Startup Applications List
Unfortunately, due to a change in my circumstances, the startup programs database here at Sysinfo.org will no longer be updated and the off-line downloads are no longer available. The version at Pacman's Portal will, however, continue to be updated and it's recommended that you refer to that site for more up to date information. The reason for this change in policy cannot be disclosed at this time but I hope you have enjoyed using the database here and thank you for your support and kind comments over the years.
Paul Collins
If you're frustrated with the time it takes your Windows 7/Vista/XP PC to boot and then it seems to be running slowly you may have too many programs running at start-up - and you 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 accurate and comprehensive. Services are not included - see below. The database is mirrored in a slightly different format at Pacman's Portal.
"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 you may want to also visit this page.
For further information on random startup entries please visit the Startups Info page.
Last update :- 29th July, 2011
24133 items listed
"Status" key:
| Name or Startup Item | Status | Command or Data | Description | Tested? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTDVDDet | N | CTDVDDet.exe | Auto-detect and play a DVD when using a Creative Soundblaster Audigy2 soundcard. Uses about 2.2 MB of memory. Disable it by heading to the MediaSource DVD Audio Player, selecting Tools, then uncheck the Auto Start box. It should not start up automatically again | No |
| CTF Device Loader | X | ctfmond.exe | Added by the AGOBOT-FO WORM! | No |
| ctf.exe | X | ctf.exe | Added by a variant of the BIFROSE TROJAN! | No |
| ctflog manager | X | ctflog.exe | Added by the DONBOMB.A TROJAN! | No |
| CTFM0N.exe | X | CTFM0N.exe | Added by the STARTPAGE.P TROJAN! Notice the digit "0" in both columns rather than the upper case "o" | No |
| ctfmen | X | cssrs.exe | Added by the STARTP-DC TROJAN! | No |
| ctfmgr | X | ctfmgr.exe | Added by the PWS-ATU TROJAN! | No |
| ctfmom | X | ctfnom.exe | Added by the BCKDR-QTA BACKDOOR! | No |
| ctfmon | X | cftmon.exe | Added by the DELIVE-A BACKDOOR! Note - this is not the legitimate ctfmon.exe process associated with alternate text inputs which is always located in %System%. This one is located in %Windir% | No |
| CTFMon | U | ctfmon.exe | Family KeyLogger keystroke logger/monitoring program - remove unless you installed it yourself! Note - this is not the legitimate ctfmon.exe process associated with alternate text inputs which is always located in %System%. This one is located in a "CTF" sub-folder | No |
| ctfmon | X | ctfmon.exe | Added by the AUTORUN-G WORM! Note - this is not the legitimate ctfmon.exe process associated with alternate language and method inputs which is always located in %System%. This one is located in a "1046" sub-folder | No |
| CTFMON.CPL | X | CTFM0N.CMD | Detected by Symantec as the SILLYFDC WORM! See here | No |
| Ctfmon.exe | X | ctfmon32.exe | CoolWebSearch Ctfmon32 parasite variant | No |
| ctfmon.exe | X | ctfmon.exe | Added by the RAIDYS TROJAN! Note - this overwrites the legitimate ctfmon.exe process associated with alternate text inputs which is located in %System% | No |
| ctfmon.exe | X | ctfmon.exe eminem.exe | Added by the BHARAT.A WORM! | No |
| ctfmon.exe | X | CTFM0N.EXE | Added by the AUTORUN-AYX WORM! Notice the digit "0" in the filename rather than the upper case "o" | No |
| ctfmon.exe | U | ctfmon.exe | TotalSpy keystroke logger/monitoring program - remove unless you installed it yourself! Note - this is not the legitimate ctfmon.exe process associated with alternate text inputs which is always located in %System%. This one is located in %ProgramFiles%\TS Trial | No |
| CTFMON.EXE | X | ctfmon.exe | Added by the VBSP-A WORM! Note - this is not the legitimate ctfmon.exe process associated with alternate language and method inputs which is always located in %System%. This one is located in a "1126" sub-folder | No |
| CTFMON32 | X | CTFMON32.EXE | CoolWebSearch Ctfmon32 parasite variant - also detected as the CWS-E TROJAN! | No |
| ctfmona | X | ctfmona.exe | Added by the DLOADR-BME TROJAN! | No |
| CTFMONSS | X | CTFMONSS.EXE | Added by the CWS-F TROJAN! | No |
| ctfmun | X | ctfmun.exe | Added by the AGENT.ACEZ TROJAN! | No |
| ctfnnon | X | ctfmon.exe | Added by the TURKOJAN.IL BACKDOOR! Note - this is not the legitimate ctfmon.exe process associated with alternate text inputs which is always located in %System%. This one is located in %Windir% | No |
| cthelp | X | cthelp.exe | Added by the SDBOT TROJAN! | No |
| CTHELPER | U | CTHELPER.EXE | CTHELPER is a background task that is a plug-in manager for Creative drivers. The theory is that 3rd party manufacturers can use the CTHELPER plug-in interface to produce drivers, add-on features, and fixes that will integrate with a tighter fit with Creative's sound drivers and utilities. Given its purpose CTHELPER would normally be classified as a "leave alone" background task. It also allows Creative speaker setup to be synchronized with Windows Control Panel speaker setting. Without it running that check box in Creative speaker setting is not functional (settings are not in sync). Unfortunately there are often problems with CTHELPER, most notably that it can use 100% of CPU time so it's best left disabled unless you need it | No |
| CTHelper | X | cthelper.exe | Added by the RBOT-XB WORM! Note - do not confuse with the Creative application of the same name described here | No |
| CTin10 | X | CTin10.exe | Added by the BANCOS.E TROJAN! | No |
| CtModule | X | CtModule.exe | Added by the CLICKER-EG TROJAN! | No |
| CTMON.EXE | X | cfmon.exe | Added by the CLCKR-AN TROJAN! | No |
| CTNMRUN | U | ctnmrun.exe | Detects the Creative NOMAD jukebox/MP3 player at the time it is attached to USB and starts the needed application (Creative PlayCentre 2) that you use to copy MP3 files to and from it. This is required if you want PlayCentre 2 to take control of the NOMAD once connected | No |
| CTPDPSRV | ? | CTPDPSRV.EXE | Compaq A3000 printer driver (in the %System%\spool\DRIVERS\W32\X86 folder). Is it required? | No |
| CTPerformanceUtility | N | CTPowUti.exe | Related to Creative PowerSysTrayApp. This program is a non-essential process, but should not be terminated unless suspected to be causing problems | No |
| ctpmon | X | ctpmon.exe | Registry Cleaner rogue - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| CTRegRun | N | CTRegRun.exe | For Creative Soundblaster Live! series soundcards. Reminds you to register your card with Creative | No |
| CtrlVol | U | CtrlVol.exe | Volume control key on Acer, Fujitsu and other laptops | No |
| CTSched | ? | CTSched.exe | Creative Task Scheduler. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| CTStartup | N | CTEaxSpl.exe | Splash screen with sound on every boot up. Installed with a Sound Blaster Audigy soundcard | No |
| CTSVolFE | U | CTSVolFE.exe | Creative Labs Mixer applet for the Sound Blaster Audigy | No |
| CTSVolFE.exe | U | CTSVolFE.exe | Creative Labs Mixer applet for the Sound Blaster Audigy | No |
| CTSyncU.exe | N | CTSyncU.exe | Creative Sync Manager - synchronizes music tracks on your computer with your player | No |
| CTsysVol | U | CTSysVol.exe | Creative sound card volume controls | No |
| cttdpsrv | ? | cttdpsrv.exe | ?? | No |
| CTUpdate | X | ctupdclt.exe | Added by the RBOT-ABG WORM! | No |
| CTxfiHlp | N | CTXFIHLP.EXE | Added by the installation of a Creative Labs X-Fi sound card. This particular process provides the help functionality for your card | No |
| CTXFIREG | N | CTxfiReg.exe | Creative Labs sound card driver related. It appears that it isn't required and maybe registration related | No |
| CTZDetec.exe | N | CTZDetec.exe | Auto-detect feature of Creative Media Lite which assists you in managing your music, ripping CDs and transferring other stored music to your Zen Stone MP3 player | No |
| cuagentExe | Y | Cuagent.exe | Command Antivirus related | No |
| cuo | X | cuo.exe | Added by the BUGBEAR.A WORM! | No |
| Current Security Config | X | csecure.exe | Added by the RBOT-AMO WORM! | No |
| CurseClient | N | CurseClient.exe | CurseClient add-on manager for World of Warcraft and Warhammer Online games | No |
Notes & Warnings
Variables:
DISCLAIMER: It is assumed that users are familiar with the operating system they are using and comfortable with making the suggested changes. We will not be held responsible if changes you make cause a system failure.
WARNING: 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 entries listed in this database where specific removal instructions haven't been given. If this is the case then you could try ComboFix, a program written by sUBs that can remove many different types of Trojans and Worms. See here for a tutorial on how to use the program
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.
SERVICES: "Services" from the NT/2K/XP/Vista/7 operating systems are not included. I fully understand that some programs with these OS's use "Services" as an alternative to load their component parts at startup but these are handled in a different way. We recommend you try BlackViper for information on services for the relevant operating systems.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
If you're looking for a startup manager then why not 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.
As there are more than 10,000 entries in this database related to viruses, trojans, worms and other malware we recommend you use a quality internet security package. Which ever you choose, keep it updated.
Copyright
Presentation, format & comments Copyright © 2001 - 2011 Pacman's Portal
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