Runswusb

What is the purpose of this application?
It's located in the Windows folder, the file name is SwUSB and the description is Switch USB2.0/USB3.0 for WinXP SP2+ ~ Win8. The service is RunSwUSB.
It installed with a netis Wi-Fi transceiver (dongle).

 

This was a guess posted elsewhere

I'll keep looking to see if I find anything useful.

 

http://www.file.net/process/runsw.exe.html

 

Every place I see it is connected to RealTek devices. Maybe a realtek chip in the dongle. Might be to make a usb3 component work on a usb2 system. I read several forums where the service was disabled with no ill effects.

http://www.herdprotect.com/runsw.exe-6ceaba94f1ccbdd3cccdf9da37162d9201724a48.aspx

 

I did find this site but it doesn't explicitly say what it does.

Yes. The Wi-Fi transceiver uses a Realtek chip. I also thought it has something to do with USB3/USB2 compatibility but, the packaging only refers to USB2.
I disabled it prior to posting this thread.
I'm just curious what the purpose of this application is.

 

It says: "The process known as RunSwUSB belongs to software runSW Application by Realtek Semiconductor (www.realtek.com.tw)."
"Description: RunSW.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. The file runSW.exe is located in the C:\Windows folder. Known file sizes on Windows 10/8/7/XP are 36,864 bytes (76% of all occurrences), 44,104 bytes, 48,856 bytes or 44,760 bytes.
There is no file information. The program is not visible. The runSW.exe file is not a Windows system file. RunSW.exe is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file. RunSW.exe is able to monitor applications. Therefore the technical security rating is 52% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews."

 

I did read all of that.
I'm refering to SwUSB, not runSW.

 

It's the same software though.

 

https://www.virustotal.com/fr/file/...defd81fdf42d050e5b3d033c/analysis/1461275810/

https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/...d565bcc2dadf7eeb546b4962/analysis/1463257255/

Both signed, both verified, both clean, the older one is the same date as above. File.net has some crapware they're trying to push, perhaps?

 

Yup.
Clicking on the first link.
http://www.reimageplus.com/lp/tef/i...adgroup=direct&ads_name=direct&keyword=direct
And then there's also this.
http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/index.html?ref=file.net

And I still don't know what this file's purpose is...

 

Can you find the number of the chip? RealTek has some extensive data sheets might show some capability/ need for this.
Also try opening the file with 'pilotedit lite' or such to see any data strings or comments.

 

It might be part of the RealTek control panel software - with wireless connections you either use the default Windows CP, or you switch it off (opt out of using it) and use the OEM tools. Alt. as already mentioned, this could be a compatibility patcher, ensuring the USB 2 device will work correctly when connected via a USB 3 port.

I can't test anything from here, I only have a PCIe Realtek Wireless (onboard), no USB. Checkout any Realtek folders in Program Files/AppData for a setup/install log, or an inf file for further clues.

Not sure about the Neuber software, I'll look into that later.

EDIT:

So it detects (allegedly) but to remove any malware you have to buy it - that's my translation of the wording.

 

All I can find is Realtek8723AU.

This is also what I'm thinking.
Unfortunately I cannot test it as my PC only has 8 USB2.0 ports.

Nothing. Only netis & Cisco folders.

I plugged in the Wi-Fi dongle, connected to the mobile modem, and I opened the netis USB Wireless LAN Utility whithout issues. The latter, under Status, shows USB Mode USB2.0.

Thanks for helping me out.

 

Okay, and no useful log, etc. in the Netis folder?

I grabbed the Intel driver zip: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25071/Wireless-Realtek-wireless-driver-for-Windows-10- and found some traces of it in the ISS_Release.txt file, here's one snippet of some older fixes patched in:

Code:

 
InstallShield V1.00.0202  (2012/12/14)  

[UI]
   UpDate:
     SWUSB.exe : V500.1004.1214.2012

[InstallShield]
  Update:
  1.Modify Scanadapter can't detect PCIE card issue.
  2.Modify swUSB.exe be removed issue.
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0203  (2013/01/14)  

[UI]
   UpDate:
     SWUSB.exe : V500.1006.0114.2013
    RtWlan(Win7/Vista):V700.1662.0111.2013 (By Jacken)
     RtWlan(XP/2003):V700.1662.0111.2013 (By Jacken)
     RtlIhvOid(Win7/Vista) : V1.1025.103.2013
     RtlLib(Win7/Vista)¡GV700.1093.1226.2012   
     RtlDHCP¡GV1.0.0.15   

[InstallShield]
  Update:
  1.Always install/Uninstall switch USB function.
########################################################
InstallShield V1.01.0203  (2013/01/16)  

[UI]
   UpDate:
     SW_USB.exe : V500.1007.0115.2013
########################################################
InstallShield V1.03.0204  (2013/01/31)  

[UI]
   UpDate:
     SwUSB.exe : V500.1012.0130.2013 (By Karl)
  RtlIhvOid(Win7/Vista) : V1.1026.123.2013 (By Karl)

  ScanAdapter.exe V1.0.0.4 (By Jacken)
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0205  (2013/02/05)  

[UI]
   UpDate:
  RtlIhvOid(Win7/Vista) : V1.1027.205.2013 (By Karl)

########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0206  (2013/02/07)  

[InstallShield]
   Add:
  support install power table (By Karl)

########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0207  (2013/02/20)  

[UI]
   UpDate:
     RtlLib(Win7/Vista)¡GV700.1095.220.2013 (By HPFan)
   
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0208  (2013/02/26)  

[InstallShield]
  Update:
     SetVistaDrv : 1.0.0.33 (By Karl)
    SetVistaDrv64 : 1.0.0.33 (By Karl)
   Modify for Uninstall Driver issue.
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0208  (2013/03/11)  

[InstallShield]
  Update:
    SetVistaDrv64 : 1.0.0.33 (By Karl)
    Modify delete .sys for  install/Uninstall  Driver issue.
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0209  (2013/02/27)  

[InstallShield]
  Update:
       RtWLan.exe(XP/Win7/Vista) : v700.1663.226.2013 (By Vincentc)
      RtlLib.dll(Win7/Vista) : v700.1096.226.2013 (By Vincentc)
      EnumDevLib.dll(Win7/Vista) : v700.1038.227.2013 (By Vincentc)

########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0210  (2013/03/06)  

[InstallShield]
  Update:
       RtWLan.exe(Win7/Vista) : v700.1664.305.2013 (By Vincentc)

########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0210  (2013/03/06)  

[InstallShield]
  Update:
       RtWLan.exe(Win7/Vista) : v700.1664.305.2013 (By Vincentc)

########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0211  (2013/03/18)  

[UI]
   UpDate:
    RtlIhvOid(Win7/Vista) : 1.1028.318.2013 (By Karl)
    Modify add exceptions for U2/U3.
   
    RtlLib.dll(Win7/Vista) : v700.1097.318.2013 (By Karl)
    Fix BSOD for setting Default Gateway
   
    RtlLIB(WinXP/2003): V500.1373.318.2012 (By Karl)
   
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0212  (2013/03/22)  

[UI]
   UpDate:
    RtlIhvOid(Win7/Vista) : 1.1030.320.2013 (By Karl)
    Fix because Driver not ready caused Connect profile Fail for Win8.
  RtWLan.exe(Win7/Vista) : v700.1665.322.2013 (By Karl)
   
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0213  (2013/04/8)  

   
[InstallShield]
  Supporting WLAN+BT installation in Win7. (By Vincentc)
   
########################################################  
InstallShield V1.00.0215  (2013/04/24)  

[UI]
   UpDate:
    WPSProt : V1.0.0.2
    SwUSB.exe : V500.1013.0329.2013 (By Karl)
    Fix because Driver not ready caused Connect profile Fail for Win8.
    RtlIhvOid(Win7/Vista) : 1.1030.401.2013 (By Karl)
  RtlLIB(WinXP/2003): V500.1374.402.2013 (By Karl)    
  RtWLan.exe(Win7/Vista) : v700.1667.422.2013 (By Karl)
  RtWlan(XP/2003): V700.1657.422.2013 (By Karl)
  RtlLib.dll(Win7/Vista) : v700.1098.424.2013 (By Karl)
   
[Install Driver]
  Fixed can't delete Driver .sys file for WinXP
   Update :
     SetDrv : 400.1206.402.2013 (By Karl)
     SetDrv64 : 400.1206.402.2013 (By Karl)
   
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0216  (2013/04/30)  

[InstallShield]
  Support show U2/U3 Message. (By Karl)
   
[UI]
   UpDate:
    SwUSB.exe : V500.1015.0430.2013 (By Karl)
   
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0217  (2013/05/03)  
[UI]
   UpDate:
    SwUSB.exe : V500.1016.0502.2013 (By Karl)
   
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0218  (2013/05/09)  
[UI]
   UpDate:
    RtlIhvOid(Win7/Vista) : 1.1031.508.2013 (By Karl)
    RtWLan.exe(Win7/Vista) : v700.1668.508.2013 (By Karl)
    RtlLib.dll(Win7/Vista) : v700.1099.509.2013 (By Karl)
   
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0219  (2013/05/13)  
[UI]
   UpDate:
    RtWLan.exe(Win7/Vista) : v700.1669.513.2013 (By Karl)
    runsw.exe : V1.1003.514.2013 (By Karl)
########################################################
InstallShield V1.00.0220  (2013/05/16)  
[UI]
   UpDate:
    SwUSB.exe : V500.1017.0516.2013 (By Karl)
   
########################################################
  

So, just from the first section, it looks like it's part of the UI and it's for connection type detection?



If the WLAN utility only triggers it when it's connected via USB 3, you can't investigate much more. Rename the file extension to .OLD and forget about it, in a few months/years, someone will necro the thread to tell us what it's for