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? |
|---|
| ALLTEL DSL Check-up Center | U | 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, county, etc and gets written to a log file". ALLTEL DSL Check-up Center is required to run with the Help and Support program. If you uncheck ALLTEL DSL Check-up Center and then run Help and Support it will add another ALLTEL DSL Check-up Center in the startup menu. If you remove this software in "add/remove programs" some help menus in help and support will not be available. You decide | No |
| AllToTray | U | ALLTOTRAY.EXE | AlltoTray from DNTSoft - minimize any program to your System Tray
| No |
| ALM | X | csrss32.exe | Added by the ANACON-D VIRUS! | No |
| ALM | X | anacon32.exe | Added by the ANACON-C WORM! | No |
| Alogrithm Link Queue | X | alq.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| Alogserv | U | Alogserv.exe | From McAfee VirusScan for logging scanning activities. In some cases, if left running it can cause CPU % usage to go between 5-95% or go to and stay at 100%. Disabling it impacts on the reported last scan date. It is reported to cause jerky graphics response in many games. As of version 6, this is a critical component of McAfee and disabling it can cause a PC to lock up | No |
| ALPass | U | ALPass.exe | ALPass password manager | No |
| alpha | X | svchost.exe | Added by a variant of the DELF.IT TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate svchost.exe process which is always located in %System% and should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! The location of this file varies | No |
| AlphaAnt | X | alpha.exe | Alpha Antivirus rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| AlphaAV | X | AlphaAV.exe | Alpha Antivirus rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| Alps Electric USB Server | Y | Monserv.exe | Alps Electric USB Server - required according to this article
| No |
| AlpsPoint | U | Apoint.exe | Touchpad software for laptop PC's. For instance it is found on the Panasonic and Sony Vaio machines and allows part of the touchpad to be used for document or Web-page scrolling. Required for proper functioning of the pointing software but not required for the laptop to work | No |
| ALServ | U | ALServ.exe | Utility that enables a user to control the volume and surround sound and select Pro Logic/Stereo on 2 satellite speakers and subwoofer of old Altec Lansing speaker systems. The right-side speaker has 4 controls on top providing same functionality | No |
| alt CTRL Shift | X | et3rd.exe | Added by the SDBOT-RH BACKDOOR! | No |
| ALTER DATA | X | [path] repcale.exe [path] beird.exe | Added by the IRCFLOOD.CD TROJAN! Both files are located in %System%\ccdew | No |
| Altnet | X | points manager.exe | Altnet TopSearch adware | No |
| AltnetPointsManager | X | points manager.exe | Altnet TopSearch adware | No |
| AltoMB_service | U | AltoMBsrv.exe | Alto Memory Booster from Alto Software - boost the computers performance via more intelligent and efficient memory management. MS MVPs (Most Valued Professional) recommend not using memory managers with Win98/SE/ME. See this article and make up your own mind | No |
| ALTOOLS | U | AccessL.exe | ALTools family of PC utilities
| No |
| AltPayments | X | AltPayments.exe | WeirdOnTheWeb adware | No |
| ALU Scheduler Service | N | ALUSchedulerSvc.exe | Symantec LiveUpdate scheduler for programs such as Norton AV or Internet Security | No |
| ALUAlert | U | ALUNotify.exe | Notification reminder for Symantec's LiveUpdate. Leave enabled unless you manually run LiveUpdate on a regular basis | No |
| Aluria Security Center | N | SecurityCenter.exe | Aluria Software's spyware removal tool - we can't really recommend this product as Aluria have recently partnered with WhenU, the well known adware company, see here | No |
| Aluria's Pop-Up Stopper | U | eps.exe | Aluria Pop-Stopper | No |
| Aluria's Spyware Eliminator | N | ASE.exe | Aluria Software's spyware removal tool - we can't really recommend this product as Aluria have recently partnered with WhenU, the well known adware company, see here | No |
| AlwaysOnTopMaker | U | AlwaysOnTopMaker.exe | Always On Top Maker - utilty to enable an application to always be displayed "on top" of others on the desktop | No |
| AlwaysReady Power Message APP | U | ARPWRMSG.EXE | "Away Mode" feature added with Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 that allows the computer to appear off to the user while it continues to perform tasks that do not require user input, such as recording television and viewing Media Center Extender sessions. For more information see here | No |
| AmazingTens | X | AmazingTens.exe | Premium rate adult content dialler | No |
| AMD PowerNow! | U | GemBack.exe | AMD PowerNow! - "an innovative solution available on all AMD mobile processor-based notebooks that can effectively increase notebook battery life, while delivering performance on demand" | No |
| amd_dc_opt | Y | amd_dc_opt.exe | AMD Dual-Core Optimizer - "can help improve some PC gaming video performance by compensating for those applications that bypass the Windows API for timing by directly using the RDTSC (Read Time Stamp Counter) instruction" | No |
| America Online | N | aoltray.exe | Adds the AOL icon in the System Tray (*.* denotes version if present) for versions of AOL up to and including 9.0. Start AOL via the desktop or quick launch shortcuts or via Start → All Programs | Yes |
| America Online *.* Tray Icon | N | aoltray.exe | Adds the AOL icon in the System Tray (*.* denotes version if present) for versions of AOL up to and including 9.0. Start AOL via the desktop or quick launch shortcuts or via Start → All Programs | Yes |
| AME_CSA | N | rundll32 amecsa.cpl, RUN_DLL | Loads ADSL modem Control Panel applet | No |
| AmIcoSinglun | U | AmIcoSinglun.exe | Single LUN Icon Utility - System Tray access/notification for card readers using controllers from Alcor Micro which incorporate Single LUN, such as the AU6336, AU6439 and AU6431 | No |
| Amie Release V6.9D | X | services.exe | Added by the VB-EAN TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate services.exe process which is always located in %System% and should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! This one is located in %Windir% | No |
| amircivil | X | svchost.exe… | Added by the AMIRECIVEL WORM! | No |
| AModemLockDown | U | ModemLockDown.exe | ModemLockDown - allows you to supervise internet access by disabling the modem, protects againt dialers accessing dial-up connections, etc | No |
| Amon | Y | AMON.EXE | Monitoring part of Eset's NOD32 virus-scanner | No |
| Amonitor | Y | amon.exe | Tiny Personal Firewall | No |
| AMO_Taskplaner.exe | U | AMO_Taskplaner.exe | Part of Ashampoo® Magical Optimizer from Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG - which removes stagnant and unnecessary hard drive files, deletes Internet tracks and streamlines the registry by erasing invalid and orphaned entries. The Taskplaner automates this system optimization according to the user defined schedule and gives System Tray access to the main program | Yes |
| AMO_TA~1 | U | AMO_Taskplaner.exe | Part of Ashampoo® Magical Optimizer from Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG - which removes stagnant and unnecessary hard drive files, deletes Internet tracks and streamlines the registry by erasing invalid and orphaned entries. The Taskplaner automates this system optimization according to the user defined schedule and gives System Tray access to the main program | Yes |
| AMO_TA~1.EXE | U | AMO_TA~1.EXE | Part of Ashampoo® Magical Optimizer from Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG - which removes stagnant and unnecessary hard drive files, deletes Internet tracks and streamlines the registry by erasing invalid and orphaned entries. The Taskplaner automates this system optimization according to the user defined schedule and gives System Tray access to the main program | Yes |
| AMP WinOFF | U | winoff.exe | WinOFF is " a utility designed to shut down Windows computers automatically, in a fully configurable way" | No |
| AMSG | U | Amsg.exe | Part of the IBM ThinkVantage Productivity Center. "The Message Center sends automatic notification on ThinkVantage Technologies integrated with your system. Once you're online" | No |
| amsgupdate | X | ams.exe | Added by a variant of the MAILBOT TROJAN! | No |
| AMSN | N | amsn.exe | aMSN Messenger is a multiplatform MSN messenger clone | No |
| amsn | X | amsn.exe | Added by the BANKER-BNZ TROJAN! | No |
| amva | X | amvo.exe | Added by the SILLYFDC-BR WORM! | No |
| Anapod Manager | N | anamgr.exe | Anapod Explorer from Red Chair Software "is the most advanced Windows iPod® software available, offering iPod® management through full Windows Explorer integration under My Computer" | No |
| anbv32 | X | nabv32.exe | Added by the TITOG.C 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