Fix Cssauth.exe Error

The cssauth.exe process is associated with ThinkVantage Client Security Solution, which is included in ThinkPad laptops of IBM Lenovo. The main function of this process is to assist in the authorization of the security solutions that are included in ThinkPad laptops.

File Information

By default, the file is located in %Program Files%\Lenovo\Client Security Solution\

This process loads automatically every time you start Windows. The process adds the following entry in the Windows registry to allow itself to load automatically every time you power on your laptop.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Note: %ProgramFiles% is a variable and points to the Program Files folder on your desktop. By default, the path is C:\Program Files.

System Resources Usage Report

This process is not listed as a background process and is also not known to consume huge amounts of memory and/or CPU resources.

The memory usage of cssauth.exe is low, around 20 Kilobytes. Also, the process reports low CPU usage.

Safety Report

This is a safe file and is not known to be associated with malware. However, as the file is not a system file, you should be alarmed if you find it residing in the C:\Windows\System 32 folder. The reason being, many malware programs masquerade as legitimate process.  So, if you see a non-Windows file in the Windows System folder, chances are high that the file is malware-related. In this case, it is best to run a thorough antimalware scan on your computer to detect and remove infections from the system.

Error

You may encounter the following error:

“The instance of cssauth.exe cannot start because of an initialization error.”

Solution

You may use the following methods to fix the issue.

Enable Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

  1. Restart Windows.
  2. Press F2 as Windows reloads to enter the CMOS Setup Program.
  3. Chose Security>TPM Security.
  4. Change the TPM power state to On.
  5. Press the Escape key.
  6. Select Save/Exit.
  7. When Windows reboots, press the F2 key again.
  8. Chose Security>TPM Activation.
  9. Change the TPM Activation state to Activate.
  10. Press the Escape key.

Update ATMEL Driver

You can update your drivers manually by downloading them from Lenovo’s website or you can automate the driver updation process using a reliable driver update tool.