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? |
|---|
| Acronis TrueImage Monitor | N | TrueImageMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image - backup software. Can be disabled without affecting TrueImage | No |
| Acronis*True*Image Monitor | N | TrueImageMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image - backup software. Can be disabled without affecting TrueImage | No |
| AcronisTimounterMonitor | U | TimounterMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image backup software. Monitor for the backup archive explorer for moving and viewing files within an archive | No |
| AcronisTrueImage Monitor | N | TrueImageMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image - backup software. Can be disabled without affecting TrueImage | No |
| Acroread | X | AcroRD32.exe | Added by the DLOADR-BDK TROJAN! Note - this is not the popular Adobe Reader | No |
| Acroread | X | GoogleUpdate.exe | Added by the AGENT-JGI TROJAN! Note - this is not the valid Google program which is normally located in %AppData%\Google\Update. This version resides in %Temp% | No |
| Act! Preloader | U | Act8.exe | Sage Software's ACT! "enables individuals and small business customers to instantly access key contact and customer information, manage and prioritize activities, and track all contact-related communications so you can grow productive business relationships" | No |
| Action Manager 32 | N | am32.exe | Associated with a Plustech scanner. Small utility that runs in the background for doing fax/copy/etc. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| ActionAgent | ? | actionagent.exe | "A COM server that runs on the client as part of the Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation 6.x package; provides a simple method for a remote administrator to perform actions on the instrumented client". Is it required? | No |
| Activation | N | Activation.exe | Part of Microsoft Money | No |
| Activboard | U | MMKeybd.exe | Packard Bell ActiveBoard keyboard - multimedia keyboard manager. Required if you use the additional keys and want to see the status of the Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock keys | No |
| ACTIVBOARD | U | ABoard.exe | Packard Bell ActiveBoard keyboard - multimedia keyboard manager. Required if you use the additional keys and want to see the status of the Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock keys | No |
| Active Bit Station | X | abs.exe | Added by the MYTOB.BZ WORM! | No |
| Active CPU | N | acpu.exe | Active CPU - "easy to use tool for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000 that enables you to watch a graphical representation of your CPU's activity" | No |
| Active Desktop Calendar | U | ADC.EXE | XemiComputers Active Desktop Calendar | No |
| Active Email Monitor | U | aem25.exe | Active Email Monitor checks multiple accounts for email, serves as a SPAM filter and can also protect you from harmful items that can be sent via email | No |
| Active Security | X | asecurity.exe | Active Security rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| Active shield | U | Activeshield.exe | Active Shield is "an heuristic screen that actively protects your computer from trojans, spyware, adware, trackware, dialers, keyloggers, and even some special kinds of viruses" | No |
| ActiveDesktop | X | systray32.exe | Added by the DABOOM WORM! | No |
| ACTIVEDS | X | ACTIVEDS.EXE | Added by the OPASERV.T WORM! | No |
| ActiveEyes | N | ActiveEyes.exe | ActiveEyes from TFI Technology is a small utility that you can use to liven up your desktop. It follows your mouse around and can tell you how far your cursor has travelled or point out where the cursor is. It's small, it's free and comes with a range of options and animations. Not needed - if unavailable via Start -> Programs, create your own shortcut | No |
| ActiveKeys.AAB635BD7D054a37A576 | U | akeys.exe | "Active Keys is a powerful yet easy-to-use tool for creating and managing keyboard shortcuts for any system action" | No |
| ActiveMenu | U | ActiveMenu.exe | Wild Tangent demo games that come with some HP computers. Unchecking it can prevent the games from running occasionally. Note that WildTanget's privacy policy used to state that they also collect and share individuals information but this is no longer the case | No |
| ActivePlus | U | activeplus.exe | Interactive Agents Plugin for Messenger Plus! (MSN Messenger add-on) | No |
| ActiveScan Antivirus | X | ActiveScan.exe | Added by the RBOT-FKQ WORM! | No |
| ActiveScript32 | X | nod.exe | Added by the SOHANA-AJ WORM! | No |
| ActiveShield | Y | mcvsshld.exe | ActiveShield - background scanner for older versions of McAfee VirusScan and the now obsolete McAfee VirusScan Online which scans files in the background as and when they are accessed, including scanning E-mails via the McAfee VirusScan E-mail Scan Module (McVSEscn.exe) | Yes |
| ActiveSpeed | N | AS.exe | Ascentive ActiveSpeed internet optimizer - not recommended, see here and here | No |
| ActiveSync | X | wcescom32.exe | Added by the MANCSYN-E TROJAN! | No |
| ActiveWords | N | AWMonitor.exe | ActiveWords from ActiveWord Systems, Inc. Like macro programs, ActiveWords sits in the background and watches as you type. When it recognizes that you've typed an ActiveWord, it takes the associated action, such as replacing your keystrokes with the text you've defined | No |
| ActiveX File Registration Service | X | filereg.exe | Added by the RBOT-DVD WORM! | No |
| ActiveX Streamer | X | msgfix.exe | Added by the SDBOT.NQ WORM! | No |
| ActiveXUpdate | X | svcss.exe | Added by a variant of the DEDLER.C TROJAN! | No |
| Activity | U | actik.exe | ActivityKey keystroke logger/monitoring program - remove unless you installed it yourself! | No |
| ActivSurf | N | backweb*****.exe | Packard Bell ActivSurf - automatically detects an internet connection and downloads any available updates | No |
| ActMaker | U | ActMak25.exe | "ActMaker mouse and keyboard toolkit can record the daily operation of your computer and reduce your workload. You don't need to do any coding, nor are you required to know a lot about the computer" | No |
| ActMaker | U | ActMaker25.exe | ActMaker mouse and keyboard toolkit can record the daily operation of your computer and reduce your workload
| No |
| ACTray | U | ACTray.exe | System Tray access to the ThinkVantage Access Connections connectivity-assistant program for IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad or 3000 Family notebook computers - "allowing users to seamlessly switch between wired and wireless environments, managing security settings, printers, home page and other location-specific settings automatically" | Yes |
| Actual Window Manager | U | ActualWindowManagerCenter.exe | Actual Window Manager from Actual Tools - "an innovative desktop organization application which introduces unconventional window controls and also automatic general window operations making your work more productive, convenient and enjoyable" | No |
| Actual Window Minimizer | U | ActualWindowMinimizerCenter.exe | Actual Window Minimizer - "allows minimizing any window to task tray notification area or to the edge of the screen"
| No |
| ACTX1 | X | v1201.exe | Added by the VB.IS TROJAN! | No |
| ACU | U | ACU.exe | Atheros wireless Client Utility | No |
| ACU_QSB | U | ACU.exe | Atheros wireless Client Utility | No |
| ACWLIcon | U | ACWLIcon.exe | Part of the ThinkVantage Access Connections connectivity-assistant program for IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad or 3000 Family notebook computers - "allowing users to seamlessly switch between wired and wireless environments, managing security settings, printers, home page and other location-specific settings automatically." This is the System Tray icon giving notifications of and access to the Wireless Connection Status | Yes |
| Ad Arrest | U | adarrest.exe | Ad Arrest IE popup killer from GameFools | No |
| Ad Blocker | U | blocker.exe | Ad Blocker - blocks popups, and also removes banners, image ads and flash ads | No |
| Ad Blocker Pro | U | Ad Blocker Pro.exe | Ad Away popup and banner remover | No |
| Ad Muncher | U | AdMunch.exe | Ad Muncher removes adverts, pop-ups and general annoyances in your browser, file-sharing and messenger programs. Causes conflicts with Outlook, game sites and web-building applications | No |
| Ad Online Guide | ? | adonlineguide.exe | ?? | No |
| Ad-Aware | U | Ad-Aware.exe | Ad-Aware from Lavasoft - popular spyware/adware removal tool | 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