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? |
|---|
| CashToolbar | X | svchost.exe | BrowserAid/CashToolbar adware! Note - this is not the legitimate svchost.exe process which should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! | No |
| Casino Royale | X | jamesbond.exe | Added by the RBOT-FZO WORM! | No |
| Cassandra | X | [10 to 14 random char]THD.EXE | Added by the KREPPER-AI TROJAN! | No |
| Cassandra | X | cassandra.exe | SuperSpider hijacker - a CoolWebSearch parasite variant. Also detected as a variant of the KREPPER TROJAN! | No |
| CasStub | X | casstub.exe | Added by the CASS-A TROJAN! | No |
| Catalyst Control Centre | X | atixvdm.exe | Added by the RBOT.DMW TROJAN! | No |
| catsrv | X | catsrv.exe | Added by the PAPLOK TROJAN! | No |
| CAVRID | Y | CAVRID.exe | eTrust™ EZ Antivirus Real Time Infection Report from Computer Associates | No |
| CAVS | Y | CAVS.exe | Cheyenne (now eTrust) antivirus | No |
| CAZNOVAS | X | CAZNOVAS.exe | Added by the CAZNO TROJAN! | No |
| CBACK.EXE | X | CBACK.EXE | Added by the PENTA-A TROJAN! | No |
| cbInterface | U | cbInterface.exe | System Tray access to Cobian Backup versions 8 thru 10 - a multi-threaded backup program which makes backup copies of your file and folders (in compressed or uncompressed form) to another location. This entry appears if you choose to install the program using the default settings as service on an NT based OS (NT/2K/XP/Vista). If you don't have regularly scheduled backups then choose the startup installation option and run it manually when required | Yes |
| cbvcs | X | urretnd.exe | Added by the FRETHOG-C WORM! | No |
| CBWAttn | U | CBWAttn.exe | Required for Bitware to answer incoming faxes, can cause sleep mode problems | No |
| CBWHost | U | CBWHost.exe | Required for Bitware to answer incoming faxes, can cause sleep mode problems | No |
| CBWUser | ? | CBWDial.exe | Associated with Bitware that integrates fax, voice, pager, and data communications on your desktop | No |
| CC2KUI | X | comet.exe | Comet Cursor adware | No |
| ccagent.exe | X | ccagent.exe | Control Center and Control Components rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here and here | No |
| Ccao | X | regedit.exe | Probably a variant of MediaTickets adware. Note - this is not the valid Windows registry editor which resides in %Windir% and will not figure in Msconfig/Startup! This version resides in a "mduu" subfolder, which may change | No |
| ccApp | Y | ccApp.exe | Part of earlier versions of Norton AntiVirus - Auto-protect and E-mail check will not function without this | Yes |
| ccApp | X | [random filename] | Added by the OBSORB TROJAN! Note the random filename compared to the valid Norton AntiVirus | No |
| ccApp | X | WMADZ.EXE | Added by the RBOT-LJ WORM! | No |
| ccApp | X | .EXE | Added by the RBOT-LJ WORM! | No |
| ccApp | X | gcasServ.exe | Added by a variant of the RBOT WORM! Do not confuse with the Microsoft AntiSpyware executable of the same name | No |
| ccApp | X | example.exe | TwoSeven spyware | No |
| ccAppr | X | svcrhost.exe | Added by the TACTSLAY.A TROJAN! | No |
| ccAppr | X | expIorer.exe | Added by the TACTSLAY.A TROJAN! | No |
| ccAppr | X | outIook.exe | Added by the TACTSLAY.A TROJAN! | No |
| ccAppr | X | svcshost.exe | Added by the TACTSLAY.A TROJAN! | No |
| ccApps | 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 |
| ccApps | 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 |
| ccApps | X | N/A | Added by the KANGAROO-A TROJAN! | No |
| ccApps | X | ccApps.exe | Added by the KANGAROO-B WORM! | No |
| ccctp | X | HistoryJMTi.exe | Added by the GANBATE.A WORM! | No |
| CCD Manager | U | DDS.EXE | Project Labs Century CD manager for their CD/DVD storage device | No |
| Ccdecode | N | rundll32.exe streamci, StreamingDeviceSetup | Part of the closed caption decdoder/MS VBI codec. Should only run once | No |
| ccDHCP32 | X | ccDHCP32.exe | Added by the AGOBOT-HJ WORM! | No |
| CCDoctorLogonTesting | Y | ccdoctor.exe | Checks your system to make sure it's configured properly for running IBM Rational ClearCase, a source code management tool. ClearCase is fairly sophisticated so there are a lot of system-related things that can cause it grief. If you run ClearCase you should not disable this as it provides a valuable service, but technically it isn't required to use the ClearCase product | No |
| ccenter | Y | CCenter.exe | RAV AntiVirus
| No |
| CcEvtMgr | Y | ccEvtMgr.exe | Part of Norton AntiVirus 2003. Event manager for scheduling weekly scans and or automatic virus updates. Used to start automatically via "ccApp" and was not required as a seperate entry but a recent update changed this | No |
| ccEvtMrg.exe | X | ccEvtMrg.exe | Added by the RBOT.GZ WORM! | No |
| ccExecute | X | bootcfg1.exe | Added by the NEMSI-B VIRUS! | No |
| ccHelp | X | ccHelp.hta | Searchq adware | No |
| CCleaner | U | CCleaner.exe | CCleaner from Piriform Ltd. - "is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool". Features include removing unused files, cleaning internet history, managing startup programs and a fully featured registry cleaner | Yes |
| ccpApps | 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 |
| ccpApps | 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 |
| ccProxy | U | CCPROXY.EXE | Part of Norton Internet Security, proxy server that is used to support the parental controls. If you turn parental controls off at user level the process is not loaded. Reported to cause excessive CPU usage | No |
| ccPrxy.exe | X | ccPrxy.exe | Added by the SHIPUP-H WORM! | No |
| CcPxySvc | Y | CCPXYSVC.exe | Part of Norton's AntiVirus 2003, Internet Security and Firewall products. E-mail proxy service - required for E-mail scanning and the firewall | No |
| ccreg | X | explorer.exe | Added by the ZCREW BACKDOOR! Note - the legitimate Windows Explorer (same filename) is located in %Windir% and would not normally appear in Msconfig/Startup unless you added it manually! This one is located in %System% | 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