Windows Vista Local Session Manager Service

I am using a Dell desktop running Vista. I got an alert today that Local Session Manager Service was asking for permission to run. I didn't know what that was, so I googled it. I found the definition (as much as I can understand it), but also saw some posts saying it could be something else. I found the file lsm.exe in the folder it was supposed to be in, but the thing that bothers me is it has never run before and was asking for first time permission. I've had this computer for 8 months now. Do I just assume that it's a legit process? I denied permission, but need to know how to deal with it if it comes up again. Thanks.

 

Local Session MGR

Moonpie

The question here is what is it trying to launch? The Local session mgr is needed to run things on your behalf.

What is trying to launch?

 

Tivo...I'm sorry to take so long to answer you. We had 10 tornadoes come through here on Sunday and I was away from my computer for awhile.

I had been on the computer earlier in the day and took a nap. After that I got back on and hadn't really been doing much of anything when the alert came up. It was lsm.exe asking for permission. I had played a video earlier that I had burned to a disc, but have used Media Player many times and never had that .exe ask for permission. I saw something about handle leaks with Media Player associated with lsm.exe, but have no idea what that means. I also read about the possibility that it could be something calling itself lsm.exe. I just found it strange that after all this time it was asking for first time permission. I just don't want to accidentally allow something that I shouldn't. Thanks.

 

The LSM is something you want, but if you'd like to verify the authenticity of the binary, download sigcheck from Sysinternals (free) http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/FileAndDisk/Sigcheck.mspx. Run "sigcheck c:\windows\system32\lsm.exe ". Replace the path as appropriate.