is concerned. What kind of module this is is understandable, but after all, it, like any other program, has an executable applet (file) in the system. Some experts recommend going for a trick, especially if the applet for some reason does not turn off.
First, call both Explorer and Task Manager, and in the file manager, find the corresponding file located in the System32 directory. Now complete the process in the "Manager", then quickly rename the desired file in the "Explorer", specifying, for example, the name igfxtray_.exe. Why are such actions required? Yes, only because the process can spontaneously start again, but this will not happen when renaming a file.
In general, for that matter, you can completely remove this panel using uninstall programs like iObit Uninstaller. Some users may have questions about the fact that the settings for the graphics accelerator will become unavailable. Nothing wrong. There is nothing so special about them that could not be duplicated in the standard Windows options.