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? |
|---|
| CCUTRAYICON | U | CCU_TrayIcon.exe | Related to Traybar Launcher from Intel Corporation belonging to Intel® Viiv® | No |
| ccWasher | U | aolwasher.exe | Webroot Cache & Cookie Washer - cleaning browser tracks, including cache, cookies, history, mail trash, drop-down address bar, auto-complete forms and downloaded program files for IE, Netscape and AOL | No |
| CCWC7a | U | ac.exe | Moleculesoft Cache, Cookie & Windows Cleaner. No longer supported but available for free | No |
| CCWC7I | U | idxl.exe | Moleculesoft Cache, Cookie & Windows Cleaner. No longer supported but available for free | No |
| CCWC7s | U | stealth.exe | Moleculesoft Cache, Cookie & Windows Cleaner. No longer supported but available for free | No |
| CCWinTray | Y | wintmr.exe | System Tray access to Child Control parental control software by Salfield | No |
| CD Storage Master | N | cdstorager.exe | CD Storage Master - a program designed to catalog CD information, boasts a number of handy features for organizing your collection | No |
| CD-DVD Lock for Win95/98/Me/2k/XP | U | CDVAgent.exe | Loads CD-DVD Lock from Ixis Research, Ltd - which is "intended for restricting read or write access to removable media devices such as CD, DVD, floppy and flash, as well as for restricting access to certain partitions of hard disk drives. You can restrict access by two ways: hide your devices from viewing or lock access to them". If disabled, hidden and locked drives still retain their original status so the user will only be able to change their status them via the main UI | Yes |
| cd1 | X | cd1.exe | Premium rate adult content dialler | No |
| CDANTSRV | N | CDANTSRV.exe | C-Dilla License Management software. Used for any program that uses C-dilla Protection, example: 3D Studio Max 4.x. It loads as a service automatically but is not needed unless you run said program. Can be started and stopped manually | No |
| Cdcompat | X | Cdcompat.exe | Added by the GEMA TROJAN! | No |
| cddrv32 | X | cddrv32.exe | Added by a variant of the CRYPTER.C TROJAN! | No |
| CDInterceptor | N | cdi.exe | CD indexer for measuring the speed of CD players | No |
| cdloader | Y | cdloader2.exe | From MagicJack - "A softphone device that allows you to attach an analog phone into the PC so you can have a traditional-style phone system in your house without any monthly charge" | No |
| CDLoader | U | sb32mon.exe | Part of the SpyBuddy keystroke logger/monitoring program - see here. Remove unless you installed it yourself! | No |
| CdnCtr | X | cdnup.exe | CNNIC Update pest | No |
| cdoosoft | X | herss.exe | Added by the SILLYFDC.BCT WORM! | No |
| cdoosoft | X | olhrwef.exe | Added by the AUTORUN-AAG WORM! | No |
| CDriver | X | windrv.exe | Added by the DELF.WG TROJAN! | No |
| CDriver | 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 |
| Cdrom Controller | X | cdromcntrl.exe | Added by the BATTRY-A TROJAN! | No |
| cds | X | cds.exe | Added by the SPYMON TROJAN! | No |
| CDSpeed.exe | X | CDSpeed.exe | Added by the IRCBOT.AEX BACKDOOR! | No |
| CDTray | N | CDTray.exe | On HP PCs, this is the small CD icon next to the time | No |
| CDVAgent | U | CDVAgent.exe | Loads CD-DVD Lock from Ixis Research, Ltd - which is "intended for restricting read or write access to removable media devices such as CD, DVD, floppy and flash, as well as for restricting access to certain partitions of hard disk drives. You can restrict access by two ways: hide your devices from viewing or lock access to them". If disabled, hidden and locked drives still retain their original status so the user will only be able to change their status them via the main UI | Yes |
| CeEKEY | U | CeEKey.exe | Hot Key utility included on Toshiba Satellite laptops | No |
| CeEPOWER | U | cepmtray.exe | Toshiba's Power Management Utility - allows the user to setup different profiles for both AC power and Battery Power on laptops. Contols CPU speed, Monitor Shut Off, Hard Drive Shut-Off, Monitor Brightness, System Stand-by and System Hibernate times | No |
| Ceic | ? | Ceic.exe | ?? | No |
| Cekirge | X | [path to worm] | Added by the KERGEZ.A WORM! | No |
| center | X | [random name]32.exe | Added by the BOFRA.A WORM! | No |
| CentralProcessor | X | taskimgr.exe | Added by the BANCOS.J TROJAN! | No |
| CEPA | ? | wsot.exe | ?? | No |
| CertificateRegistration | U | SafeSignCertReg.exe | SafeSign Certificate Registration Utility for Microsoft Crypto applications | No |
| CertReg | U | certreg.exe | Related to Gemplus Card Reader
| No |
| CertStoreInit | Y | CertStoreInit | Aladdin eToken authentication and password management | No |
| certtool | Y | certtool.exe | Part of Client Security Software for IBM\Lenovo notebooks. If you have configured the software via the associated wizard this will need to be running if you want to mount password protected areas of the disk (created with SafeGuard PrivateDisk), use the password manager or file/folder encryption options | Yes |
| CesarFTP FTP Server | N | server.exe | CesarFTPd - FTP server | No |
| cesmain.dll | X | Rundll32.exe [path] cmail.dll, Rundll32 | CnsMin (Chinese Keywords) hijacker related. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| CEventMgr | X | Cell.exe | Added by the BIFROSE-AK TROJAN! | No |
| CFD | N | CFD.exe | BroadJump Client Foundation. Broadband troubleshooting software installed by various companies. Not required and you can remove it via Add/Remove programs | No |
| CFDStart | X | WinMuschi.exe | WINMUSCHI dialler | No |
| cfgboost | X | cfgboot.exe | Added by an unidentified WORM or TROJAN! | No |
| cfgintpr | Y | cfgintpr.exe | Configuration Interpreter - part of Tiny Personal Firewall V4 | No |
| cfgmgr51 | X | RunDLL32.EXE cfgmgr51.dll, DllRun | BookedSpace parasite. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted. The "cfgmgr51.dll" file is located in the Winnt or Windows folder | No |
| cfgmgr52 | X | RunDLL32.EXE cfgmgr52.dll, DllRun | BookedSpace parasite. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted. The "cfgmgr52.dll" file is located in the Winnt or Windows folder | No |
| cfgwiz | N | cfgwiz.exe | Introduced with Norton Anti-Virus 2002, this is a real resource hog. Many NAV users will find they can live without loading it | No |
| CFi ShellToys Utility Manager | U | CFiShlMan.exe | Manager for CFi ShellToys from Cool Focus International Ltd - which "puts all the tools you need right where you need them - just a click away on your context menu. Right-click one or more files or folders, the desktop or the window background for instant access to 50 context-sensitive shell extensions" | No |
| cFosDNT | ? | cFosDNT.exe | cFos DSL Modem driver related. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| cFosInst_Check | ? | cfosinst.exe | cFos DSL Modem driver related. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| cFosSpeed | U | cFosSpeed.exe | cFos Software Internet acceleration program related. Note - may be necessary for the software to work properly | 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