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? |
|---|
| 65438761234587528 | X | rkgnd.exe | ANG AntiVirus 09 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| 666 | X | Ska.exe | Added by the PIPES TROJAN! | No |
| 678 | X | lsas32.exe | Added by the SLSORVE-B TROJAN! | No |
| 756349DC-6D9E-4F2A-9B24-269661F073C3 | X | sysoghcx.exe | Added by the FAKEALERT-AH TROJAN! | No |
| 76112549345328287 | X | angpd.exe | ANG AntiVirus 09 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| 7f8e | X | z****.exe 9idf | Detected by NOD32 as the SMALL.ALI TROJAN! Note - it creates a number of extra z****.dll files in the %System% folder | No |
| 802.11b+g USB Wireless LAN Utility | U | ZDWlan.exe | 802.11b+g USB Wireless LAN Utility | No |
| 802.11g MIMO Wireless Utility | U | RaUI.exe | Wireless configuration utility for Railink 802.11g MIMO based products | No |
| 802.11g Wireless Adatper | U | Monitor.exe | Related to wireless card (802.11) adapter/standard. System Tray icon that provides a shortcut to "Wireless Connection Status" and allows to turn WL on and off. Supplier unknown. Adapter is miss-spelled | No |
| 852EBF20-A95D-4F1F-B9C2-B2CD24350F3E | X | sysodkcs.exe | Added by the FAKEALERT-AH TROJAN! | No |
| 98D0CE0C16B1 | X | rundll32.exe D0CE0C16B1, D0CE0C16B1 | BrowserAid/BrowserPal foistware. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| 9m | X | winlog0n.exe | Added by the LEGMIR-AQK TROJAN! | No |
| 9xadiras | Y | 9xadiras.exe | Allied Telesyn AT series router/modem related - apparently required | No |
| 9xHtProtect | X | AVprotect9x.exe | Added by the NETSKY.M WORM! | No |
| ;Rundll | X | [filename] | Added by the PWSLEGMIR.E TROJAN! | No |
| ?ekio Startups | X | ?nksvc32.exe | Added by the AGOBOT-OV WORM where ? is a random character
| No |
| @ | X | regedit -s win.dll | Added by the SEEKER.K TROJAN! Note that regedit is the the legitimate Windows Registry Editor and shouldn't be deleted. The "win.dll" file is located in %Windir% | No |
| @ | X | iexpl0res.exe | Added by the RBOT.AEX WORM! | No |
| @ | X | wincms.exe | Added by the RBOT.CBR WORM! | No |
| @ | X | winsys32.exe | Added by the DELF.CP BACKDOOR! Note that the entry under the Startup Item/Name field my be blank | No |
| @Hoc Toolbar | N | AtHoc.exe | One-click activated browsing toolbar used by various web-sites. See here for more info | No |
| @loha | N | reminder.exe | Registration reminder for @loha@home E-mail utility | No |
| @tour_ww | X | @tour_ww[1].exe | Adult content dialler | No |
| a | X | a.exe | Commercials file that registers itself in the system registry and redirects IE to a certain commercial website | No |
| a | X | jesse.exe | Added by the MELO-A WORM! | No |
| a | X | MsSvrdll.vbs | Added by the MUTAFROG!INF WORM! | No |
| A New Windows Updater | X | w32NTupdt.exe | Added by the MYTOB.BM WORM! | No |
| A Note | N | A Note.exe | "A Note is a program that lets you create post-it like notes on your Microsoft Windows desktop" | No |
| A Verizon App | U | VERIZO~1.EXE | Part of Verizon Online Support Manager | No |
| a² | U | a2guard.exe | a-Squared antitrojan - can be run on demand but necessary in Startup if you prefer the a² 'Background Guard' real time protection feature | No |
| a-squared | U | a2guard.exe | a-squared antitrojan - can be run on demand but necessary in Startup if you prefer the a² 'Background Guard' real time protection feature | No |
| a-squared Anti-Dialer | Y | a2adguard.exe | a-squared Anti-Dialer | No |
| a-winpoet-service | Y | winpppoverethernet.exe | WinPoET is the industry's first Windows-based PPP over Ethernet client. Developed by iVasion, WinPoET is attractive to equipment providers, modem suppliers, RBOCs and ISPs. For more info read here. It uses dial-up networking for new high-speed internet customers who are more familiar with analogue modems. If unchecked in MSCONFIG it reports Error 360 - Hardware Error in dial-up networking | No |
| A1000 Settings Utility | U | cpqa1000.exe | Compaq A1000 Print Fax All-in-One copy scan printer software. Required in the Startup in order to scan, print, copy and fax. Only required if you use these features | No |
| A4Proxy | U | A4Proxy.exe | Anonymity 4 Proxy - local proxy server that makes you anonymous when visiting web sites | No |
| A5118r | X | _default32142.pif | Added by the BRONTOK-AK WORM and variants! | No |
| A5118r | X | j6321422.exe | Added by the BRONTOK-AK WORM and variants! | No |
| A70F6A1D-0195-42a2-934C-D8AC0F7C08EB | X | rundll32.exe E6F1873B.DLL, D9EBC318C | BrowserAid/BrowserPal foistware. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| aa bbcc dde effgghh jj | X | update.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! | No |
| AAACLEAN | ? | AAACLEAN.INF | ?? | No |
| AAAKeyboard | ? | ?? | ?? | No |
| AAATraySaver | N | TraySaver.exe | System Tray management utility from Mike Lin which allows you to hide, show, restore icons that are lost in an Explorer crash, remove dead tray icons, minimize any window to the System Tray | No |
| aacmeyf | X | aacmeyf.exe | Added by the AF.20 TROJAN! | No |
| Aaep | X | opar.exe | PurityScan/Clickspring adware | No |
| AAK | U | aak.exe | Advanced Anti-Keylogger - "Anti-spy software to prohibit operation of any keyloggers currently in use or presently being developed anywhere" | No |
| aaLDISCN32 | U | LDISCN32.EXE | LANDesk® Management Suite software component | No |
| aaLDTaskCompletion | U | amclient.EXE | LANDesk® Management Suite software component | No |
| AAMSFree702 | X | Avengine.com | Added by the DELF.LJ TROJAN! | No |
| AAMSFree702 | X | sys.exe | Added by the BACKDOOR-CPC TROJAN! | No |
| Aaou | X | amee.exe | PurityScan adware | 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