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 :- 29th October, 2009
19979 items listed
"Status" key:
Variables:
| Name or Startup Item | Status | Command or Data | Description | Tested? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| %FP%012-L2TP fts.exe | N | fts.exe | 012.Net.il Israeli ISP software front-end | No |
| %FP%012-L2TP FWPortal.exe | U | FWPortal.exe | 012.Net.il Israeli ISP dial-up software | No |
| %FP%1776 Internet fts.exe | N | fts.exe | 1776 Internet US ISP software ISP software front-end | No |
| %FP%1776 Internet FWPortal.exe | U | FWPortal.exe | 1776 Internet US ISP dial-up software | No |
| %FP%AIRTEL fts.exe | N | fts.exe | Bharti Airtel Broadband - Indian ISP software front-end | No |
| %FP%Barak013 fts.exe | N | fts.exe | Barak013 Israeli ISP software front-end | No |
| %FP%Barak013 FWPortal.exe | U | FWPortal.exe | Barak013 Israeli ISP dial-up software | No |
| %FP%Friendly fts.exe | N | fts.exe | Friendly ISP software front-end | No |
| (Default) | X | fada.exe | Added by the VB.HEI TROJAN! Note - this malware actually changes the value data of the "(Default)" key in HKLM\Run, HKLM\RunServices and HKCU\Run in order to force Windows to launch it at boot. The name field in MSConfig may be blank | No |
| 00PCTFW | Y | FirewallGUI.exe | System Tray access to PC Tools Firewall Plus from PC Tools - which "is a powerful personal firewall for Windows that protects your computer from intruders and controls the network traffic in and out of your PC" | Yes |
| acocash | X | fastdown.exe | Adult content dialler | No |
| acocash | X | FASTFOWN.EXE | Adult content dialler | No |
| ActiveX File Registration Service | X | filereg.exe | Added by the RBOT-DVD WORM! | No |
| AdobeFonts | X | fonts.hta | Browser hijacker - redirecting to Hugesearch.net | No |
| afskfask8 | X | fsfjasj8.exe | Added by the ONLINEG-L TROJAN! | No |
| akgkagaksad9 | X | fsakfask9.exe | Added by the ONLINEG-M TROJAN! | No |
| Alcom PCL Capture | ? | FMW_PCAP.EXE | ?? | No |
| All Sea web link | X | FWLink.exe | Free screensaver, installs lots of foistware - remove it | No |
| anycom bluetooth | ? | ftflauncher.exe | Associated with an Anycom bluetooth wireless card. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| ARCHIVE CONTROL | X | fixupdattr.exe | Added by the MYTOB.GU WORM! | No |
| ASDPLUGIN | X | france.exe | AsdPlug premium rate adult content dialer | No |
| ASDPLUGIN | X | fullgames.exe | AsdPlug premium rate adult content dialer | No |
| ASDPLUGIN | X | Finland.exe | AsdPlug premium rate adult content dialer | No |
| Ashampoo FireWall | Y | FireWall.exe | Ashampoo® Firewall FREE from Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG | Yes |
| Ashampoo FireWall PRO | Y | FireWall.exe | Ashampoo® Firewall PRO from Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG | Yes |
| avnort | X | formatsys.exe | Added by the SERFLOG.A WORM! | No |
| blah service | X | FaLeH.exe | Added by the RBOT-AES WORM! | No |
| BlazeChanger | N | FBZPaper.exe | Ember graphic file viewer, manager, and touch-up system | No |
| BMail Installation | N | FTP_back.exe | Part of iMesh - a file sharing system. Reported by Norton AntiVirus as a trojan. Once deleted does not prevent file sharing working. Older versions of iMesh re-instate this but the newer versions do not | No |
| BrowseProxy | X | FindService.exe | Actual Names (AdvSearch) Internet Keywords parasite | No |
| BSserver | X | FileKan.exe | Added by the VB.CBW WORM! | No |
| BySoft FreeRAM | U | FreeRAM.exe | "Bysoft FreeRAM is a program that frees up ram manually or automatically. It shows current memory status , memory load and CPU usage graphically". MS MVPs (Most Valued Professional) recommend not using memory managers with Win98/SE/ME. See this article and make up your own mind | No |
| CallControl | N | ftctrl32.exe | FaxTalk Messenger Pro is a Windows TAPI based 32-bit application. When installed, the software automatically loads FaxTalk CallControl when you start Windows. When FaxTalk CallControl is running, any TAPI compliant application can request to use the modem from Windows | No |
| Charter High-Speed Security Suite | Y | fspex.exe | Charter High-Speed Security Suite - security software in collaboration with F-Secure | No |
| Compaq Drivers | X | F1rewalls.exe | Added by the SDBOT-WD WORM! | No |
| Configuration Loader | X | FILENAME.EXE | Added by the AGOBOT-DQ WORM! | No |
| dago | X | fault.exe | Added by the PUNYA-A WORM! | No |
| dasxdads | X | fsdqd.exe | Added by the GAOBOT.BIQ WORM! | No |
| DataCaching | N | FlashKsk.exe | SmartMedia Card management from the installation of a SanDisk reader for a camera's SmartMedia card and also adds the "Unplug and Eject Hardware" System Tray icon | No |
| deejay | X | forboo.exe | Added by the FORBOT-AY WORM! | No |
| DepFrez | U | frzstate.exe | Deep Freeze from Faronics Coporation. "Freezes" the current software configuration so that an a re-boot all changes made refer back to their original settings. Not required for most users - more likely to be used by system administrators, for example | No |
| DirectX for Microsoft Windows | X | Fservice.exe | Added by the PRORAT TROJAN! | No |
| DirectX For Microsoft® Windows | X | fservice.exe | Added by the PRORAT-P TROJAN! | No |
| DirectX For Microsoft® Windows | X | fservice.exe | Added by the PRORAT-L TROJAN! | No |
| dS35DLL | X | ffqca.exe | Added by the SDBOT-KV WORM! | No |
| dvsfss | X | fbsfsdrs.exe | Added by the SDBOT-QA WORM! | No |
| dwStart | N | FireWall.exe | The Shield firewall from pcsecurityshield.com. Not recommended by some (see here) and there are better free alternatives out there such as Zone Alarm. Located in %ProgramFiles%\PCSecurityShield\The Shield Firewall | No |
| f | X | ftkclean.exe | FlashEnhancer adware | No |
| F-PROT Antivirus Tray application | U | FProtTray.exe | System Tray access to F-PROT Antivirus | No |
| F-Secure 2006 | Y | fspex.exe | F-Secure Anti-Virus automatic updater | No |
Download Alternative Formats
You can download off-line HTML ZIP, EXE and EXCEL ZIP versions of this list from here.
In addition the following files are available for people developing mirrors of the site and using the information presented here (right-click and select "Save Target As..." for IE and "Save Link As..." for Firefox):
Startup XML File - Startup INI File - Startup HTML File
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.
Free licenses available for Oops! Backup (by Altaro) BETA Testing - Apply online here
Copyright
Presentation, format & comments Copyright © 2001 - 2009 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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