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? |
|---|
| CnxAdslL | Y | CnxAdslL.exe | DLink, Zoom, or Conexant modem driver | No |
| CnxDslTaskBar | N | CnxDslTb.exe | Connexant DSL Taskbar as used on Acess Runner and Samsung AHT-E310 ADSL modems | No |
| Cobian Backup 8 interface | U | cbInterface.exe | "Cobian Backup is a backup program that can be executed in 2 ways: as a normal application or as a Windows Service. The program can schedule automatic backups for files and directories locally or to FTP servers and can use compression and encryption" | No |
| CodeClean | X | CCIntro.exe | CodeClean rogue security software - not recommended | No |
| Codename Dashboard | U | dashboard.exe | Codename: Dashboard - "an application that resides at the side of your screen. Built on the Microsoft .NET Framework, it is a host for interchangeable components through which C.D. allows you to have any information you want, on your desktop, all the time" | No |
| COEMsgDisplay | ? | COEMsgDisplay.exe | Part of HP's PC Common Operating Environment (PC COE) project. Located in %ProgramFiles%\Hewlett-Packard\PC COE. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| cof.updit | X | [random filename] | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| CognizanceTS | U | rundll32.exe [path] AsTsVcc.dll, RegisterModule | Cognizance Corp Identity And Access Management suite
| No |
| Coldlife -icmp | X | Systray.exe | Added by the FLOOD.AV TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate systray.exe process | No |
| CollaborationHost | N | p2phost.exe | People Near Me Microsoft® Windows® Peer-to-Peer Networking platform for Windows Vista | No |
| coloreal | U | coloreal.exe | Makes colours sharper and brighter, but will only work with coloreal capable monitors | No |
| Colorific | N | Hgcctl95.exe | Colorific® from E-Color - "delivers accurate gamma and color temperature across your entire system - monitor to printer and digital camera to monitor." Now superseded by ColorWizzard™ | No |
| Colorific Control Panel | N | Hgcctl95.exe | Colorific® from E-Color - "delivers accurate gamma and color temperature across your entire system - monitor to printer and digital camera to monitor." Now superseded by ColorWizzard™ | No |
| COM Service | X | mscom32.com | Added by the BEASTY.H TROJAN! | No |
| COM Service | X | msynvr.com | Added by the BEASTY.G TROJAN! | No |
| COM Service | X | msjclh.com | Added by the BEASTY.E TROJAN! | No |
| COM Service | X | msdrce.com | Added by the BEASTY.I TROJAN! | No |
| COM Service | X | msflyx.com | Added by the BEASTDO-O TROJAN! | No |
| COM+ Event System | X | DRWTSN16.EXE | Added by the LOVGATE.AB WORM! | No |
| COM+ EventSystem Services | X | ECSERVER.EXE | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| Com+ Sys | X | csrs.exe | Added by the FORBOT-BT WORM!
| No |
| COM+ System Applications | X | lsas.exe | Added by the AGOBOT.SE WORM! | No |
| COM++ System | X | exploier.exe | Added by the LOVGATE.Z WORM! | No |
| COM++ System | X | suchost.exe | Added by the LOVGATE-F WORM! | No |
| COM++ System | X | svchost.exe... | Added by a variant of the LOVGATE WORM! | No |
| COM-IP | N | COMIP.EXE | COM-IP Virtual Modem Driver (COM-IP Creates a Fake Serial Port that allows you to use older DOS Based Communications Programs over Telnet. Type atdt host.domain.com instead of atdt 5551212) | No |
| com.codeode.cactusspamfilter | U | cactusspamfilter.exe | Cactus Spam - free easy-to-use spam blocker | No |
| com.codeode.privacymantra | U | privacymantra.exe | "Privacy Mantra keeps your computer clean from online and offline tracks" | No |
| ComAgent | U | ComAgent.exe | ComAgent - MDaemon's instant messaging client | No |
| combo.exe | X | combo.exe | Added by the CHIMO-C TROJAN! | No |
| combop.exe | X | combop.exe | Added by the BOWFEED-A TROJAN! | No |
| Comcast Network | X | ribiva.exe | Added by a variant of the IRC TROJAN! | No |
| ComcastSUPPORT | X | tgkill.exe | Comcast (the cable folks who are replacing @home in some parts of the USA) have struck a deal with Tioga to provide an "enhanced" support and self-repairing tool. This is "beta" at present and was made available to download by mistake at present. Remove via Start -> Settings -> Add/Remove Programs | No |
| COMCFG | X | comcfg.exe | Added by the TOADCOM.A TROJAN! | No |
| comctl32 | X | comctl32.exe | Adware - detected by Kaspersky as the AGENT.AM TROJAN! | No |
| COMDRV32 | U | svdhost.exe | Orvell Monitoring 2003 surveillance software. Uninstall this software unless you put it there yourself. Note - asks for permission to contact the IP address of http://www.protectcom.com/ | No |
| Comm Driver | U | commh32.exe | G Data "PC Spion". PC monitoring and surveilling software, captures all users activity on the PC, see here. Disable/remove if you didn't install it yourself! | No |
| Command | X | system.exe | Added by the GATECRASH.A or GATECRASH.B TROJANS!
| No |
| Command | X | Gotit.exe | Added by the TITOG WORM! | No |
| COMMAND | X | command.exe | Added by the QQPASS.E TROJAN! | No |
| command | X | javaw.exe | Added by the AGOBOT-LG WORM! | No |
| Command Prompt32 | X | CmdPrompt32.pif | Added by the ASSIRAL.B WORM! | No |
| Command WorkStation 4 | U | cws 4.exe | EFI's Command WorkStation makes "managing demanding workflows easier by centralizing job management. The software automatically identifies the Fiery servers on the network and offers customization options for displaying information" - for high-end print environments | No |
| command32 | X | command32.exe | Added by the LINEADI-A TROJAN! | No |
| CommCtr | N | commctr.exe | "Net2Phone CommCenter is the latest in Internet voice technology allowing you to place calls easily all over the world right from your PC!". Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| Common Client | Y | ccApp.exe | Part of earlier versions of Norton AntiVirus - Auto-protect and E-mail check will not function without this | Yes |
| Common Client | Y | ccRegVfy.exe | Part of earlier versions of Norton AntiVirus - "ccRegVfy.exe is responsible for checking the integrity of the NAV registry entries to make sure that the information has not been changed by a malicious threat or a hack" | Yes |
| CommonService | X | winup.exe | Added by the DLOADR-BJJ TROJAN! | No |
| COMMUNICATOR | Y | Communicator.exe | Part of Microsoft Office Communicator, which is an integrated communications client that allows information workers to communicate in real time using a range of different communication options, including instant messaging (IM), voice, and video | No |
| Comodo Firewall | U | CPF.exe | Comodo Firewall | No |
|
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