What is the use of splwow64.exe process in windows 7?

[Faizah]

Hello everyone, I have installed windows 7 home premium operating system and everything was working fine. Last night while I was working on my computer I found some different process called splwow64.exe running in the task manger. Now I wanted to know whether this process is of any use or is it some kind of a virus or something? If it is a virus then how can I get rid of this completely. Thanks

[$tatic]

Wow64 is usually called Windows On Windows 64 and it is used to enable you to execute 32bit applications on a 64 bit computer. So basically, the splwow64.exe is a 64bit application which is used to speak with 64bit drivers and translates the communication between 32bit and 64bit drivers. You dont have to worry about the splwow64.exe process, which is running in your task manager at all.

[CitricAcid]

Sometime the Splwow64.exe process will not end as expected when a print job is finished. This problem happens because the Splwow64.exe process stays in the memory for too much time and thus increases the system performance after a print job is finished. So to fix this issue, microsoft has released a Hotfix that can be downloaded by following this link - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2815716

[Blazej]

Everytime you start a 32bit software which requires printer spooler service, for printing, on a 64bit operating system then the splwow64 process will also start up automatically. If it is launched for the first time then you will have to wait for some. I was thiking that if they can have the splwow64 process to start when ever you actually click on the Print button, but I think that it isnt that way or such.