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? |
|---|
| BuildBU | N | bldbubg.exe | Part of Dell Alerts which provides customers with an update on latest updates for his/her system | No |
| BuildLab | X | services.exe | Added by the NEVEG.B or NEVEG.C WORMS! Note - this is not the legitimate services.exe process, which should not appear in Msconfig/Startup! | No |
| BuildLab | X | winlogon.exe | Added by the NEVEG.A WORM! Note - this is not the legitimate winlogon.exe process, which should not appear in Msconfig/Startup! | No |
| BuildLabs | X | csrss.exe | Added by the WEBUS TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate csrss.exe process which should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! | No |
| BuildLabs | X | lsass.exe | Added by the WEBUS.B TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate lsass.exe process which should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! | No |
| bulk | X | bulk.exe | Added by the AGOBOT-ACR WORM! | No |
| Bulldog Service | U | upsd.exe | Belkin's Bulldog Plus control software which runs under Windows 95 or later and monitors the UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) via a serial or USB link | No |
| BulletProof FTP Server | N | bpftpserver.exe | BulletProof FTP Server | No |
| BullGuard | Y | mgui.exe | Part of Bullguard antivirus | No |
| BullGuard | Y | BullGuard.exe | Part of BullGuard antivirus | No |
| BullGuard Update | U | avxlive.exe | Part of Bullguard antivirus. Leave enabled unless you manually update virus definitions | No |
| BullGuard XComm | Y | XCOMMSVR.EXE | Part of Bullguard antivirus | No |
| BullGuardInit | Y | AVXINIT.EXE | Part of Bullguard antivirus | No |
| BullguardoptIn | Y | bulldownload.exe | Part of Bullguard antivirus | No |
| BullsEye | X | bargains.exe | BargainBuddy adware | No |
| BullsEye Network | X | bargains.exe | BargainBuddy adware | No |
| BullsEye Tracker | ? | BeTrack.exe | Bullseye - intelligent research assistant | No |
| Bunx | X | beagle.exe | Added by the LEBREAT-E WORM! | No |
| buohxqtfswb | X | gcjydr.exe | Added by the AGENT-NRC TROJAN! | No |
| buritos | X | buritos.exe | Identified as a variant of the Downloader.FraudLoad.C malware | No |
| BurnQuick Queue | N | 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 |
| Button Server | U | bttnserv.exe | Found on a Compaq PC, for the extra buttons on the keyboard for the speaker volume, media player, sleep and internet buttons. If the buttons aren't used on the keyboard or your's doesn't have them, then it isn't required | No |
| ButtonKey | N | ButtonKey.exe | CyberView TWAIN driver for the Pacific Image range of 35mm film scanners. Enables the one touch scanning button and places an icon an the System Tray. Use your scanners software or run it manually by creating a shortcut | No |
| Buzme | N | Bmui.exe | Buzme by RingCentral, Inc - internet call waiting. Intercepts telephone calls like an answering machine and plays the voice message on your PC. Only required when you're on-line and via dial-up modem | No |
| BuzMe | U | RCUI.exe | Display Client for the BuzMe Internet Call Waiting Service | No |
| Buzof.exe | U | buzof.exe | Buzof from Basta Computing "enables you to automatically answer, close or minimize virtually any recurring window including messages, prompts, and dialog boxes" | No |
| BVWORSFM | X | bvworsfm.exe | Added by the DLUCA-AD TROJAN! | No |
| Bwddwss | X | [path to trojan] | Added by the RANKY.BD TROJAN! | No |
| bwprnmon.exe | N | bwprnmon.exe | FaxServe network fax software | No |
| bxproxy | X | bxproxy.exe | Added by the BXPROXY TROJAN! | No |
| bxproxy | X | [random].dll | SoftStop rogue security software - not recommended | No |
| bxsx5 | X | RunDLL32.EXE bsx5.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 "bsx5.dll" file is located in %Windir% | No |
| bxxs5 | X | RunDLL32.EXE bxxs5.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 "bxxs5.dll" file is located in %Windir% | No |
| Bymer.Scanner | X | Wininit.exe | Added by the BYMER WORM! | No |
| Bymer.Scanner | X | Msinit.exe | Added by the BYMER WORM! | No |
| BySoft FreeRAM | U | FreeRAM.exe | "Bysoft FreeRAM is a program that frees up ram manually or automatically. It shows current memory status , memory load and CPU usage graphically". MS MVPs (Most Valued Professional) recommend not using memory managers with Win98/SE/ME. See this article and make up your own mind | No |
| ByteDefender | X | ByteDefender.exe | ByteDefender rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| BZEnvironmentVariableCollector | ? | BZEnvironmentVariableCollector.exe | Part of BlazentAgent from Blazent who provide "outsourcing governance automation for IT Outsourcing (ITO) relationships". What does it do and is it required? | No |
| BZUtilizationCollector | ? | BZUtilizationCollector.exe | Part of BlazentAgent from Blazent who provide "outsourcing governance automation for IT Outsourcing (ITO) relationships". What does it do and is it required? | No |
| c | X | c:\archiv~1\win.com | Added by the CUYDOC TROJAN! | No |
| C-Media Echo Control | U | EchoCtrl.exe | C-Media produce audio chipsets that are often found on popular motherboards with on-board audio. You may need it if you use the echo control feature of C-Media Mixer
| No |
| C-Media Mixer | N | Mixer.exe | C-Media produce audio chipsets that are often found on popular motherboards with on-board audio. Provides System Tray access to change audio settings. Available via Start -> Settings -> Control Panel or Start -> Programs | No |
| C2K | U | CYB2K.EXE | CYBERsitter 2000 or 2001 - anti-adult content filter primarily. Required if you want the sites you visit filtered without having to load the software every time you launch your browser | No |
| c32cs2 | U | c32cs2.exe | Cyber Sentinel - internet filtering software | No |
| C7 | X | [path to worm] | Added by the MEDIAKILL.A WORM! | No |
| C:\Program Files\dfjdkjfdkjfldjf\dfjdkjfdkjfldjf\winlogin.exe | U | CritProc.exe | KeyProwler keystroke logger/monitoring program - remove unless you installed it yourself! | No |
| C:\Program Files\NetMeter\NetMeter.exe | U | NetMeter.exe | "Net Meter is a small, customizable network bandwidth monitoring program for Win9x/Me/NT4/2K/XP. NetMeter is and will always stay freeware. The program has been tested extensively on Win2K/XP, but it should work just as well on all other Win32 operating systems" | No |
| C:\WINDOWS\asam.exe | X | asam.exe | Added by the PEACOMM.E TROJAN! | No |
| C:\WINDOWS\IEXPLOR.EXE | X | IEXPLOR.EXE | "Pop Marketing" adware | No |
| C:\WINDOWS\system32\SetupCmd.exe | X | SetupCmd.exe | Detected by Kaspersky as the AGENT.AAW TROJAN! | No |
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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