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What is Desktop.exe?

The genuine Desktop.exe file is a software component of Virtual Desktop by .
Desktop.exe is an executable file that belongs to Virtual Desktop, a desktop manager application that lets users create multiple desktops and easily switch between them. This process has been reported to be a virus by top anti-virus programs. If it exists in the "C:\" drive, it should be removed with a good anti-virus program.

Virtual Desktop was created by Daniel Vladutu, a member on the development team of the popular, Project Gutenberg.

Desktop stands for Desktop Search

The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the Desktop.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.

Click to Run a Free Scan for Desktop.exe related errors

Desktop.exe file information

Windows Task Manager with Desktop
Desktop.exe process in Windows Task Manager

The process known as Configuration Settings appears to belong to software RotateDesktop or rarte by Igrovye Resheniya OOO or arte or Microsoft (www.microsoft.com).

Description: Desktop.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. Desktop.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder (common is C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\). Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 228,692 bytes (57% of all occurrences), 165,376 bytes, 46,368 bytes or 1,573,386 bytes. file.net/process/desktop.exe.html 
It is not a Windows core file. The program is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: User Shell Folders, Run, MACHINE\Run). Desktop.exe is a file with no information about its developer. Desktop.exe is able to monitor applications and record keyboard and mouse inputs. Therefore the technical security rating is 73% dangerous; however you should also read the user reviews.

Recommended: Identify Desktop.exe related errors

If Desktop.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 34% dangerous. The file size is 10,913,384 bytes (50% of all occurrences) or 11,109,992 bytes. The program has a visible window. There is no information about the author of the file. Desktop.exe is not a Windows core file. The software listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet.

If Desktop.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 54% dangerous. The file size is 1,221,632 bytes. There is no information about the author of the file. The program has no visible window. Desktop.exe is not a Windows system file. The application starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: User Shell Folders, Run, MACHINE\Run).

Uninstalling this variant: If problems with RotateDesktop come up, you can also uninstall the software using the Uninstall a Program function of Windows Control Panel (Windows: Start, Settings, Control Panel, Uninstall a Program).

External information from Paul Collins:
There are different files with the same name:

Important: Some malware also uses the file name Desktop.exe, for example Trojan.Gen or Trojan Horse (detected by Symantec), and Worm:Win32/Helompy.D (detected by Microsoft). Therefore, you should check the Desktop.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

Created in a hidden folder in c:\windows called isrvs. Autostarts with windows and has delete protection.
  chris  
To remove the program, first shut it down in task manager an delete it directly with a dos-box (del desktop.exe).
  ErwinH  
this is a very dangerous file its store the viruses
   
cannot be deleted and causes alot of crashes
  eksman  
Installed without permission. Can't be deleted. Helper files change to random names if you delete them.
  Flash  
i know that it is the little search bar which appears in the toolbar (right to the left).
  Shaun Horsburgh  
i can't get rid of it!
  darryl  
its bent, i cant open task manager to end the process,and delete the file. So im having to wipe my hard drive! thanks microsoft for making such an unstable system!
  ChOpS  
It crashes my computer, and slows it down.Plus shuts down my computer when doing an Anti-Spyware scan.
  Jame Bryce  
spyware
  mitch  
extremely dangerous! Part of irsvs infection, and mostly an indicator for the bube virus
  wng_z3r0   (further information)
Its fine for my computer
   
i think its the background and icons
   
This filename is also used by the open source Virtual Desktop 1.01 and is (potentially) not dangerous.
  Rapture   (further information)
McAfeeSecureIEand PrivateIESpecial
  Dianne   (further information)
As far as I know, it installed with a Virtual Desktop Manager Version 1.03. Although I found no way to actually use the program, as well as no known documention for it.
  Matt  
My computer has always run fine...
  sakura  
Can Be Deleted Through Norton tools. (add remove programs thing)
  85239523  
everytime i start my machine it shuts down
  racer  
Its dangerous and a hardcore virus, having trouble removing it
  Julian  
part of 4shared; probs at boot; probably different than others described here
  Ben Hoff   (further information)
Was detected and moved to vault by AvastFreeAntiVirus. Removed by Avast
  Oliver   (further information)
I used to be bothered by it since I could not make it work. But, to find out if it is legit, press Alt+1 or Alt+2 or Alt+3 or Alt+4 (for the different desktops). That is how you switch b/w desktops. Oh here comes the boss, Alt+1! Works!! There is an html file in the folder C:\Program Files\Free-soft\....now, I can't tell you if it is a keyboard logger. But, works as claimed.
  Vickeroo  
I am using desktop.exe (203 kb) to "Show Desktop" and it is a nice program, not a virus :)
  Jari  
is a worm, who is malwarebytes and remove ComboFix, I found the folder win at the root of drive C. It is necessary to check the original location of your installation to confirm that it is configured as a threat or not
  carlos augusto  
Avast recognize them as a A0277723.exe desktop.exe and can remove it from boot time sccaning
  If  
i remove it with avira
  alex  
it is part of Sage Timberline Desktop
  SageDesktop User   (further information)
This has to be a wrapper for virus. Nothing detects it or stops it but any machine that has it will have connection issues.
  Trashy  
Sage Desktop (part of Sage Timberline Accounting) is called Desktop.exe
  Rick   (further information)
I can stop desktop.exe in my task manager , it is a dock that Hides itself when I try try to close it without task manager. My antivirus doesnt detect it at all and i cant remove the program , it hasnt done any real damage , but it is really annoying and i cant permanently get it off!
  Chris  
Shows .47 dangerous
  mark gatling  
/home/student/Desktop/file.exe
  daVE  

Summary: Average user rating of Desktop.exe: based on 40 votes with 33 user comments. 10 users think Desktop.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. One user thinks it's probably harmless. 7 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 4 users suspect danger. 18 users think Desktop.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. One user is not sure about it.


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Best practices for resolving Desktop issues

A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with Desktop. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.

Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.

To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.

To help you analyze the Desktop.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.



Other processes

Desktop.exe [all]