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? |
|---|
| Boots Insert Detect | ? | InsDetect.exe | Part of Boots Picture Suite. Detects a digital camera is plugged into a USB port or when a memory card with photos is inserted? | No |
| BootsCfg | X | wscript.exe [path] Date.POP.vbs | Added by the KUULLIO WORM! Note that wscript.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch script files and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| BootsCfg | X | wscript.exe [path] All Users.vbs | Added by the SPILTRON WORM! Note that wscript.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch script files and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| BootsCfg | X | wscript.exe [path] All Users.vbe | Added by the SPILTRON WORM! Note that wscript.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch script files and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| BootsCfg | X | wscript.exe Install.log.vbs | Added by the YPSAN.E WORM! Note that wscript.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch script files and shouldn't be deleted. The "Install.log.vbs" file is located in %System% | No |
| BootSkin Startup Jobs | Y | BootSkin.exe | Stardock BootSkin is a program that allows users to change their Windows 2000 and Windows XP boot screens | No |
| BootStatus | U | BOOTST~1.EXE | Visual Basic program that pops up a small window on startup telling you how many times the machine has been booted that day. Once you exit it, it has no more effect on resources | No |
| BootWarn | U | BootWarn.exe | From here: "Norton AntiVirus Boot Warning. This program is installed as a startup item when you install Norton AntiVirus, and also sometimes when you do a LiveUpdate which updates Norton AntiVirus significantly enough that a reboot is needed to complete the installation. We believe its purpose to be to warn the end-user that he must reboot his PC before using Norton AntiVirus in those cases when a reboot did not happen with the result that Norton AntiVirus did not fully complete its installation or software updating. Recommendation : Start Norton AntiVirus from "Start \ Programs \ Norton AntiVirus". If Norton AntiVirus comes up without problems, then fix this entry from the Msconfig Startup tab - it was left behind by mistake and is no longer needed now that Norton AntiVirus is fully installed and opens without error messages" | No |
| boot_reg | X | [path to file] | Added by the BANCBAN-CA TROJAN! | No |
| BortMedVirus | X | pgs.exe | BortMedVirus rogue security software - not recommended. A member of the AVSystemCare family | No |
| borzoi | U | blg.exe | Borzoi surveillance software. Uninstall this software unless you put it there yourself | No |
| Bose Wave/PC Monitor | N | wavepcmonitor.exe | System Tray access for this system (more info on the system here). Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| BossIdea | X | winlogin.exe | Added by the LINEAGE-I TROJAN! | No |
| Boston | ? | Boston.exe | Part of the Boston Acoustics USB speaker systems. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| Bot Loader | X | svchostt.exe | Added by the GAOBOT.ALV WORM! | No |
| Bouncer RunStartup | X | bouncer.exe | Virtual Bouncer - malware from Spyware Labs. It is distributed by the same bundling and drive-by download techniques as the parasites it claims to remove, so definitely qualifies as unsolicited commercial software in itself. It also has an update feature that can download and execute arbitrary code. Warning - choose "custom" uninstall as "automatic" may remove other programs - see here | No |
| Bouncer RunStartup | X | LiveUpdate.exe | Virtual Bouncer - malware from Spyware Labs. It is distributed by the same bundling and drive-by download techniques as the parasites it claims to remove, so definitely qualifies as unsolicited commercial software in itself. It also has an update feature that can download and execute arbitrary code. Warning - choose "custom" uninstall as "automatic" may remove other programs - see here | No |
| boy lovers of bsd | X | ilikeboys.exe | Added by the MYTOB.LY WORM! | No |
| bpcpost.exe | U | bpcpost.exe | MS TV Viewer Post Setup Program. Part of MS WebTV for Windows. Used to display TV on your PC via a compatible video card with in-built tuner (such as ATI All-In-Wonder). If you don't use it - uninstall it | No |
| BPCV2 | X | BPCV2.exe | BroadcastPC adware | No |
| BPCv2 re | X | bpc2 re inst.exe | BroadcastPC adware variant | No |
| BPK | U | bpk.exe | Blazing Tools Perfect Keylogger keystroke logger/monitoring program - remove unless you installed it yourself!
| No |
| BPServer | N | G6FTPSrv.exe | BulletProof FTP Server | No |
| BQTray.exe | U | BQTray.exe | System Tray access to BurnQuick CD burning software. Only required if you use the queueing facility, hence the U recommendation. Create your own desktop shortcut to start manually | No |
| Brasil | X | Brasil.exe | Added by the OPASERV.E WORM! | No |
| Brasil | X | BRASIL.PIF | Added by the OPASERV.E WORM! | No |
| BrasilOld | X | [worm filename] | Added by the OPASERV.P WORM! | No |
| brastk | X | brastk.exe | Added by the DORF-BV TROJAN! | No |
| Brave-Sentry | X | BraveSentry.exe | Vista Antivirus 2008 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| BraveSentry | X | BraveSentry.exe | Vista Antivirus 2008 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| braviax | X | braviax.exe | Added by the FAKEALER.LE TROJAN! | No |
| Brct | X | trdb.exe | Detected by Kaspersky as the PURITYSCAN.Y TROJAN! | No |
| Break_Reminder | U | BREAK REMINDER.exe | Break Reminder - Remind yourself to take breaks to prevent computer related injuries. See here | No |
| Bredbandsbolaget | Y | servicecenter.exe | Related to the Brebband Swedish Broadband provider | No |
| Breg | X | bcre.exe | BroadcastPC adware variant | No |
| Breg | X | bptre.exe | BroadcastPC adware variant | No |
| Breg | X | breg.exe | BroadcastPC adware | No |
| Bridge | X | rundll32.exe [path] Bridge.dll,Load | Flingstone.com browser hijacker. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| Brindys BriTray | Y | BRITRAY.EXE | Main process for the following applications: GEDEX, SICARIO, BRINOTES, BRIRESPA, SICURE, TRASGO, UNDOCS, FRESH & BRIFAME (all of them from Brindys Software). Performs the following tasks [un]installation, web software autoupdate, notification windows, interprocess communication, tray bar icons & menus, alarms (brinotes), and common web launching from the mentioned applications. Can be stopped safely once run if so desired | No |
| BrmfRmPA | U | BrmfRmPA.exe | Brother resource manager - needed for a Brother MFC printer/copiert/scanner and PC to properly communicate | No |
| broadband medic | U | matcli.exe | "matcli.exe is a motive Assistant Command line interface that gathers information about your system's identity like your name email address, city, county, etc and gets written to a log file". ntl\broadband Help is required to run with the Help and Support program. If you uncheck ntl\broadband Help and and then run Help and Support it will add another ntl\broadband Help in the startup menu. If you remove the ntl\broadband Help in the add/remove program some help menus in help and support will not be available. You decide | No |
| Broadband Wizard | N | bbwiz.exe | Starts Broadband Wizard so it runs in the System Tray. This application tests and optimizes your Cable or DSL connection. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| BroadCamRun | N | broadCam.exe | BroadCam is an easy to use video streamer designed to broadcast live video using a webcam (or other camera) and microphone | No |
| Broadcom Wireless Manager UI | U | bcmntray.exe | Related to Broadcom Network Adapters for additional configuration options for these devices. Should not be terminated unless suspected to be causing problems | No |
| Broadcom Wireless Manager UI | N | wltray.exe | System tray access to wireless LAN card configuration options
| No |
| Bron-Spizaetus | X | CVT.exe | Added by the RONTOKBRO WORM! | No |
| Bron-Spizaetus | X | norBtok.exe | Added by the RONTOKBRO.B WORM! | No |
| Bron-Spizaetus | X | [path to file] | Added by the BRONTOK-F WORM! | No |
| Bron-Spizaetus | X | bronstab.exe | Added by the RONTOKBRO.C WORM! | No |
| Bron-Spizaetus | X | eksplorasi.exe | Added by the RONTOKBRO.J WORM! | No |
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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