What is the Windows 10 system32 file SIHClient.exe ?

Question

_{Sunday, December 13, 2015 5:38 PM}

I've not noticed this file phoning home until after updating Windows 10 a few days ago, I think that was on 2015DEC08 but I could be mistaken.

Anyway, the file is in it's default installation location on my PC. C:\Windows\System32\SIHClient.exe and it sure wants to phone home. I just can't find any information about the file here on Microsoft dotcom or via a general Internet search.

I don't doubt (much) that the file is Microsoft's file but I would like to know what it is wanting to do or tell.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message and thanks too if you're familiar with the file.

All replies (9)

_{Sunday, December 13, 2015 7:00 PM ✅Answered | 1 vote}

Well it is present of my system;

So is MS and from the thread What is the SIHClient.exe? is 'Silent Install Helper' but not sure how accurate that is .

_{Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:06 PM | 1 vote}

From File.net

The process known as Inventory Client belongs to software iSAFE Client by iSAFE (www.isafe.org).

Description: IClient.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. The IClient.exe file is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files". Known file sizes on Windows 10/8/7/XP are 931,584 bytes (50% of all occurrences) or 780,048 bytes.  
There is an icon for this program on the taskbar next to the clock. The program can be removed using the Control Panel's Add\Remove programs applet. The IClient.exe file is a Verisign signed file. The file is digitally signed. It is not a Windows system file.  Therefore the technical security rating is 4% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.

Uninstalling this variant: If you encounter difficulties with IClient.exe, you can uninstall Integrity Agent or Integrity Flex software via Windows Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows 10/8/7).

_{Monday, December 14, 2015 4:21 PM | 1 vote}

Thank You -Mr. Happy-. My properties tab is identical to yours. I would post a picture but I think that my point count is too low.

So "Silent Install Helper" must do system updates that don't need user intervention, my rhetorical guess!

Thanks again -Mr Happy-

______________

Thanks to Mel_W too, I appreciate your time. The file that you posted information about about seems to have a slightly different name, but it sounds like maybe it's related?

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Best wish.

deloppoled

_{Monday, January 4, 2016 12:19 PM}

I find running FSUTIL handy at times like this. See below .. this is the Service Initiated Healing client .. not the Silent Install Helper client.

C:\fsutil hardlink list c:\windows\system32\SIHClient.exe
\Windows\System32\SIHClient.exe
\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_serviceinitiatedhealing-client_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.10586.0_none_a963ed1670926cb8\SIHClient.exe

(But yes, this still doesn't exactly explain what this file is and what it does. I have blocked it from day one on my PC with no ill effect that I can tell.)

_{Wednesday, August 17, 2016 1:31 PM}

Still no one can tell us what this file does and if we need it .

I get firewall alerts when it tries to connect , so.....

what is it and what does it do ? its a simple question

Hopefully that's not to much of an imposition .

_{Wednesday, August 17, 2016 2:00 PM | 3 votes}

There is a Task in the Task Schedular for this program (Listed under WindowsUpdate), here is what it says about it:

Initially ran at 10AM 1st of the 4th, 2014 and will trigger every 20 hours afterwards. (I assume this is when I first installed this copy of Windows 10)

%systemroot%\System32\sihclient.exe

"This daily task launches the SIH client (server-initiated healing) to detect and fix system components that are vital to automatic updating of Windows and Microsoft software installed on the machine.  This task can go online, evaluate applicability of healing actions, download necessary payloads to execute the actions, and execute healing actions."

Windows 10 Pro x64 | Intel Core i7 920 @ 2.66GHZ | ASUS P6T Motherboard | 8GB DDR3 RAM | Gigabyte OC1 Windoforce x3 Geforce GTX 760 with 4GB VRAM | Corsair Ax760 Power Supply | Fractal Design Define R5 Computer Case

_{Sunday, September 4, 2016 10:19 PM}

I have Windows Updates disabled. Hard. This should not be "phoning home" at all and yet it is. I will be quarantining this file.

_{Wednesday, June 13, 2018 7:19 AM | 1 vote}

This has made a come back again since yesterday's big update (KB4284835), as Avast on my system is blocking it for IDP.Generic.. 

_{Wednesday, June 13, 2018 8:10 AM}

I had the exact same issue. My Win10 updated yesterday, and now avast is asking me to quarantine. I read a bit on their message boards, and this seems to be a recurring issue. I also saw one or two users who quarantined it some time ago, and claim no ill effects. Based on the description of the file though, I think i'm gonna let it stay.