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? |
|---|
| 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 |
| Common Files | X | twain.exe | Added by the AGENT.BEA TROJAN! | No |
| CommonSDK | N | RoxWatchTray9.exe | System Tray access to managing the "Watched Folders", "LiveShares" and "MediaSpace" features of the Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 multimedia suite. All of these options are available from the Media Manager utility. The "Watched Folders" feature monitors specified locations for new pictures, songs and videos being added and makes them available to the Media Manager - if you have 512MB of memory or less available it's recommended you also disable the associated "Roxio Hard Drive Watcher 9 (RoxWatch9)" service as well as the combination has been known to use significant amount of memory and cause other problems | Yes |
| CommonService | X | winup.exe | Added by the DLOADR-BJJ TROJAN! | No |
| Communications_Helper | Y | Communications_Helper.exe | Entry added when you install versions of the Logitech QuickCam webcam software. Used to interface your webcam with third party chat and voice programs such as instant messaging clients and Skype. Also, if it's disabled the camera will not work - at least not in the QuickCapture mode | Yes |
| Communications_Helper.exe | Y | Communications_Helper.exe | Entry added when you install versions of the Logitech QuickCam webcam software. Used to interface your webcam with third party chat and voice programs such as instant messaging clients and Skype. Also, if it's disabled the camera will not work - at least not in the QuickCapture mode | Yes |
| 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 |
| COMODO Firewall Pro | Y | cfp.exe | Comodo Firewall Pro | No |
| Comodo Launch Pad Tray | U | CLPTray.exe | System Tray access to LaunchPad as bundled with Comodo's freebie offerings such as Comodo Anti-Virus. Some allege that LaunchPad is impossible-to-uninstall adware, or worse - see here | No |
| COMODO Memory Firewall | Y | cmf.exe | "Comodo Memory Firewall is a buffer overflow detection and prevention tool which provides the ultimate defence against one of the most serious and common attack types on the Internet - the buffer overflow attack" | No |
| Companion Module | U | companion.exe | The AOL Companion is a small window that appears when you connect to the service using verison 8.0 and early builds of version 9.0. "Use the Companion to quickly get to your favourite features, including your Buddy List, Favourite Places, Address Book, and more!" | Yes |
| CompanionWizard | X | compwiz.exe | Part of WinAntiVirusPro 2007 rogue security software (and possibly others) - not recommended, see here | No |
| Compaq Alerter | U | CPQAlert.exe | Compaq's Insight Manager Agent - a tool that allows for "fault, performance, and configuration management". Recommended for corporate users only. It's best removed if installed but not wanted, rather than disabled at startup. See here for more information | No |
| Compaq Computer Corp SCCenter Module | N | SCCENTER.EXE | For Compaq PC's. Part of Backweb | No |
| Compaq Computer Security | ? | Rundll32.exe SECURE32.CPL, Service | ?? | No |
| Compaq Connections | N | COMPAQ~1.EXE | See here - "messaging service that automatically sends you support information, tips, ideas, and special offers from HP and our partners, especially designed for HP and Compaq desktop computer owners" | No |
| Compaq Connections | N | BackWeb-1940576.exe | See here - "messaging service that automatically sends you support information, tips, ideas, and special offers from HP and our partners, especially designed for HP and Compaq desktop computer owners". * can be any digit | No |
| Compaq Connections | N | Compaq Connections.exe | See here - "messaging service that automatically sends you support information, tips, ideas, and special offers from HP and our partners, especially designed for HP and Compaq desktop computer owners" | No |
| Compaq DMI | N | cpqdmi.exe | Compaq version of the Desktop Management Interface | No |
| Compaq Drivers | X | F1rewalls.exe | Added by the SDBOT-WD WORM! | No |
| Compaq Internet Setup | N | inetwizard.exe | For Compaq PC's. Runs Compaq internet setup wizard and offers you to signup from ISP list | No |
| Compaq Jes Drivers | X | winjes.exe | Added by the SDBOT-XR WORM! | No |
| Compaq Knowledge Center | U | silent.exe & matcli.exe | "matcli.exe is a motive Assistant Command line interface that gathers information about your system's identity like your name email address, city, state, etc and gets written to a log file while silent.exe executes matcli.exe quietly in the background. Compaq Knowledge Center is required to run with the Help and Support program. If you uncheck Compaq Knowledge Center and and then run help and Support it will add another Compaq Knowledge Center in the startup menu. If you remove the Compaq Knowledge Center in the add/remove program some help menus in help and support will not be available like Fix my Presario, Preference, and Contact Technical Support". You decide | No |
| Compaq Message Server | N | COMPAQ-RBA.EXE | Applies to the CPQBootPerfDB entry as well. These files generate some kind of server or servlet that attempts to connect with Compaq online. They are like Trojans, but fairly harmless. They send information on the "Compaq Advisor/Compaq Message Screener" application that comes with every Compaq computer and provide feedback on how computer users use the Message Advisor. These messages appear occasionally and instruct and advise users on their computer and its use. They generally attempt to get you (these messages) to connect to Compaq's website. They may be safely disabled via (1) MSCONFIG or (2) Start -> Programs -> Compaq Advisor -> Advisor Settings under the "advanced" tab. Not required and can cause problems | No |
| Compaq PK Daemon | U | cpqkl.exe | For Compaq laptops for programming user configurable keys. Not required unless you use them | No |
| Compaq Print Fax | X | cpqa1000.exe | Added by the SDBOT.BCV WORM! Please take note of the difference between the legitimate Compaq Fax Utility Name (A1000 Settings Utility) and the name (Compaq Print Fax) used by this worm | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | systeminfos.exe | Added by the SDBOT-XC WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | compq.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | navapqwa.exe | Added by the SDBOT.BBQ WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | amsn.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | compqs.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | msnt.exe | Added by the SDBOT.CQL WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | NtKernelSystem.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | wincmd.exe | Added by the RBOT.ATV WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | wind32.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | winmsn.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | compaq.exe | Added by the SDBOT-AFU WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | msnsvc.exe | Added by the RBOT.BKT WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | ntsys32.exe | Added by the RBOT.CIW WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers | X | winsvc.exe | Added by the SDBOT-AGD WORM! | No |
| Compaq Service Drivers 32 | X | compq32.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | 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