Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\vdrvroot.sys or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\drivers\vdrvroot.sys
Warning
Driver is expected to load during virtualization tasks
Multiple virtualization components may load similar drivers; instability usually stems from conflicts or signature issues
Can I Disable?
✖ NO
Disabling vdrvroot-sys can destabilize virtualization features; Windows manages it automatically
What is vdrvroot.sys?
vdrvroot.sys is the Windows Virtual Driver Root module. It serves as the anchor for the virtual driver stack used by Hyper-V and other virtualization technologies, coordinating kernel-space drivers with user-mode components. You’ll typically see vdrvroot.sys loaded at boot and during virtualization activity.
This root driver exposes interfaces for virtual devices and coordinates communication between kernel-mode drivers and user-space virtualization managers, enabling secure, isolated interaction with virtual hardware.
Quick Fact: vdrvroot.sys is part of the virtualization stack that helps Windows manage virtual devices with minimal cross-process communication.
Types of vdrvroot-sys Components
- Driver Loader: Loads vdrvroot.sys during OS initialization and binds it to virtualization services
- Kernel Driver: Core component operating in kernel space to provide virtual device interfaces
- User-mode Service: Hosts interfaces for user-space applications to interact with virtual devices
- Device Interface: IOCTL and other interfaces used by virtualization clients
- Telemetry/Diagnostics: Collects health data and sends status to OS health monitors
- Background Monitor: Monitors virtualization hardware health and driver integrity
Is vdrvroot-sys Safe?
Yes, vdrvroot-sys is safe when sourced from legitimate Windows updates or hardware OEMs.
Is vdrvroot-sys a Virus or Malware?
The real vdrvroot.sys is NOT a virus. Malware masquerading with similar names can exist.
How to Tell if vdrvroot.sys is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\vdrvroot.sys or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\drivers\vdrvroot.sys. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer or use PowerShell: Get-AuthenticodeSignature to verify signers such as "Microsoft Windows".
- Resource Usage: Normal driver loads use minimal CPU (around 0-5%) and small memory footprint. Unusually high sustained usage is suspicious.
- Behavior: The driver loads at boot and participates in virtualization services; disable only with official guidance.
Red Flags: If vdrvroot.sys is located outside the Windows drivers directory, lacks a valid digital signature, or shows persistent high CPU/memory without virtualization activity, scan with Windows Defender or OEM security tools.
Why Is vdrvroot-sys Running on My PC?
vdrvroot-sys runs as part of Windows virtualization infrastructure, initializing and maintaining kernel-space interfaces for virtual devices and guest integrations. It may be active during hardware virtualization tasks or when related services boot.
Reasons it's running:
- System Boot Initialization: The driver loads during OS startup to establish foundational virtualization hooks.
- Hypervisor/Virtualization Tasks: Active when Hyper-V, VirtualBox, or other virtualization components require kernel interfaces.
- Device Installation and Update: New virtualization devices or updates may trigger driver load and binding.
- Driver Integrity and Security: OS checks driver integrity; vdrvroot-sys participates in secure boot and code integrity checks.
- Background Health Monitoring: Optional functionality may monitor virtualization hardware health and report status.
Can I Disable or Remove vdrvroot-sys?
Disabling vdrvroot-sys is not recommended as it is part of the virtualization stack managed by Windows. Disabling can impact virtual devices and system stability.
How to Stop vdrvroot-sys
- Open Services: Run services.msc and locate any service referencing virtualization that mentions vdrvroot, then stop if allowed.
- Disable Startup: In Task Manager > Startup, disable any virtualization-related startup entries.
- Stop Driver Services: Open an elevated PowerShell and run: Stop-Service -Name <service_name> (if identified)
- Prevent Auto-Load: Modify OS startup settings to avoid automatic loading of virtualization components.
- Reboot: Restart the computer to apply changes.
How to Uninstall vdrvroot-sys
- ✔ Open Device Manager, locate the virtualization devices related to vdrvroot, select Uninstall and check Delete the driver software for this device (if available).
- ✔ Open an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell and run: pnputil /delete-driver oem*.inf /uninstall /force (replace oem*.inf with the actual driver INF name).
- ✔ Reboot the computer to complete removal.
Common Problems: Driver Conflicts and Stability for vdrvroot-sys
If vdrvroot-sys causes issues, use these checks to identify and resolve virtualization driver conflicts, signature problems, or performance bottlenecks.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Outdated virtualization software: Update Hyper-V, VMware, or other virtualization platforms; ensure compatibility with Windows version.
- Invalid driver signature: Verify digital signature and install an official signed version from Microsoft or OEM.
- Driver file corruption: Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth; reinstall virtualization components if needed.
- Conflicts with other kernel drivers: Disable or uninstall conflicting kernel modules; review Device Manager for conflicts.
- High CPU/memory during virtualization: Reduce virtualization load or adjust settings; ensure the host hardware supports virtualization features.
- Missing Windows updates: Install pending Windows updates to ensure driver compatibility and security.
Quick Fixes for vdrvroot-sys:
1. Restart the computer to clear transient driver states
2. Check Windows Update for driver packages
3. Run sfc /scannow and DISM checks
4. Update virtualization software (Hyper-V, VirtualBox, VMware)
5. Disable non-essential virtualization devices temporarily to isolate issues
Frequently Asked Questions
What is vdrvroot-sys?
vdrvroot-sys is a Windows virtualization driver root component that coordinates kernel and user-mode interfaces for virtual devices and virtualization services.
Is vdrvroot-sys a virus?
No, the legitimate vdrvroot-sys is a Microsoft/OEM driver. Verify location: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\vdrvroot.sys and check for a valid signature.
Why is vdrvroot-sys running on startup?
It loads as part of the OS virtualization stack to provide necessary interfaces for virtual devices and to support Hyper-V or other virtualization features.
Can I disable vdrvroot-sys?
Disabling may break virtualization features. Only disable if you know you don't use any virtualization components and have a system backup.
How do I update vdrvroot-sys?
Update Windows and related virtualization software. If a vendor provides a signed driver package, install it via Windows Update or OEM support.
I see high CPU usage from vdrvroot-sys, what should I do?
Identify the virtualization tasks using Task Manager, update drivers, reduce virtualization load, or temporarily disable non-essential VMs to isolate the issue.