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:
- "Y" - Normally leave to run at start-up
- "N" - Not required or not recommended - typically infrequently used tasks that can be started manually if necessary
- "U" - User's choice - depends whether a user deems it necessary
- "X" - Definitely not required - typically viruses, spyware, adware and "resource hogs"
- "?" - Unknown
Variables:
- %System% - refers to the System folder; by default this is C:\Windows\System (9x/Me), C:\Winnt\System32 (NT/2K), or C:\Windows\System32 (XP/Vista)
- %Windir% - refers to the Windows installation folder; by default this is C:\Windows (9x/Me/XP/Vista) or C:\Winnt (NT/2K)
- %UserProfile% - refers to the current user's profile folder; by default this is C:\Documents and Settings\ (NT/2K/XP) or C:\Users\ (Vista)
- %ProgramFiles% - refers to the Program Files folder; typically the path is C:\Program Files
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| Name or Startup Item | Status | Command or Data | Description | Tested? |
|---|
| AutoUpdater | X | aupdate.exe | Tinybar variant | No |
| AutoUpdater | X | AutoUpdate.exe | PeopleonPage foistware | No |
| autoupdatev2 | X | [path to file] | Added by the DROPPER-BM TROJAN! | No |
| autoupdatev2 | X | autoupdatev2.exe | Detected by Kaspersky as the AGENT.FQ TROJAN! | No |
| AutoVirusProtection | X | ciscv.exe | Added by a variant of the RBOT WORM! | No |
| auto__antiav__key | X | antiav_exe.exe | Added by the BAGLEDI-AA TROJAN! | No |
| auto__hloader__key | X | hloader_exe.exe | Added by the BAGLE.AB TROJAN! | No |
| aux.exe | X | aux.exe | Added by the ZINS TROJAN! | No |
| auxAudioDevice | X | aux32.exe | Added by the AIZU WORM! | No |
| AUXXTRAY | N | au30setp.exe | System Tray application for Aureal Vortex based soundcards. Can be run manually via Start -> Settings -> Control Panel | No |
| AV | X | UPDATE-28062004.exe[25 blank spaces].vbs | Added by the MIDFIN WORM! | No |
| AV | X | Antivir.exe | Antivir rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| av | X | expressav.exe | Express Antivirus 2009 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| AV AntiSpyware | X | ava.exe | AV AntiSpyware rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| AV Care | X | AvCare.exe | AvCare rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| AV Client | X | patch31345.exe | Added by the MYDOOM.AD WORM! | No |
| AV Industry | X | patch31345.exe | Added by the MYDOOM.AD WORM! | No |
| AV UpDate | X | Update.exe | Added by the FUROOT-A TROJAN! | No |
| AV7 | X | antivirus7.exe | Antivirus7 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| AvaFind | N | AvaFind.exe | AvaFind file search utility | No |
| avagent3974 | X | chnb8895.exe | AntiVirus ransomware security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| AVantivirus | X | Avconsol.exe | Added by the MSNVB-D WORM! | No |
| avast | X | troyan.exe | Added by the SMALL.CZ TROJAN! | No |
| Avast | X | hmu8399.exe | Added by the VB-ECZ TROJAN! | No |
| Avast! | Y | ashServ.exe | Main part of avast! Antivirus - including the resident protection, virus chest and scheduler. Starts via a registry "Run" key on Windows 98/Me and as a service on Windows 2K/XP/Vista | No |
| avast! | Y | ashDisp.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for the version 4.* series of antivirus products from avast! - giving left-click access to the On-Access Scanner, right-click access to other options and event notifications | Yes |
| avast! Antivirus | Y | ashDisp.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for the version 4.* series of antivirus products from avast! - giving left-click access to the On-Access Scanner, right-click access to other options and event notifications | Yes |
| avast! Antivirus | Y | avastUI.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for the version 5.* series of antivirus and internet security products from avast! - giving left-click access to the main user interface, right-click access to other options and event notifications | Yes |
| avast! Web Scanner | Y | Ashwebsv.exe | Web scanning part of avast! Antivirus. Starts via a registry "Run" key on Windows 98/Me and as a service on Windows 2K/XP/Vista | No |
| Avast32 | Y | Astart32.exe | Part of Avast! anti-virus software | No |
| avast5 | Y | avastUI.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for the version 5.* series of antivirus and internet security products from avast! - giving left-click access to the main user interface, right-click access to other options and event notifications | Yes |
| avastUI | Y | avastUI.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for the version 5.* series of antivirus and internet security products from avast! - giving left-click access to the main user interface, right-click access to other options and event notifications | Yes |
| avc | X | avmon.exe | Added by an unidentified TROJAN! | No |
| AvconsoleEXE | U | Avconsol.exe | From McAfee VirusScan up to version 4.x and Dr Solomon's VirusScan. Used to schedule regular scans. If you don't have scans scheduled you don't need it | No |
| Avengine | X | Avengine.com | Added by the DELF.LJ TROJAN! | No |
| AveoAttune | X | atmdlusr.exe | Aveo Attune automated helpdesk software - adware/spyware | No |
| AVFX Engine | U | StartFX.exe | Advanced Video FX - supported by a number of Creative Web Cameras. "Have more fun by adding a wide range of special effects and backgrounds to your video chat with Advanced Video FX" | No |
| AvG | X | svchost323.exe | Added by the RBOT-ZA WORM! | No |
| AVG Anti-Spyware | Y | avgas.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5. This has now been superseded by AVG Anti-Virus which includes Anti-Spyware | Yes |
| AVG Anti-Virus system | Y | avgcc.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for the 7.* series of anti-virus products from AVG Technologies. If this entry is disabled, the core product functions will work properly but you will lose quick access to the Control Center and miss notifications of potential problems and updates | Yes |
| AVG Anti-Virus System | Y | avgemc.exe | E-mail scanner for the 7.* series of anti-virus products from AVG Technologies. This process scans incoming and outgoing E-mails for viruses and other malware. From version 7.1 onwards this entry only appears in 9x/Me as a startup entry, it loads as a service in 2K and higher | Yes |
| AVG Anti-Virus System | Y | avgw.exe | This entry is included with the 7.* series of anti-virus products from AVG Technologies. Once installed (or on first run for a different user) it runs the configuration sequence to set up the product and doesn't run on subsequent restarts | Yes |
| Avg Antivirus | X | icpldrvx.exe | Added by the BANKER.BYU TROJAN! | No |
| AVG AntiVirus Scanner | X | avgscnx.exe | Added by the SILLYFDC.BBE WORM! Note - this is not a legitimate AVG entry | No |
| AVG AntiVirus Updater | X | avgwusv.exe | Added by the SILLYFDC.BAX WORM! Note - this is not a legitimare AVG entry | No |
| AVG Grisoft Updater | X | updater.exe | Added by the AGOBOT-OT WORM! | No |
| AVG IDS | Y | AVGIDSUI.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for AVG Identity Protection - identity theft prevention which is available as a stand-alone product or included with AVG Internet Security. "Always-on identity theft prevention for Windows from one of the world's most trusted security companies. Shop and ensure safe surfing of the web, make yourself secure in the knowledge that your passwords, account information, credit card numbers, social security numbers and other valuables are safe from identity thieves." It also loads the background activity monitoring process (AVGIDSMonitor.exe) | Yes |
| AVG Internet Security | U | avgtray.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for the range of internet security products from AVG Technologies - including Internet Security, Anti-Virus and their free products such as Anti-Virus Free and LinkScanner®. If this entry is disabled, the core product functions will work properly but you will lose quick access to the main window and miss notifications of potential problems and updates | Yes |
| AVG7_AMSVR | Y | AVGAMSVR.EXE | This is the AVG7 Alert Manager for the 7.* series of anti-virus products from AVG Technologies. It is essential for both scheduled activities (such as automatic updates and scans) and for displaying alerts and reports via the Control Center (avgcc.exe). Appears in 9x/Me as a startup entry and as a service in 2K and higher | No |
| AVG7_CC | Y | avgcc.exe | System Tray access to and notifications for the 7.* series of anti-virus products from AVG Technologies. If this entry is disabled, the core product functions will work properly but you will lose quick access to the Control Center and miss notifications of potential problems and updates | Yes |
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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.
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.
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