i am just wondering if mdm.exe is a required process. if it isnt, how can i remove or disable it?

Here is the write-up from http://answersthatwork.com/ Machine Debug Manager. Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003. This is used purely by Technically Advanced Users and Developers, and in very specific cases at that. It is not needed in most normal day-to-day uses of a PC. Recommendation : There is a bug with MDM where it will regularly create zero-length temporary files in the Windows folder and not delete them. If you do not do regular housekeeping you can end up with hundreds of such files. Disable, or best, delete using The Ultimate Troubleshooter. Note, MDM has a way of restarting of its own when Windows encounters certain conditions – to prevent it from starting altogether many advanced users, ourselves included, resort to renaming MDM.exe to MDM.exe.OLD; that solves the problem permanently. Looks like you don't need it & can delete all the junk it creates Good luck V...

You can disable it in your services (type services.msc in the RUN-box) The service is called Error Reporting Service Rightclick on it for properties. 6am - I'm off to bed... :)