SQL Server Browser, launched by the application file sqlbrowser.exe, is a new service introduced alongside SQL Server 2005’s release, and is currently being used in SQL Server 2008. SQL Server Browser functions as a Windows service since it is an extension of SSRP or SQL Server Resolution Protocol of SQL Server 2000. It is a multi-functional tool as it works with more than a single instance of SQL Server installed in the same computer, while running its basic role of providing port information and server instances to incoming requests for network connection. It is located in the path C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe. During startup, sqlbrowser.exe claims UDP (User Datagram Protocol) port 1434. The SQL Server Browser starts reading the registry, identifying all instances of SQL Server on the machine, and keeping in memory the ports and the named pipes used. SQL Server Browser and SQL Server 2005 support Internet Protocol versions 4 and 6 (IPv4 and IPv6).

Most non-system processes that are running can be stopped because they are not involved in running your operating system. sqlbrowser.exe. is used by SQL Server, If you shut down sqlbrowser.exe, it will likely start again at a later time either after you restart your computer or after an application start. To stop sqlbrowser.exe, permanently you need to uninstall the application that runs this process which in this case is SQL Server, from your system.

After uninstalling applications it is a good idea to scan you Windows registry for any left over traces of applications. Registry Reviver by ReviverSoft is a great tool for doing this.

The ReviverSoft experts have not yet reviewed sqlbrowser.exe

A process usually a part of an installed application such as SQL Server, or your operating system that is responsible for running in functions of that application. Some application require that they have processes running all the time so they can do things such as check for updates or notify you when you get an instant message. Some poorly written applications have many processes that run that may not be required and take up valuable processing power within your computer.

We have not received any complaint about this process having higher than normal impact on PC performance. If you have had bad experiences with it please let us know in a comment below and we will investigate it further.

The first thing you should do if sqlbrowser.exe. is causing errors on your computer is to run a Windows registry scan with Registry Reviver If you are still seeing errors after this you should uninstall the program that sqlbrowser.exe, belongs to, in this case SQL Server