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? |
|---|
| C:\WINDOWS\WinTask.exe | X | WinTask.exe | "Pop Marketing" adware | No |
| CA-AMAgent | U | amagent.exe | Unicenter Asset Management is a solution for proactively managing IT assets in a business environment. It provides full-featured asset tracking capabilities through automated discovery, hardware inventory, network inventory, software inventory, configuration management, software usage monitoring, license management and extensive cross-platform reporting | No |
| CaAvTray | Y | CAVTray.exe | eTrust™ EZ Antivirus system tray application from Computer Associates | No |
| Cabchk | X | Cabchk.exe | Added by the GEMA TROJAN! | No |
| Cabchk32 | X | Cabchk32.exe | Added by the GEMA TROJAN! | No |
| CABCInstall | X | CABCInstall.exe | Ignite Technologies (was CABC) content delivery software | No |
| Cable Modem Adapter | X | WindowsSec.exe | Added by the WOOTBOT.A WORM! | No |
| CacheBoost | U | trayicon.exe | CacheBoost "optimizes the System Cache-Management of Windows XP/2000/NT and Windows .Net Servers, resulting in a performance boost" | No |
| CacheLoader | X | [path to trojan] | Added by the DLOADER-NZ TROJAN! | No |
| Cacheman | N | Cacheman.exe | Freeware disk cache tweaker from Outer Technologies. Should only be run once and not loaded at start-up | No |
| CacheMgr | Y | CacheMgr.exe | Sophos Antivirus Remote Update | No |
| CacheSentry Pro | U | CacheSentry Pro.exe | "CacheSentry Pro is a program that takes over the management of the Internet Explorer (and AOL) web browser cache" | No |
| CACStarter | N | cacstart.exe | Cash A Check - check writing software | No |
| Caddais BackupOnDemand | U | BODMon.exe | Caddais BackupOnDemand - "runs in the background and monitors your important files for changes. Within seconds of changing, modified files are automatically backed up to an archive location" | No |
| Cadenza | U | CdzSvc.exe | Cadenza mNotes for Palm and Pocket PC enables users to access Lotus Notes on their mobile devices | No |
| CADS | U | cads.exe | Cyber Sentinel - internet filtering software | No |
| CafeStation | U | CafeStation.exe | "CafeSuite is the solution for your internet cafe. Our software provides you with ameans to control the workstations, manage customer database, sell products and generate detailed reports and statistics"
| No |
| cafwc | Y | cafw.exe | CA Personal Firewall - part of the CA Internet Security Suite | No |
| CAgent | N | CAgent.exe | Abbyy Fine Reader OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software for scanning and converting documents | No |
| cAgOu | X | [filename].hta | Added by the KAKWORM WORM! | No |
| CahootWebcard | N | CahootWebcard.exe | "The Cahoot Webcard is a virtual card that allows you to use your Cahoot credit card online without ever having to expose your real card numbers over the web. It works by generating one-off transaction numbers as a substitute for your real cahoot credit card details". Run manually when needed | No |
| caidiysetup | X | diynetsetupuni.exe | DIYNet adware | No |
| CAISafe | Y | isafe.exe | Part of Computer Associates eTrust EZ Antivirus | No |
| CaISSDT | U | caissdt.exe | Computer Associates Dashboard Tray applet
| No |
| Cal Reminder Shortcut | N | calrem.exe | Produces a pop-up reminder of events scheduled using the MS Office Calendar | No |
| calc | X | rundll32.exe [path] ntuser.dll,_IWMPEvents@0 | Added by the OPACHKI.A TROJAN! Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted. The "ntuser.dll" file is located in %UserProfile% | No |
| calc | X | rundll32.exe calc.dll,_IWMPEvents@0 | Added by the OPACHKI.A TROJAN! Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted. The "calc.dll" file is located in %System% | No |
| Calc Microsoft Windows | X | wincalc.exe | Added by an unidentified WORM or TROJAN! | No |
| CALC32 | X | CALC32.EXE | Added by the SPYBOT-EC WORM! | No |
| CalcScience | X | cscientist.exe | Added by the SDBOT.ACQ WORM! | No |
| Calendar | U | Calendar.exe | This entry can be added by PlainSight Desktop Calendar and older versions of Desktop iCalendar from Desksware and the older Calendar 200X - which is no longer supported by or available from the author | Yes |
| Calendar 200X Monitor | ? | calmonitor.exe | Background task for Calendar 200X by Joel Graffman - which is no longer supported or available from it's author. The exact purpose of this startup entry is unknown at present but it appears to be related to the Calendar 200X Reminder entry - as disabling that entry via the program also disables this one | Yes |
| Calendar 200X Reminder | N | calendar.exe | Part of Calendar 200X by Joel Graffman - which is no longer supported or available from it's author. Displays reminders for holidays, anniversaries, tasks, etc. Disabling this entry via the program also disables the Calendar 200X Monitor entry | Yes |
| Calendar Monitor | ? | calmonitor | Background task for Calendar 200X by Joel Graffman - which is no longer supported or available from it's author. The exact purpose of this startup entry is unknown at present | Yes |
| Calendarscope | U | cs.exe | Calendarscope calendar software | No |
| calk | X | calk.exe | Added by the STARTPA-FH TROJAN! | No |
| Call Function System32 | X | sddriver.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT TROJAN! | No |
| Call32 | X | Call32.exe | Added by the SPAMMIT-H TROJAN! | No |
| CallBumping | Y | cbpopw.exe | Related to the Gazel 128 PCI ISDN adapter. Required if you use it | No |
| CallCenter Main Application | U | V3calmcp.exe | "V3 Inc. CallCenter is a free 32-bit, integrated fax, voicemail and data communications application with a simple to use interface providing fax send and receive functionality, basic (single mailbox) answering machine capability, and sophistcated data communications." Main application | No |
| CallCenter Printer Interface | U | V3faxecp.exe | "V3 Inc. CallCenter is a free 32-bit, integrated fax, voicemail and data communications application with a simple to use interface providing fax send and receive functionality, basic (single mailbox) answering machine capability, and sophistcated data communications." Fax printer | No |
| CallControl | N | ftctrl32.exe | FaxTalk Messenger Pro is a Windows TAPI based 32-bit application. When installed, the software automatically loads FaxTalk CallControl when you start Windows. When FaxTalk CallControl is running, any TAPI compliant application can request to use the modem from Windows | No |
| calmonitor | ? | calmonitor.exe | Background task for Calendar 200X by Joel Graffman - which is no longer supported or available from it's author. The exact purpose of this startup entry is unknown at present but it appears to be related to the Calendar 200X Reminder entry - as disabling that entry via the program also disables this one | Yes |
| calmonitor | ? | calmonitor | Background task for Calendar 200X by Joel Graffman - which is no longer supported or available from it's author. The exact purpose of this startup entry is unknown at present | Yes |
| CamCheck | N | CamCheck.exe | NuCam camera software related | No |
| Cameno | U | Cameno.exe | Cameno is a program which brings tabbed windows to MSN Messenger 6.0 and above | No |
| Camera Assistant Software | U | traybar.exe | Camera Assistant Software utility for Toshiba laptops - allows you to take pictures with and control the integrated WebCam | No |
| Camera Detector | U | CAMDET~*.EXE | ACDSee Auto Device Detector detects when a device is connected to your PC and gives you the option to acquire images from it automatically | No |
| Camera Detector | U | Camdetect.exe | ACDSee Auto Device Detector detects when a device is connected to your PC and gives you the option to acquire images from it automatically | No |
| Camera Detector | U | DEVDET~*.EXE | ACDSee Auto Device Detector detects when a device is connected to your PC and gives you the option to acquire images from it automatically | 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