NWIZ?? What is it?

For the past few days, when I restart my PC I receive the following error message:

NWIZ has encountered a problem and needs to close.

It is referring to nwiz.exe, but I don't have a clue what is is, what it does, or why it continues to have problems loading.

Any ideas?

 

Hi sandilew,
graphics driver/bundled software related.....
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache...nwiz.exe&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=15&gl=us&lr=lang_en

File purpose and description:
This program is part of NVidia's software and Nview product. It installs with the Nvidia graphics hardware products. This program allows the user to access features to utilize multiple monitors on the desktop computer. This is not considered adware or spyware but be cautious and see info below....

Some viri are known to use the same file name to disguise themselves. Nwiz.exe is one of those files frequently used. Just to be cautious, you should do a "file search" and scan that file. The particulars, about the legitimate nwiz.exe are, within the link I previously provided. A right click properties check wouldn't hurt either. If it claims to be anything other than nvidia related, this is definitely suspicious.

If this proves to be the legitimate nwiz.exe and If you only use one monitor, you can disable this process without any problem.This is a non-essential process. Disabling or enabling it is down to user preference.

You can do this in several ways. One way is:
>manually remove the runline from the registry using regedit:
Startbutton>runline type regedit and hit enter key
When registry opens up, use the list on the left and click on each folder as named until you end up with run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SOFTWARE
\Microsoft
\Windows
\CurrentVersion
\Run

Once you've drilled down to and clicked on run, Nwiz will be on the right. You can rightclick on nwiz and select delete. Exit out of registry and your done.

-----------
Don't like editing the registry yourself? Let me know and I'll come up with an alternate way of doing this.
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You may wish to test the removal of this startup via msconfg>startup tab. It will be one among the list that you can uncheck. If that proves to solve your problem I suggest you proceed to fix the problem in a more permanent manner such as the manual regisrty entry removal I previously suggested. In this way you can once again use a Normal bootup via msconfig. To run msconfig just type msconfig via the startbutton>runline.

Hopefully you aren't having any graphics problems related to this error.

 

It's a process gets installed with the drivers for your Nvidia graphics card or chip. I believe it has something to do with using multiple monitors. You can disable it somewhere in your graphics driver (right click desktop>properties>settings>advanced). I'm not really sure what to look for though. Maybe something to do with enabling Nview. Perhaps somebody else can help out with that.

Or, you can disable it by clicking start>run and typing msconfig. Look on the startup tab for it. If it's not there, look for Nview. Remove the check mark and reboot for it to take effect. Then run it that way for a while and if you don't miss anything, leave it that way. My guess is that unless you use multiple monitors, you won't miss it.

Edit:
Oh, I see Ann beat me to it. Oh well, I'll leave this here just because I haven't had much time to post lately and I need to pad my stats a bit.

 

Thank you so much

Hello Goddez1,

I did a search for nwiz.exe, as you suggested, and this is what the search told me.

WDSFirstRunWiz c:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search
NWIZ.EXE=2D374245.pf c:\WINDOWS\Prefetch
WDFIRSTRUNWIZ.EXE=22FD c:\WINDOWS\Prefetch
nwiz.exe c:\WINDOWS\system32

The first three are associated with Windows Desktop Search, from what I understand. And the last one, nwiz.exe, is associated with NVidia.

I was having major problems with my computer crashing, and the only answer I ever received was that there was a driver conflict, but Microsoft could never come up with what driver was causing the conflict, and I was going nuts. I eventually got to where it was crashing 6-8 times in a day, and that can't be good for my machine.

I finally threw in the towel trying to fix it myself, and did a reformat and total restore. After that was done, and then re-installing the programs I wanted to keep, and then updating to IE7, I suddenly started getting this error message. And on two occasions along with nwiz.exe, the Windows Live desktop search program had a problem and had to close as well.

I only have one monitor, so I shouldn't need nwiz.exe, as you said. I did a virus scan of all of these files, and none of them showed a problem, and the actual nwiz.exe is what it's supposed to be, so I will go ahead and disable it.

Thank you so much for your help. It is greatly appreciated.


I do have another question for Zander though.

For some reason I am getting advertising all over my page. And under my name there is a message to become a subscriber. Funny, because I already have a Lifetime Subscription and when I clicked on "I don't like advertising" I am certain I read that one of the benefits of having a subscription is that you don't have to see all this extra advertising. Could someone then explain why it is all over my page??

Again, thank you so much.

 

If memory serves me correctly, you need to change the skin you're using on the forum. Click the UserCP button at the top left of this page. Then, on the left side of the page click edit options. On the next page, scroll all the way to the bottom and you'll see a box where you can select a different skin. It's been a while so I don't remember for sure but I think if it's set to forum default, changing it to any of the others will get rid of the ads for you. If it doesn't work for you let me know.

 

Thank you Zander

That worked perfectly!! How simple, but if you are ignorant of how it's done, oh well!

Thanks for all the help.
Always appreciated.

 

OK, glad to hear that did the trick for you.

 

Also your most welcome and I hope your Nwiz problem is caput!