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? |
|---|
| AHNSD | Y | AhnSD.exe | AhnLab V3 antivirus updater - leave enabled unless you manually update on a regular basis | No |
| AHNUE | ? | AHNUE.exe | ?? | No |
| AhorreMemoria | X | SysRep.exe | AhorreMemoria rogue system error and cleaning utility - not recommended. A member of the ErrClean family | No |
| ahost | X | ahost.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| AHQInit | N | ahqinit.exe | Part of AudioHQ for the Soundblaster Live!. Appears as though it makes the AudioHW toolbar drop down from the top of the desktop and isn't required | No |
| Ahst | X | iebs.exe | PurityScan adware | No |
| AHU | X | [path to worm] | Added by the ANACON-B WORM! | No |
| AHU | X | ANACON.EXE | Added by the NACO.A WORM! | No |
| ahui32.exe | X | ahui32.exe | Added by the CERTIF-M TROJAN! | No |
| Ai Gear Help | U | GearHelp.exe | Included with some ASUS motherboards (such as the Maximus Extreme & Striker II Extreme), AI Gear "is a utility designed to configure and support all ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) features." Provides system performance profiles to adjust CPU frequency and voltage for different computing needs. Part of AI Suite | No |
| Ai Nap | U | AiNap.exe | Included with some ASUS motherboards (such as the Maximus Extreme & Striker II Extreme), "AI Nap allows you to minimize the power consumption of your computer whenever you are away. Enable this feature for minimum power consumption and quieter system opearation." Part of AI Suite | No |
| Ai Quicker Help | U | AsRc.exe | ASUS DH Remote media portal launcher for their Digital Home range of motherboards that are designed for users to control the computer at a distance away, such as the M2N DH. "ASUS DH Remote is a convenient PC remote controller that gives users unprecedented control over their PCs from the comfort of their couches" | No |
| Aica | X | tuaa.exe | PurityScan adware | No |
| Aida | X | ttuh.exe | PurityScan adware | No |
| Aida | X | eetu.exe | PurityScan adware | No |
| AidemHotKey | ? | DVMAIN.EXE | Keyboard related | No |
| AidemHotKey | ? | KEYAPP.EXE | Keyboard related | No |
| aiepk | U | aiepk2.exe | Another IE Popup Killer - pop-up stopper | No |
| AIM | N | aim.exe | AOL Instant Messenger. If connected to the internet, automatically runs up AIM. Convenience more than anything. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| AIM | U | AIM+.exe | AIM plus - a free add-on to AOL's Instant Messenger for Windows from Big-O Software | No |
| AIM Instant Message Cookies | X | [random filename] | Added by the RBOT-AFV WORM! | No |
| AIM Logger | N | AIMLogger.exe | AIM Logger - saves AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) conversations to log files. Can be started when you are using AIM | No |
| Aim Plugin | X | aimplugin.exe | Added by the GUAP-F WORM! | No |
| Aim Quick Start | X | Aim.exe | Added by the FORBOT-BB WORM! Note - this is not the popular AOL Instant Messenger utility | No |
| AIM reminder | X | AIM reminder.exe | Added by the BUDDY.E TROJAN! | No |
| Aim6 | N | AOLLaunch.exe | AOL Instant Messenger - start it when you want to use it | No |
| Aim6 | N | aim6.exe | AOL Instant Messenger - start it when you want to use it | No |
| AIM95 Startup | X | aim95.exe | Added by the AGOBOT.AEE WORM! | No |
| aimaol lptt01 | X | aimaol.exe | RapidBlaster variant (in a "Aimaol" folder in Program Files). Recommended you use RapidBlaster Killer to uninstall - see here | No |
| aimaol ml097e | X | aimaol.exe | RapidBlaster variant (in a "Aimaol" folder in Program Files). Recommended you use RapidBlaster Killer to uninstall - see here | No |
| aimb.exe" -h | U | aimb.exe | IMSufSentinel is a spy program which can record IM conversations, log keystrokes, record URLs visited, and take screenshots. If you didn't install this yourself remove it | No |
| AimingClick | N | AimingClick.exe | AimingClick from AimingTech. Web searching tool. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| AimMonitor | U | AimMonitor.exe | AIM Monitor Sniffer surveillance software for the AIM instant messenger. Uninstall this software unless you put it there yourself | No |
| AIMPro | U | aimpro.exe | AIM Pro - secure instant messaging, video conferencing, on-line meetings and desktop and file sharing | No |
| AIMster | N | ?? | Peer to Peer (P2P) file sharing client that runs over the AOL Instant Messenger network. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| AIMWDInstall | N | AIMWDInstall.exe | Version of the WildTangent on-line games installer that came with versions of AOL Instant Messenger. 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 |
| Aiptek Graphics Tablet (USB) | Y | atwtusb.exe | USB interface for Aiptek Graphics Tablet (USB) | No |
| Air2Data | ? | a2dservice.exe | Related to the Air2Data Wireless HISA (High-Speed Internet Access) service. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| aircity | X | aircity.exe | Related to "Prutect" malware from e2Give | No |
| AirGCFG | Y | AirGCFG.exe | Driver and configuration utility for a number of wireless routers and adapters from D-Link | No |
| AirNCFG | Y | AirNCFG.exe | Driver and configuration utility for a number of wireless routers and adapters from D-Link | No |
| AirPlusCFG | Y | AirPlusCFG.exe | Driver and configuration utility for a number of wireless routers and adapters from D-Link | No |
| AirPort Base Station Agent | U | APAgent.exe | Airport Base Station Agent utility for Apple's AirPort wi-fi basestations. "Wireless solution for home, school, and business. As it blankets your space with a blazing-fast, secure wireless network, it opens up a world of possibilities for home entertainment, backups, printing, and more" | No |
| AJC Active Backup | U | AJCActBk.exe | AJC Active Backup from AJC Software - "Instantly backup files you change on your PC and keep multiple versions to undo" | No |
| AKEYNAME | X | WinServ.exe | Added by the EVILBOT.C TROJAN! | No |
| akeys | U | akeys.exe | "Active Keys is a powerful yet easy-to-use tool for creating and managing keyboard shortcuts for any system action" | No |
| akgkagaksad9 | X | fsakfask9.exe | Added by the ONLINEG-M TROJAN! | No |
| AKiller | U | akiller.exe | Advertising Killer - popup stopper | No |
| ala | U | ala.exe | Access Lock - "an easy-to-use system-tray security utility you can use to secure your desktop when you are away from your computer. Just configure the program, define a password and double click the Access Lock system-tray icon every time you need to disable and hide your desktop." The same program as 1 Click & Lock and
Access Controller (and maybe others) - the same file for the same version is used by all programs but the filename is different in each case | Yes |
| ala.exe | U | ala.exe | Access Lock - "an easy-to-use system-tray security utility you can use to secure your desktop when you are away from your computer. Just configure the program, define a password and double click the Access Lock system-tray icon every time you need to disable and hide your desktop." The same program as 1 Click & Lock and
Access Controller (and maybe others) - the same file for the same version is used by all programs but the filename is different in each case | Yes |
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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