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:
- "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? |
|---|
| begins | X | 0.exe | Added by the MYTOB-HE WORM! | No |
| BEHL | ? | BEHL.exe | ?? | No |
| BEHLO | ? | BEHLO.exe | ?? | No |
| beidsystemtray | U | beidsystemtray.exe | Related to Belgium Identity Card card reader | No |
| Belgacom | U | sprtcmd.exe /P Belgacom | Self-help support tool for Belgacom broadband users (provided by SupportSoft, Inc). Identifies and automatically fixes typical problems that may occur with your high-speed internet service | No |
| Belkin F5D8013 N Wireless Notebook Card Utility | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D8013 N Wireless Notebook Card | No |
| Belkin F5D8053 N Wireless USB Adapter Utility | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D8053 N Wireless USB Adapter | No |
| Belkin F5D8073 N Wireless ExpressCard Adapter Utility | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D8073 N Wireless ExpressCard Adapter | No |
| Belkin PCMCIA WLAN Monitor | N | monitorbk.exe | Belkin USB Network Adapter Management utility - can be started manually | No |
| Belkin Wireless G Notebook Card Client Utility | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D701F Wireless G Notebook Card | No |
| Belkin Wireless USB Utility | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D7050 Wireless G USB Adapter | No |
| Belkin Wireless Utility | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for some Belkin cards such as the F5D7000 Wireless G Desktop Card | No |
| BellSouthAlertManager.exe | U | BellSouthAlertManager.exe | Related to BellSouth Alert Manager | No |
| BelNotify | U | rundll32.exe [path] NPBelv32.dll, RunDll32_BelNotify | "BelTech from Belarc enables licensees to offer automated, Web-based problem resolution to their end-users. BelTech allows the end-user to simply go to a web page and automatically resolve their problem or point them to the right solution. BelTech Manager allows non-programmers to rapidly and easily deploy and maintain this service" | No |
| BELORVBI | ? | BELORVBI.exe | ?? | No |
| Belsta.exe | ? | Belsta.exe | Configuration tool for Belkin wireless network cards. Required to change the card's configuration. Is it required for correct operation once the confuiguration is changed? | No |
| Belt | X | Belt.exe | VX2.Transponder parasite updater/installer related | No |
| Benadril Alert Tool | X | benadrilalert.exe | Plug-in for WeatherBug advising when pollen count in your area is high - prompting you to buy Benadril | No |
| BeschermingsTool | X | SysRep.exe | BeschermingsTool, Dutch rogue system error and cleaning utility - not recommended. A member of the ErrClean family | No |
| BestCrypt Auto Open | U | BestCrypt.exe | BestCrypt from Jetico, Inc. "Keeps your confidential data in a strongly encrypted form on your disk and provides you with transparent access" | No |
| BestPopUpKiller | X | BestPopupKiller.exe | Popup killer by Swanksoft - not recommended, see here | No |
| BestsellerAntivirus | X | pgs.exe | BestsellerAntivirus rogue security software - not recommended. A member of the AVSystemCare family | No |
| BestSync 2008 | U | BestSyncApp.exe | System Tray access to BestSync® 2008 from Risefly Software - "a professional utility for synchronizing files between your local folders and Network Drives, FTP servers, Removable Media (such as an USB disk)" | No |
| BeSys | X | [path to file] | BeSys adware | No |
| beta | X | svchost.exe | Added by a variant of the DELF.IT TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate svchost.exe process which is always located in %System% and should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! The location of this file varies | No |
| BF4P | X | bf4p.exe | Added by the IRCBOT.GEN WORM! | No |
| bfxtray | X | [path to trojan] | Added by the AGENT-GEB TROJAN! | No |
| bg | Y | bullguard.exe | Bullguard antivirus and firewall. The P2P version is free with KaZaA Media Desktop and Grokster | No |
| BGInfo | U | Bginfo.exe | BGinfo automatically displays relevant information about a Windows computer on the desktop's background, such as the computer name, IP address, service pack version, and more | No |
| BgMonitor_{79662E04-7C6C-4d9f-84C7-88D8A56B10AA} | U | NMBgMonitor.exe | Associated with Nero Scout, added by version 7 of the Nero digital media suite (CD & DVD burning, authoring, etc). Thanks to Help2Go.com, if you feel this is draining more resources that necessary you can disable it by clicking here | No |
| BGNewsAgent | Y | bgnewsag.exe | BullGuard antivirus updater
| No |
| bgsmsnd | N | bgsmsnd.exe | Printer driver to generate PDF files from any program | No |
| Bharatayuda | X | GNB.exe | Added by the BHARAT.A WORM! | No |
| BHOCop | N | BHOCop.exe | PC Magazine's BHO Cop that lets you see what browser helper objects are installed. Useful for detecting spyware | No |
| BHODemon 2.0 | U | BHODemon.exe | BHODemon "protects you from unknown Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), by letting you enable/disable them individually. When running, it also monitors your Registry and alerts you when a BHO is installed. Best of all, BHODemon knows about the most common BHOs - the good ones, and the not-so-good ones!". If you prefer forgoing resident protection, the application can also be run on demand | No |
| BHR | U | BHR.exe | Browser Hijack Retaliator - recovers your browser after it has been hijacked by spyware, adware, etc | No |
| BI1HelperStartUp | U | BI1HEL~1.EXE | ScreenScenes "Beach Islands" screensaver. The freeware version comes with GAIN branded ads (pop-ups and others). ScreenScenes do however offer you the option of doing away with the ads by purchasing the screensaver for a whopping $30. Please note that Claria Corporation no longer support GAIN-Supported software - see here | No |
| BIE | X | Rundll32.exe [path] BDSrHook.dll, Rundll32 | BDplugin parasite. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| BIG | X | biggy.exe | Added by the DELBOT-AG WORM! | No |
| BigDog303 | N | VM303_STI.EXE | Vmicro webcam USB utility - allows the webcam to initiate data transfer to a program. Create a shortcut and start it manually when needed | No |
| BigDog305 | N | VM305_STI.EXE | Vmicro webcam USB utility - allows the webcam to initiate data transfer to a program. Create a shortcut and start it manually when needed | No |
| BigDogPath | ? | VM_STI.EXE | Bundled with some software for digital cameras that use a USB connection - what does it do and is it required? | No |
| bigfix | N | BIGFIX.EXE | BigFix can automatically download and read technical support information provided by computer and software manufacturers and other technical support experts (published in the form of Fixlet® Messages) and can automatically check your computer for bugs, configuration conflicts, and security holes. Should only be started manually as it's a resource hog | Yes |
| biglow | X | biglow.exe | Added by a variant of the Storm/Nuwar/Zhelatin WORM! See here for an example | No |
| bigoris | X | bigoris.exe | Added by the DORF-AZ TROJAN! | No |
| BigPond Toolbar | U | bpumTray.exe | Telstra BigPond Toolbar - "Introducing the free and easy to use BigPond Toolbar that is designed to make your internet experience and managing your Telstra internet account a whole lot easier" | No |
| BigPondCable | N | bpcable.exe | Telstra Bigpond Cable login software - can be started manually
| No |
| BigPondWirelessBroadbandCM | Y | BigPond_CM.exe | Related to BigPond_Wireless_Broadband Service by Telstra | No |
| bikini | X | bikini.exe | Added by the LOWZONE-CX TROJAN! | No |
| BillGatesLoh.exe | X | BillGatesLoh.exe | Added by the AGENT-FZO TROJAN! | No |
|
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
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
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