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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ϵͳע�ï½ï¿½ï¿½ | X | zhuruqi.exe | Added by the QHOST.V TROJAN! | No |
| *zggjmyd | X | zggjmyd.exe | Added by the AFCORE.O BACKDOOR! | No |
| -FreedomNeedsReboot | Y | ZkRunOnceR.exe | Internet Security Suite used by ISPs to protect customers against many attacks | No |
| 7f8e | X | z****.exe 9idf | Detected by NOD32 as the SMALL.ALI TROJAN! Note - it creates a number of extra z****.dll files in the %System% folder | No |
| 802.11b+g USB Wireless LAN Utility | U | ZDWlan.exe | 802.11b+g USB Wireless LAN Utility | No |
| Adobe | X | zteam.exe | Added by an unidentified TROJAN! | No |
| Andware Defence | X | Zsoft32.exe | Added by the GAOBOT.OO WORM! | No |
| b3dUpdate | X | Zupdate.exe | Associated with B3d Projector foistware - see here | No |
| CHotKey | U | zHotkey.exe | Enables special keys on Chicony keyboards. Special combinations include Internet, E-mail, vol , vol-, mute, etc. Only required for extended features | No |
| dsd | X | zz.exe | Added by the RBOT-FOX WORM! | No |
| Flash Media | X | zrpk��'�'%''msn'�%'fix''.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! | No |
| gshp | X | zzgshp.vbs | Homepage hi-jacker | No |
| icrosoft Visual InterDevc | X | zvslmqb.exe | Added by the RBOT-AYP WORM! | No |
| IntelZeroConfig | U | ZCfgSvc.exe | Zero Config MFC Application, part of Intel's ProSET utilities and installed by the drivers for many of Intel wireless network cards - essential to the proper functioning of many of the Intel ProSET utilities (but not all) and these System Tray ProSET utilities are a must if you are using your wireless connection, if only so you know when the signal is fading or dropping. The problem is that, in some PCs, ZCFGSVC can be incredibly badly behaved : taking up to 100% of CPU time and therefore resulting in an extremely slow PC, preventing the installation of software or Windows updates, or causing "Not Responding" or "End this Program" shutdown problems. If you experience this, try first the very latest drivers from Intel or your laptop manufacturer. If that still does not solve the problem and you have WinXP/2003, try setting the "Wireless Zero Configuration" service to disabled | No |
| ksrlnhm | X | zxatgso.exe | Added by the DLOADER-LI TROJAN! | No |
| LoadingAgent | X | ZipLoader32.exe | Added by the OBLIVION TROJAN! This executable is one of the most common but there are more | No |
| Microsoft Security Panagers | X | zzoboony.exe | Added by the RBOT-AOI WORM! | No |
| Microsoft Update Machine | X | zonealarm.exe | Added by the RBOT-BZ WORM! Note - this is not the valid Zone Labs firewall program! | No |
| MoveSearch | X | zsearch.exe | PigSearch adware | No |
| MSMSGNER | X | zzgf.exe | Added by the PWS-CCB TROJAN! | No |
| Norman ZANDA | U | ZLH.EXE | System Tray icon for Norman Antivirus | No |
| OpenApizs | X | zrscbm.exe | Added by the AGENT.RLH TROJAN! | No |
| Remote Management Agent | U | zenrc32.exe | Part of Novell's ZENworks - "Complete End-to-End Directory-enabled Network Management". Installed on a managed workstation fo an administrator to remotely manage the workstation. Required if the PC is a managed workstation | No |
| StreamZap Remote | U | zremote.exe | StreamZap PC Remote - control Windows Media Player, iTunes, RealPlayer, Winamp, PowerPoint, MusicMatch Jukebox, and many other multimedia applications | No |
| System | X | Zap.exe | Added by the MSNVB-D WORM! | No |
| SystemSecurity | X | zprot32.exe | Added by the AGENT-FK TROJAN! | No |
| Terminate Popup | X | ZPU.exe | Free Popup Killer - foistware proven to install the Regsvc32 homepage hijacker. Also see here | No |
| test | X | zistro.exe | Added by the KIMAT-C TROJAN! | No |
| topat | X | zlip.exe | Added by the FLOOD-IG TROJAN! | No |
| Update | X | Zupdate.exe | Associated with B3d Projector foistware - see here | No |
| VasddwDg | X | zxXZwd.exe | Added by the SDBOT-SN WORM! | No |
| Win32 | X | zaq.exe | Added by the RBOT-GCE WORM! | No |
| Windows | X | Zser.exe | Added by the CULLER-D WORM! | No |
| Windows Config | X | ZANBOR.EXE | Added by the SPYBOT-MH WORM! | No |
| Windows Recylinder Check | X | zwdomsgemw.exe | Added by the RBOT-EGJ WORM! | No |
| WindowsFZ | X | zloader3.exe | Variant of the SmitFraud alias FAKEALE-C TROJAN! | No |
| Winsock2 driver | X | ZONEALARM.EXE | Added by the SDBOT.T TROJAN! Note - ZONEALARM.EXE is not the valid Zone Labs firewall program | No |
| Winsock32driver | X | ZoneAlarmPr0.exe | Added by the HACKARMY-B TROJAN! | No |
| Winsock32driver | X | ZoneLockup.exe | Added by the HACARMY.D TROJAN! | No |
| winui | X | z.exe | Added by the KONDELI TROJAN! | No |
| win_drivr32 | X | zxhstn.exe | Added by the SMALL.CXO TROJAN! | No |
| Z | X | zmon.exe | Added by the DELBOT-AO WORM! | No |
| Zacker | X | Zacker.exe | Added by the GEMEL WORM! | No |
| zango | X | zango.exe | 180solutions adware | No |
| Zango SiteFinder | X | ZangoSiteFinder.exe | ZangoSearch adware variant | No |
| Zango TvTimes | X | ZANGOT~1.EXE | ZangoSearch adware | No |
| ZangoSA | X | ZangoSA.exe | Zango Search Assistant adware | No |
| zanu | X | zanu.exe | ZangoSearch adware | No |
| Zapro | Y | Zapro.exe | Firewall program from Zonelabs - paid for version | No |
| Zboard | U | Zboard.exe | Ideazon Zboard gaming software | 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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