Is sychost.exe a virus, or simply another name for windows process svchost.exe?

svchost.exe is not a virus it's a program required by windows to execute programs if you see it running several times try enabling automatic updates, if you have anymore problems with svchost.exe try getting your hands on a windows installation cd/dvd and click on run or hit the windows key followed by R and type in "sfc /scannow" (that's: sfc space slash scannow) and hit enter this is the system file checker and will restore your windows files to their original settings in case it became corrupt