How to stop mscorsvw.exe process or remove it from task manager?

High CPU usage by one or more processes may easily slow down a computer, specially the ones with limited system resources. For example: a process named mscorsvw.exe is often reported to be using up to 100% CPU on an Windows system. Though it is not a harmful process, huge CPU usage may result in a terribly slow computer. In this article we will try to discuss in brief about the mscorsvw.exe process and will also give you instructions on how to safely disable or remove the same from the Windows task manager.

What is mscorsvw.exe?

The mscorsvw.exe is associated with Microsoft.NET framework. It’s job is to precompile .NET assemblies. The mscorsvw.exe works in background and usually cause no trouble to the user. After doing it’s job, mscorsvw.exe automatically shuts down and disappears from the Task Manager. But sometimes this process may use huge system resources. In fact, task manager may show up to 100% CPU usage by mscorsvw.exe. That’s where mscorsvw.exe starts to alert users.

As I mentioned above, mscorsvw.exe does precompiling jobs for .NET assemblies. It is programmed to compile high priority assemblies first. The low priority assemblies are processed when your computer is in idle mode. When your task manager shows 100% CPU use by mscorsvw.exe, it means low priority assemblies are being compiled. That’s quite harmless, though annoying sometimes. Anyway, there’s an easy way to stop mscorsvw.exe from running repeatedly and make it disappear from task manager. Just tell the .NET Runtime Optimization Service, which is also known as NGen (Native Image Service), to drain all queued tasks. You can access NGen functionality through the NGen.exe command line tool. Read on for details and instructions.

How to stop or remove mscorsvw.exe:

If you want to disable mscorsvw.exe process or make it disappear from Windows task manager, follow the steps below:

1. Go to command prompt in Windows (open run box, type cmd and press OK button).
2. Once you are in command prompt, the default location will be something like this C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator. You need to switch to the .NET framework version folder. If you are not sure about the location, go to the drive where your Windows files are located (typically C drive) and open WINDOWS folder. Then go to Microsoft.NET folder and open Framework folder. There you’ll find all version folders. Your path will be something like this C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319
3. Now switch to the most recent .NET version folder by using CD command in the command prompt. You can quickly switch with right click and paste. Example: paste CD\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319 after C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator> and press Enter button.
4. When your location is changed to the .NET version folder, type ngen.exe executequeueditems and press Enter.
5. This command will complete all queued compilation work. It may take some time. Wait till the process is completed.
6. Exit command prompt and restart your computer. The mscorsvw.exe should stop and disappear from task manager.

Note: The above mentioned steps will never remove or delete mscorsvw.exe process. It will disappear from the task manager, because all queued compiling jobs are completed. So, you have nothing to worry about stability of .NET framework or your system. But one thing is sure, mscorsvw.exe won’t disturb you with 100% CPU usage for quite some time! Try it.