PStoreS.exe
(Microsoft)
Protected Storage Server (under Win9x/ME) or Protected Storage Service (under WinNT/2000/XP). Protected Storage, in the shape of PSTORES, was introduced with Internet Explorer 4. It is invoked by Microsoft Internet programs such as Outlook Express and Internet Explorer, to securely store a variety of secure and confidential data into the registry, such as Outlook Express passwords, SSL certificates, auto-complete fields (usernames and passwords to enter websites, etc...) and web forms data.
Recommendation :
Under Windows 9x/ME, PSTORES will only run as and when required leave it alone. Under Windows NT4/2000/XP, however, it is a service that is started automatically as Windows starts. As far as we have been able to verify, PSTORES is required to be able to run Outlook Express. Therefore, under Windows NT4/2000/XP, if you do not use Outlook Express and do not use Internet Explorer, or do not use the auto-complete features of Internet Explorer, nor make us of SSL Certificates, then you can go into Services and set this service to a Manual start.