How to remove an imapi error

The free file information forum can help you determine if imapi.exe is a virus, trojan, spyware, or adware that you can remove, or a file belonging to a Windows system or an application you can trust.

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Imapi.exe file information

The process known as Image Mastering API or IMAPI Module belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or IMAPI Module by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com).

Description: imapi.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32. Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 150,016 bytes (70% of all occurrences), 150,528 bytes and 4 more variants.
Imapi.exe is a Windows core system file. The program has no visible window. File imapi.exe is a trustworthy file from Microsoft. Therefore the technical security rating is 5% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.

Recommended: Identify imapi.exe related errors

If imapi.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows, the security rating is 52% dangerous. The file size is 233,472 bytes. File imapi.exe is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file. The program is not visible. Imapi.exe is not a Windows system file. imapi.exe is able to record inputs, monitor applications and manipulate other programs.

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as imapi.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the imapi.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

it pops up in task manager when my outlook express wont send pictures.
Jeff MacGregor

when it pops up in task mngr i cant do a thing. reboot and it goes

I know it's not something I want if I cannot get any info about it

Only noticed it running on startup after that it disappeared
Mike

Process Name: imapi.exe. imapi.exe description: This is the Image Mastering API used by most of the CD burning software that runs on Windows. ... Want to learn more about imapi.exe? Want to know what is imapi.exe ...

Its a image program of some kind, seems to have installed itself?
Bill Gates

That its messing up my Laptop and refuses to be deleted. Pops up with drwatson in my task manager.
Stephen Wilkins

I loads on startup other sites said it is part of some cd burning stuff by microsoft
SpoR

Manages CD recording using Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface (IMAPI). If you stop this service, your PC will be unable to burn CDs. If you disable this service, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
robster

It is used for CD burn drag and drop
bob

imapi.exe is the Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface for CD burning in Windows XP.
thoreau (further information)

it sometimes requests access to network, i see no reason
Childov Ghad

Explorer freezes when this starts. I have removed it, and explorer does not freeze.
Adam Fogle

Needed for WMP11 cd burning
John

Viruses definitely mask as imapi.exe. It runs everytime I try to run explorer.exe, and explorer just exits, so I cant see start menu, or desktop icons. Pesky problem.
Jared

seems to be used for windows cd burning
elf

It's used when ripping music to your computer, I think...
Kregor

Movie maker told me to end this process and now by CD burner will not work do not delete it
Mary

it pops up on Startup, like Mike stated, but for me it comes back way after startup, and when it does, my computer completely locks up and i have to reboot

when imapi spontaneously stops, my system freezes
ecoandy

shut it down, burners like Nero etc.'ll work better. google IMAPI bootable/burning/startup etc.
bertus

is periodically in taskmgr., sometimes w/ games, sometimes other programs. REALLY ANNOYING! uses all clock time. i end its process tree, then am ok til next time.
bear

Apparent conflict with HP Digital Imaging Monitor software. Takes windows 5 times longer to load on start up after I installed the HP software from my new J6450 all-in-one.
Byron Yost

Even without imapi.exe I can still burn cds using nero...
noypi

pops up on windows task manager each time my dvd burner drawer opens. it opens and closes continuously by itself.

I think it's for CD burning as others have said. It shows up in your processes when you just boot your PC then disappears.
demi

Imapi can be trusted but it can be Viruses.I tried to delete it but comes back like self restore
Akshay

whn i right click to end process pop up window: UNABLE TO TERMINATE PROCESS with this message; the operation could not be completed; the operation is not valid for this process! weird others saying it connected to cd burning; i have someone putting a file called thumbs in my cd datas i opened one & it was filled wit this weird symbolical crap 8,000pages!!!
Dr.M

Small window pop up at start up goes away and the imapi.exe goes away on task manager immediately when I access it.
CJ Hendrix

its definately malware. it will stop you from running malwarebytes and r kill, both of which are essential to malware removal. i ended it on a hunch, and now suddenly both will run. sneaky bastard malware designers will mask malware as anything nowadays
Eric

for dvd burner
khan

Summary: Average user rating of imapi.exe: based on 35 votes with 31 reviews.

14 users think imapi.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 4 users think it's probably harmless. 5 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 6 users suspect danger. 6 users think imapi.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 10 users doesn't grade imapi.exe ("not sure about it").

Imapi scanner

Security Task Manager shows all running Windows tasks including embedded hidden functions (e.g. keyboard or browser monitoring, autostart entry). A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware, keylogger or a Trojan.

MalwareBytes detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, malware and tracking threats from your hard disk. Ideal supplement to Security Task Manager.

SpeedUpMyPC scans, cleans, repairs and optimizes your computer.

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