Startup Applications List
If you're frustrated with the time it takes your Windows PC to boot and then it seems to be running slowly you may have too many programs running at start-up - and have come to the right place to identify them. This is the original startup programs (as opposed to processes/tasks) list - one of the most comprehensive and most accurate!
"Name or Startup Item" in the table below refers to how an entry is displayed in MSConfig, Windows Defender or the registry "Run" keys. "Command or Data" refers to the program the entry runs. For further information on this and how to identify and disable startup programs please visit the Startup Content page.
For further information on random startup entries please visit the Startup Info page. For the next few months and foreseeable future I'll be verifying many of the Y, U, N & ? entries via virtual machines. If you can verify/identify those entries with a "?" status (especially hardware specific - such as laptops and motherboards) then please E-mail me (address at bottom of the page) or use the new Message Board.
Last update :- 31st August
21939 items listed
"Status" key:
Variables:
| Name or Startup Item | Status | Command or Data | Description | Tested? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acdllib3 | X | bcdlmem.exe | Added by the MAILBOT-BA TROJAN! | No |
| ActivSurf | N | backweb*****.exe | Packard Bell ActivSurf - automatically detects an internet connection and downloads any available updates | No |
| Ad Blocker | U | blocker.exe | Ad Blocker - blocks popups, and also removes banners, image ads and flash ads | No |
| AntiVituS | X | Base.exe | Added by the BAS.A WORM! | No |
| ASDPLUGIN | X | belgium_nm.exe | AsdPlug premium rate adult content dialer | No |
| ATI Video Driver Control | X | btorrent.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT TROJAN! | No |
| B'sCLiP | N | BSCLIP.exe | CD recording utility that comes with a lot of CDR/CDRW drives and isn't required | No |
| b.exe | X | b.exe | Added by the SDBOT.BND WORM! | No |
| b3d | X | BDEsecureinstall.exe | B3d Projector foistware - periodically trys to access the internet. (1) Uninstall it via Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs. (2) Remove the BDEsecureinstall.exe if still present in the "System" directory. (3) Disable and ideally delete it from the registry. (4) Remove the "BDE" directory and all its contents | No |
| Babylon Client | N | Babylon.exe | Babylon-Pro is a powerful information tool that instantly provides relevant information, translations & conversions for any word or value you click on" | No |
| Babylon Translator | N | Babylon.exe | "Babylon-Pro is a powerful information tool that instantly provides relevant information, translations & conversions for any word or value you click on" | No |
| Back2zip | U | Back2zip.exe | Back2zip is a simple and elegant backup solution which uses the industry's most powerful ZIP and ZIP-64 technologies to constantly monitor your documents and make sure that they are always properly backed up | No |
| BackgroundSwitcher | U | bgswitch.exe | Originally included with Microsoft's XP PowerToys (but now withdrawn - see here, Background Switcher allows your desktop background to periodically change | No |
| BackgroundSwitcher | U | BackgroundSwitcher.exe | John's Background Switcher (or JBS for short) periodically changes the background image on your computer (like every hour or every day) to something interesting | No |
| Backpack UDF | N | bpudfmon.exe | Backpack UDF packet writing software for Microssolutions' Back Pack external CD-RW drive. Similar to DirectCD. Run manually before insert an appropriately formatted CD-RW disk | No |
| Backup Service | X | backup.svc | Unidentified adware | No |
| Backup4all OTB Agent | U | B4AOTB.exe | "Backup4all is an award-winning data backup software for Windows. This backup utility was designed to protect your valuable data from partial or total loss by automating backup tasks, password protecting and compressing it to save storage space" | No |
| BackupExecScheduler | U | besch.exe | Veritas "Back Up My PC" software | No |
| BackupNotify | ? | backupnotify.exe | HP Digital Imaging related. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| BackWeb | N | backweb.exe | Automatically detects an internet connection and downloads any available updates. Typical on Compaq and HP PC's but not restricted to those OEM's. Resource hog and often causes malfunctions. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| Backwork | N | Backwork.exe | Backwork trojan detector | No |
| BACPI10 | U | bacpi10a.exe | Known as "PowerKey" - a minimalist keyboard driver that allows power management keys on BTC keyboards to function properly in older OS's (i.e. Win9x/NT4). Also adds an icon to the system tray | No |
| BacsTray | N | BacsTray.exe | Broadcom Advanced Control Suite - for modems and set top boxes based upon Broadcom chipsets. Not required unless you have networking problems | No |
| BADDATE | X | BADDATE.EXE | Added by an unidentified VIRUS, WORM or TROJAN! | No |
| bandmon | U | bandmon.exe | Rokario Bandwidth Monitor | No |
| Bandwidth Monitor Pro | U | Bandwidth Monitor Pro.exe | Bandwidth Monitor Pro - utililty to track your current download/upload limit that may be set by your ISP | No |
| Banpopup by Pratik | U | Banpopup.exe | Banpopup - popup killer | No |
| bantool | X | bantool.exe | Malware installed by different rogue security software including SpyKillerPro | No |
| bargains | X | bargains.exe | BargainBuddy adware | No |
| bargains | X | bargainbuddy.exe | BargainBuddy adware | No |
| BarTheme | X | bartent32.exe | Added by the AGOBOT-UG WORM! | No |
| bascstray | N | BascsTray.exe | Broadcom Advanced Control Suite - for modems and set top boxes based upon Broadcom chipsets. Not required unless you have networking problems | No |
| BatSrv | X | batserv2.exe | Detected by Kaspersky as the LOCKSY.M WORM! | No |
| Battery Scope | U | batmgr.exe | Monitors battery levels on a notebook/laptop PC | No |
| BatteryBar | U | batterybar.exe | BatteryBar - displays battery usage, and the current percentage of battery power left | No |
| batterymiser | Y | batterymiser.exe | Battery Miser power management utility for LG Notebooks | No |
| BatteryMiser 5 | Y | BatteryMiser5.exe | Battery Miser 5 power management utility for LG Notebooks | No |
| BatzBack | X | BatzBack.scr | Added by the BACKZAT WORM! | No |
| BAUSB | U | BAUSB.exe | Boston Acoustics Audio, USB driver | No |
| bawindo | X | bawindo.exe | Added by the BEAGLE.AR or BEAGLE.AU WORMS! | No |
| Bayswap | U | bayswap.exe | Hot-swappable drive management on Compaq Notebooks which allows you to swap drives without closing down Windows. Only required if you frequently swap bay devices | No |
| BBC Alerts | N | BBC_Alerts.exe | BBC Alerts - "You can now have all the latest news and sports headlines delivered straight to your desktop with the new BBC Alerts service" | No |
| BBDial | ? | BT Broadband.exe | Part of BT Broandband - is it required? | No |
| BBLauncher.exe | N | BBLauncher.exe | BounceBack Professional - back-up software | No |
| bbSysTray | N | bbSysTray.exe | Philips CD-RW related - "the 'Blue Button' feature gives users the chance to receive convenient online support for their possible device problems or questions" | No |
| bbui | U | bbui.exe | AOL DSL status monitor displaying a red/green icon indicating if you have a connection | No |
| bca | U | bca.exe | BeClean Agent - registry, history, temp files, etc cleaner | No |
| BCDetect | U | bcdetect.exe | Bcdetect.exe searches the system to make sure Creative drivers are installed for the video card. It loads the BlasterControl when the drivers are detected. Your choice - try it and see | No |
| BCMDMMSG | Y | bcmdmmsg.exe | BCM voicemodem driver. Required for dial-up if you have one of these modems | No |
| BCMSMMSG | Y | BCMSMMSG.exe | BCM voicemodem driver. Required for dial-up if you have one of these modems | No |
Download Alternative Formats
The following files are available for people developing mirrors of the site and using the information presented here:
Startup XML File - Startup INI File - Startup HTML File
For IE users, right-click on the link and select "Save Target As..." - note that for the INI and HTML files the suggested filename will be "startuplist.htm" and you'll have to rename them "startuplist.ini" and "startuplist.html" respectively.
For Firefox users, I recommend downloading the zipped versions from here. Otherwise, you'll have to open the file and save it - which can take a long time due to the size.
NOTE: These downloads are password protected and free to anyone producing a mirror or free utility. If you produce a commercial/shareware utility please contact me to discuss options. If you don't fall into any of these categories and want to download any of these files you will need to either make a donation of $15/year or more via PayPal (or E-mail me) and you will be provided with the login details which will change at the beginning of each year. The donation will go towards researching new and existing entries for the database and creating these files. Since making these files available for download they've been available free of charge and downloaded thousands of times. I believe they are unique as to my knowledge, no similar site offers such a resource as the lists they offer are on-line only.
Warning
DISCLAIMER: It is assumed that users are familiar with the operating system they are using and comfortable with making the suggested changes. I will not be held responsible if changes you make cause a system failure.
NOTE: This is NOT a database of tasks/processes taken from Task Manager or the Close Program window (CTRL+ALT+DEL) but a database of startup applications, although you will find some of them listed via this method. Pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL identifies programs that are currently running - not necessarily at startup. For a list of tasks/processes you should try the Process Library from Uniblue, the list at PC Pitstop or one of the many others now available. Therefore, before ending a task/process via CTRL+ALT+DEL just because it has an "X" recommendation, please check whether it's in MSConfig or the registry first. An example would be "svchost.exe" - which doesn't appear in either under normal conditions but does via CTRL+ALT+DEL. If in doubt, don't do anything.
To avoid the database becoming too large, all virus entries are only shown using the registry version which is common to all Windows versions. Otherwise there would be multiple entries for popular filenames that viruses often use - such as "svchost" above for example. Multiple viruses can also use the same startup entries, in this case only those with significant differences (such as file location) are repeated in this database.
NOTE : There are a number of virus and malware entried listed in this database where specific removal instructions haven't been given. If this is the case then you could try SDFix, a program written by AndyManchesta that can remove many different types of Trojans and Worms. See here for a tutorial on how to use the program and here for the latest ReadMe file detailing the fixes included.
IMPORTANT: A number of entries are repeated due to the way that different operating systems display startup items. For example, WinMe lists "POPROXY.EXE" as "Norton eMail Protect" in both MSCONFIG and the registry whereas WinXP lists it as "Poproxy" in MSCONFIG and "Norton eMail Protect" in the registry.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
If you're looking for a startup manager then why not try WinPatrol (by BillP Studios) or Advanced SystemCare Free (by IObit) - both include the option to search this database for a particular entry. Alternatively try Spybot - Search & Destroy (by Safer Networking Ltd) as the startup programs section (select the Advanced mode) includes descriptions from this database. You might also want to try their RunAlyzer and FileAlyzer tools.
There are an ever increasing number of rogue applications appearing these days and many of the removal guides referenced in this database use MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (which now incorporates the now discontinued RogueRemover).
As there are more than 10,000 entries in this database related to viruses, trojans, worms and other malware I recommend you use a quality internet security package. Which ever you choose, keep it updated.
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Copyright
Presentation, format & comments Copyright © 2001 - 2010 Paul Collins
Portions Copyright © Peter Forrest, Denny Denham, Sylvain Prevost, Tony Klein, CastleCops & Bleeping Computer
Database creation and support by Patrick Kolla
Software support by John Mayer
All rights reserved
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