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? |
|---|
| DLCQCATS | Y | rundll32 [path] DLCQtime.dll, _RunDLLEntry@16 | Resolves a timing problem where a Dell service tries to communicate with the printer but Windows is too busy - by either delaying the start of the service or restarting if the service failed to load. See here for more details on a similar Lexmark DLL entry (LXDCtime.dll) | No |
| dlcqmon.exe | U | dlcqmon.exe | Dell Photo AIO Printer 966 device monitor | No |
| DLCXCATS | Y | rundll32 [path] DLCXtime.dll, _RunDLLEntry@16 | Resolves a timing problem where a Dell service tries to communicate with the printer but Windows is too busy - by either delaying the start of the service or restarting if the service failed to load. See here for more details on a similar Lexmark DLL entry (LXDCtime.dll) | No |
| dlcxmon.exe | U | dlcxmon.exe | Dell Photo AIO Printer 926 device monitor | No |
| dlder | X | dlder.exe | Dlder spyware. Also creates a fake "explorer.exe" file and can be installed via versions of Grokster, Lime Wire and KaZaA file-sharing utilities | No |
| DlDir1 | X | caKe | Added by the CAKE WORM! | No |
| dldtamon | U | dldtamon.exe | Dell AIO Printer V305 device monitor | No |
| dldtmon | U | dldtmon.exe | Dell AIO Printer V305 device monitor | No |
| dldtmon.exe | U | dldtmon.exe | Dell AIO Printer V305 device monitor | No |
| DLForcerExe | ? | DLForcerEXE.exe | ?? | No |
| DLF_00000B00 | N | Vcdlf.exe | Known to cause problems with "Out of memory" errors (see here). Otherwise, it's purpose is unknown | No |
| DLG | N | DLGCHBW.exe | Backweb part of Data LifeGuard - diagnostic tools for Western Digital's series of hard drives. Automatically detects an internet connection and downloads any available updates | No |
| DLHelperEXE | N | WATCH.exe | Download helper distributed with some software that allows the software installation to redirect download locations. Not required once the installation is finished | No |
| DLHelperEXE.exe | X | N/A | Downloader for Microgaming/Casino software - stealth installed | No |
| dlhost | X | dlhost.exe | Added by the EXPHOOK-A TROJAN! | No |
| DLINK dfe drivers for Windows NT | X | windfe.exe | Added by the RANDEX.AK WORM! | No |
| DLink System Tray | U | dlnetst.exe | Related to D-Link DGE-530T PCI card for servers and workstations | No |
| Dlite | X | dllmanager.exe | Added by the WOOTBOT.DN WORM! | No |
| Dll Boot Loader on Startup (do not remove this) | X | [various filenames] | Added by an unidentified TROJAN! | No |
| Dll Link | X | svchoist.exe | Added by the AUTOSKY WORM! | No |
| Dll Link | X | svchost.exe | Added by the AUTOSKY WORM! Note - this is not the legitimate svchost.exe process which is always located in %System% and should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! This one is located in Documents and Settings\<User>\Favourites folder | No |
| DLL Manager | X | dllmngr32.exe | Added by a variant of the RBOT WORM! | No |
| DLL Service Manager | X | [path to worm] | Added by the RPCBOT.F TROJAN! | No |
| dll services | X | [random filename].exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| DLL32 | X | dllmem32.exe | Added by the KWBOT.E WORM! | No |
| DLL32 | X | dllhost.dll | Added by the SUCLOVE.A WORM! | No |
| dllcache.exe | X | dllcache.exe | Added by the VISPAT.A WORM! | No |
| DllCacherv2 | X | dllcachev2.exe | Added by the LATEDA TROJAN! | No |
| dllcvss | X | [random filename] | Added by a variant of the SLAPER TROJAN! | No |
| dlldmt | X | dlldmt.exe | Added by a variant of the CRYPTER.C TROJAN! | No |
| DllExecutable | X | [path to file] | Added by the VB-SP WORM! | No |
| dllhelp | X | dllhelp.exe | Added by the STARTPAGE.DQ hijacker | No |
| dllhelp | X | dllhlp.exe | Added by the Downloader-HI TROJAN!
| No |
| DLLHost | X | dllhst.exe | Added by the DELBOT-AC WORM! | No |
| DllHost | X | dllhost.exe | Added by the PROSTI.AA BACKDOOR! Note - this is not the legitimate dllhost.exe process which is always located in %System% and should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! This one is located in %Windir%\Inf | No |
| dllhostxp.exe | X | dllhostxp.exe | Browser hijacker and adware downloader | No |
| DllLoader | X | lssas.exe | Added by the BDOOR-JE BACKDOOR! | No |
| Dlload | X | killer.exe | Added by the KILLAV-FK TROJAN! | No |
| dllreg | X | dllreg.exe | Added by the CRYPTER.A TROJAN! | No |
| DLLService32 | X | dllsvc32.exe | Added by the AGOBOT.VX WORM! | No |
| DLLUPDATE32 | X | dllupdate32.exe | Added by the AGOBOT.IA WORM! | No |
| DLM.exe | N | DLM.exe | IGN Download Manager has become a requirement for downloading files through FilePlanet.com. It is based on Internet Explorer and it installs through an ActiveX-plugin, hence Internet Explorer must be installed beforehand and downloads has to be initialized through that browser | No |
| dlmMgr | N | AdobeDownloadManager.exe | Adobe Download Manager - "can prevent you from having to start from the beginning should your download process be interrupted, and it offers a level of service not possible | No |
| DLO Agent | Y | DLOClientu.exe | Part of the backup suites from VERITAS - Backup Exec and NetBackup. Both have now been replaced by their Symantec equivalents since they acquired VERITAS in 2005 | No |
| DLPSP | U | DLPSP.EXE | Dell laser printer status monitor | No |
| dlsp2mx | X | dlsp2mx.exe | Added by the MPB-B DIALER! An uninstall option can be accessed via the Add or Remove Programs dialog in the Windows Control Panel. The software is listed as "dlsp2mx" | No |
| DLT | ? | dlt.exe | ?? | No |
| dluca | X | dluca.exe | Added by the DLUCA.C TROJAN! | No |
| dluxde | X | dluxde.exe | All-In-One-Telcom (adult content dialler) variant | No |
| Dluxjp | X | Dluxjp.exe | Added by the DLUCA.D TROJAN! | No |
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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