What is NPSMsvc_XXXX (4 digit number) in Services?


mccnavy

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Can someone tell me what this service is? It shows up in all three of my machines running Windows 11, although the 4-digit XXXX is different. Under description it says <Failed to Read Description. Error Code: 15100 >. The path to executable is C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalService -p. Attempting to disable says that parameter is incorrect. I'm thinking some update must've installed it. I ran both Windows Defender and Malwarebytes and nothing malicious was found. Do I leave it alone or manually delete it from command prompt? Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-7700K
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime Z-270A
    Memory
    32GB 2666Mhz (Kingston Hyper X Fury)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Nvidia 1050Ti
    Sound Card
    N/A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung C27F390
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Evo 512GB
Can someone tell me what this service is? It shows up in all three of my machines running Windows 11, although the 4-digit XXXX is different. Under description it says <Failed to Read Description. Error Code: 15100 >. The path to executable is C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalService -p. Attempting to disable says that parameter is incorrect. I'm thinking some update must've installed it. I ran both Windows Defender and Malwarebytes and nothing malicious was found. Do I leave it alone or manually delete it from command prompt? Thanks.


Found this at reddit...

NPSM stands for Now Playing Session Manager. This service is responsible for showing now playing media on the volume flyout on Windows 10 and on the action center on Windows 11.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
Your code shows :
If you are not using a device that uses the CDpusersvc service (printer, scanner, or other types of external device), the quickest and most efficient way of fixing the Failed to Read Description (Error Code 15100) issue is to simply disable it using Registry Editor.
Chuck
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows11 23H2 (OS Build 22631.2428)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP HP ENVY TE01
    CPU
    2.90 gigahertz Intel Core i7-10700
    Motherboard
    Board: HP 8767 A (SMVB)
    Memory
    16214 Megabytes Usable Installed Memor
    Hard Drives
    1511.52 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    1418.15 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless
    Mouse
    M 185 wireless
    Internet Speed
    12 ms Jitter 8 ms Download 10.5 Mbps Upload 1.7
    Browser
    Edge & FF
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I followed the similar registry entry instructions you just gave for the other other service (CDpusersvc) and it is very similar...one service is just NPSMsvc and the other is NPSMsvc_XXXXX. If you try to disable the latter, it just makes itself again with a new letter/number combination next start. If you disable NPSMsvc it still shows in "Services" but is disabled at start up. I'll see if I have any adverse Windows effects. It's still annoying seeing the messed up service though. I ran sfc /scannow on all of my machines and there are no errors. I'm curious if anyone else has this same service and error now showing.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-7700K
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime Z-270A
    Memory
    32GB 2666Mhz (Kingston Hyper X Fury)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Nvidia 1050Ti
    Sound Card
    N/A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung C27F390
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Evo 512GB
I think I'll leave it for now...I just sorted all of the services by Description and McpManagementService has the same error under description. I'm not noticing any notable errors so maybe a Windows Update will fix it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-7700K
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime Z-270A
    Memory
    32GB 2666Mhz (Kingston Hyper X Fury)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Nvidia 1050Ti
    Sound Card
    N/A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung C27F390
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Evo 512GB
I also have both showing exactly the same in my services. I recently upgraded to windows 11. actually on Nov. 26th and they have been there since the upgrade .I do not know if they were there before the upgrade to be fair. They do not seem to be causing any problems on my laptop and I have just let them be.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Huawei Matebook X Pro
    CPU
    intel 8250 I5
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel uhd 620
    Monitor(s) Displays
    built in laptop display
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1280
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Evo 500gb M2
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer A515-43-R6DE
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7300U
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Raedon RX Vega graphics onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15"6 FHD IPS Slim Bezel
    Hard Drives
    512cb PCie NVME SSD
    Case
    Pure Silver
    Mouse
    Touchpad and Logitech external mouse
    Keyboard
    Inbuilt
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
I seem to remember some years ago the the connected user stuff in windows 10 had the same errors, which if I remember right was finally sorted out by updates. I bet these will also. The non descriptor is really only a nuisance because you cant see what might rely on it or what it actually is doing. I learned a long time ago though if it aint broke leave it alone. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Huawei Matebook X Pro
    CPU
    intel 8250 I5
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel uhd 620
    Monitor(s) Displays
    built in laptop display
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1280
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Evo 500gb M2
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer A515-43-R6DE
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7300U
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Raedon RX Vega graphics onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15"6 FHD IPS Slim Bezel
    Hard Drives
    512cb PCie NVME SSD
    Case
    Pure Silver
    Mouse
    Touchpad and Logitech external mouse
    Keyboard
    Inbuilt
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
just chiming in, was finally compelled to move over to windows 11 and was greeted with these guys as well. install is less than a week old with minimal tinkering or stuff installed and fully updated so based on the existing posts + my own experience.. i'm gonna tell myself for my own sanity that this is normal and par for the course lol.

1652554860414.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i7 9900K
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus X Formula
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 2080ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    U2718Q
    Screen Resolution
    4K
    Hard Drives
    2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus
    1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus
    ~200TB worth of spinners in a DAS via LSI HBA
    PSU
    EVGA 1500 supernova
    Case
    Corsair 900D
    Cooling
    Custom Water
    Keyboard
    Razer Blackwidow Chroma v2
    Mouse
    Razer Naga Trinity
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit Fiber
    Browser
    Brave
I have this same issue and resolved it by finding the number that was after it and it was linked to my printing services which do not want to work properly since upgrading to windows 11. For me it was the PrintWorkflow that was stopped and once restarted resolved the issue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Matisse 7mm Technology
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Prime B450M-A (AM4)
    Memory
    32.0 GB Dual-Channel DDR4 @ 1330MHZ (20-19-19-43)
    Graphics Card(s)
    4095MB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super EVGA
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio; Yeti X; NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Standard Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) x 3
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba HDWR180 7452 GB
    Toshiba HDWR180 7452 GB
    Team T253x2001T (SSD) 953 GB
    Seagate Backup+ Hub BK SCSI Disk Device 9313 GB
    Toshiba External USB 3.0 USB Device 2794 GB
    Keyboard
    Logitech G910
    Mouse
    MX Master 3
    Browser
    Opera; Opera GX, Brave, Chrome, Microsoft Edge
I have this same issue and resolved it by finding the number that was after it and it was linked to my printing services which do not want to work properly since upgrading to windows 11. For me it was the PrintWorkflow that was stopped and once restarted resolved the issue.
I stumbled on this post and do nut understand what you meant or did. Could you share what you did? :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    My CPU is a neural-net processor; a learning computer
    Memory
    32
    Graphics Card(s)
    3080
    Monitor(s) Displays
    TV
    Screen Resolution
    4k
    Internet Speed
    1000
I stumbled on this post and do nut understand what you meant or did. Could you share what you did? :)
Although you have only posted once after a while, I hope for you to become a recognised name in this community. Good luck and welcome to the forum.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 21H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Chillblast
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 3 3100
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix b450-f
    Memory
    Corsair 8GB x 2 (16GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 Super
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 27" 1440p
    Screen Resolution
    1440p
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 1TB
    256GB NVME Seagate Barracuda
    Browser
    Firefox / Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Amd E2
    Memory
    4GB
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD
So, to fix this, what you actually do is update the name and description of both the NPSM key in register as well as the "_XXXX" version that site just underneith it. Change both display names to "Now Playing Session Manager" and both descriptions to "This service is responsible for showing now playing media on the volume flyout on Windows 10 and on the action center on Windows 11." and reboot and the problem is gone. For any other similar services, just track down the DLL or whatever in C:\Windows\System32 and get the name/description from that and some online searching, or even just name it whatever you want.

Reboot and NPSM and any other misID'd services are fixed. (a new entry is generated, the name will still be "_XXXX/whatever" but it will have the proper description. No weird entries, and again, you can update less odd services this way too with the registry.

FYI - the registry location for services is "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services"
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Me, Myself, but not I
    CPU
    Intel i7-13700K
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE z690 Auros Ultra
    Memory
    Patriot DDR5 16GB (2 x 8GB) 4800MHz CL40 (PSD516G4800K)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER XC ULTRA
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Audigy Fx
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP something or other, nothing fancy at all...
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200@60hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 860 EVO 2TB SSD
    (RAID 1) 2 x Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" HDD (st2000dm008-2fr102)
    PSU
    Corsair AX1200
    Case
    Phanteks Eclipse P500A
    Cooling
    ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
    Keyboard
    (pos) Pulsar Lunar Alloy RGB Full Size Gaming Keyboard (do not buy!)
    Mouse
    Logitech G502
    Internet Speed
    200 down, 30-something up
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    [Other Info]
You would think that MS would at least describe what this service "NPSMSvc_8a91b Failed to Read Description. Error Code: 15100" is.
It is not good enough to provide no information. Too many people just not doing their job.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 12700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-F
    Memory
    Corsair DDR5-4800 16GB x 2
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA G-Force RTX 3050 8GB DDR5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS PB27UQ
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    Kingston NMVe 1024 GB, Samsung 840 EVO 500 GB SATA, Seagate ST3500418AS HDD 500 GB, Pioneer BDR-205
    PSU
    Corsair RM750 750W 80PLUS Gold Fully Modular
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 Mid Tower
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper 212
    Keyboard
    Logitech G810 Orion
    Mouse
    Logitech M560 Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    100Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox
You would think that MS would at least describe what this service "NPSMSvc_8a91b Failed to Read Description. Error Code: 15100" is.
It is not good enough to provide no information. Too many people just not doing their job.
Your post doesn't make any sense - you're talking about a bug regarding displaying the description, clearly, it's not supposed to show that, it's just what happens when the thing that should be labeled cannot be found. A think most Window's PC are not experiencing.

What else should they show when an error occurs? An error code seems better than nothing and I dont see the alternative to those two things.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Me, Myself, but not I
    CPU
    Intel i7-13700K
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE z690 Auros Ultra
    Memory
    Patriot DDR5 16GB (2 x 8GB) 4800MHz CL40 (PSD516G4800K)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER XC ULTRA
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Audigy Fx
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP something or other, nothing fancy at all...
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200@60hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 860 EVO 2TB SSD
    (RAID 1) 2 x Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" HDD (st2000dm008-2fr102)
    PSU
    Corsair AX1200
    Case
    Phanteks Eclipse P500A
    Cooling
    ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280
    Keyboard
    (pos) Pulsar Lunar Alloy RGB Full Size Gaming Keyboard (do not buy!)
    Mouse
    Logitech G502
    Internet Speed
    200 down, 30-something up
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    [Other Info]

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