Start-Up Applications

If you're frustrated with the time it takes your PC to boot and then it seems to be running slowly you probably have too many programs running at startup - and have come to the right place to identify and disable some of them.

If you are a regular visitor, click HERE to go straight to the list...

Last update :- 27th May, 2009
19103 items listed

Introduction

When most software is installed these days it will often add to the number of programs that run at startup - often including another icon on the System Tray. Many of these are not required for every day PC use and can safely be disabled - examples such as updaters, photo uploaders and printer monitors. Each of these uses part of the system's memory and resources and can lead to a reduction in performance when playing games or editing videos for example.

This page introduces a searchable, comprehensive list of the programs you may find that run when you switch on your PC as typically identified by Windows Defender, MSConfig or the registry "Run" keys - and whether you need them.

If you were directed by another site straight to this page, please also have a look at the main startup page first at Startup Content. It contains very useful information, including how to identify these programs, how to disable them and the information I need to accept new entries to the list. Submissions can be made via E-mail to pacman_at_pacs-portal.co.uk (replace the "_a_" with "@") or the Message Board

If you wish to reproduce or re-use the information provided here by all means do so but please respect the Copyright information at the base of the pages and indicate to your visitors or the users of your software where you got the information from.

You can download an off-line version of the list under the "Download Alternative Formats" heading on any list page. HTML ZIP and EXE formats are also available which consist of a single table arranged alphabetically. Also available is an EXCEL ZIP version which contains no hyperlinks. The columns in this version can obviously be sorted how ever the user wants to but no support is provided.

Updates - recent changes to the entries in this list

Close Program/Task Manager

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.

Operating System Differences

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.

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.

As XP uses the first part of the filename and some of these are fairly common this will only be included if it's unique. Take the filename update.exe for example. In the database there are a number of entries, a few of which are in the U or Y category. In this case the same description would have to cover all possibilities - which is not really feasible.

Random startup entry/filename malware

There are viruses and other pests that can add any number of different entries to the startups. They make additional entries under the registry key HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Run and RunOnce keys, allowing them to run at startup. In all cases below, %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):

  1. PE_BISTRO - adds "XXXX"="C:\WINDOWS\XXXX.EXE" - where XXXX is the randomly chosen filename of the dropped file
  2. MAGISTR.A - adds "[Virus file name]"="[Virus Path and file name].EXE"
  3. BUGBEAR.A or BUGBEAR.C or BUGBEAR.E - adds ""=%System%\"[random filename].EXE"
  4. OPTIXPRO.11 - adds "%Registry entry%"="%Path%\%Filename%"
  5. Lop.com homepage hijacker - adds multiple and random startup entries
  6. FreeScratchAndWin - adds multiple and random startup entries as it includes LOP above
  7. nCase (or n-Case) parasite - adds multiple and random startup entries
  8. LORAC - adds "[four random characters]"="%Sysdir%\abcdef.exe"
  9. MOSUCK - random name and filename in C:\Windows or C:\Winnt
  10. DEBORMS.D - adds one of a number of valid Name/Startup Item entries but points to the path of the worm file dropped
  11. GIBE.C - adds random name and filename in C:\Windows or C:\Winnt
  12. SWEN.A - adds random name and filename
  13. ZOMBAM.B - adds random name and filename
  14. WANADO or REUR - adds "XXXXXXXX"="%Sysdir%\XXXXXXXX.exe" where X can be any random hexadecimal (0-9, A-F) number
  15. SINCOM - adds random name and filename in C:\Windows or C:\Winnt with "Run:Auto" appended to the command/data column entry
  16. SOBER family - adds "[random string]"="%system%\[random filename.exe]"
  17. BRANCOS.C - adds "win_[4 random characters][4 random numbers 0-9]"="%System%\SYS_386X\[4 random characters][4 random numbers 0-9].exe"
  18. IRC.BOT.B - adds random name and filename
  19. COREFLOO-C - adds "[random filename]"="rundll32 %SYSTEM% [random filename].dll,Init 1"
  20. [random digits].exe = [random digits].exe - 8 random digits, example: 77231997.exe = 77231997.exe. Winpup.exe adult content downloader
  21. DRAGONQQ - "[Trojan's filename]"="[Path to the Trojan]", "[Random name]"="C:\WINNT\[Random name].exe", "[Random name]"="C:\Program Files\[Random name].exe" or "[Random name]"="C:\WINDOWS\[Random name].exe"
  22. FORMADOR - adds "[executed file name]"="%System%\[executed file name].exe"
  23. NETTRASH - adds "[file name]"="[path to filename].exe"
  24. OPTIXPRO.13B - adds "[registry value name]"="[path to trojan].exe"
  25. MYDOOM.F or MYDOOM.G or MYDOOM.H - adds "[4 to 8 random, lowercase letters]"="[worm filename]"
  26. ANNIL - adds random name and filename
  27. ANTINNY.G and ANTINNY.K - adds "[random name]"="[path to worm]"
  28. KILLAV.D - adds "[Trojan filename]"="%Windir%\[Trojan file name]" where %Windir% is C:\Windows or C:\Winnt
  29. MYPOO - adds "[value name]"="[Trojan file name]" where [value name] is configurable
  30. BLACKMAL or BLACKMAL.B - adds "[random_file_name1].exe"="%System%\[random_file_name1].exe"
  31. ERKEX.A - adds "[random_file_name]"="%System%\[random_file_name].exe"
  32. OPASA - adds "[random_file_name]"="%System%\[random_file_name].exe"
  33. GAOBOT.ADN - adds random name and filename
  34. ADWAHECK - adds "[trojan name]"="%System%\[trojan filename]"
  35. GOBOT.A - adds random name and filename in C:\Windows or C:\Winnt
  36. Sandboxer adware - adds random name and filename
  37. AGENT.B - adds "[1-5 random characters]"="RUNDLL32 %System%\[DLL filename].dll,StreamingDeviceSetup"
  38. EXRUNTEL - adds "[original filename]"="%System%\[original filename]"
  39. Margoc adware - adds random name and filename
  40. Winpup adware - adds random name and filename in %System%
  41. KETCH - adds "[word]"="%System%\[word][number].exe"
  42. DARBY.B - adds "[random worm filename]"="%System%\[random worm filename]"
  43. VUNDO - adds "*[trojan name]"="[trojan path]"
  44. BEAKER.A - adds "[5 random lower-case char]"="[5 random lower-case char].exe" in the System, system32, Temp and Fonts sub-directories of %Windir%
  45. LIFEFORENOW - adds "[random filename]"="%System%\[random filename].exe"
  46. DIMI - adds "[random value name]"="%System%\[random filename].exe"
  47. ABEBOT - adds "[random service name]"="[random filename].exe -services"
  48. OMEGA - adds "[random value]" = "%Windir%\[random file name].exe"
  49. NAMSHARE - adds "[Random service name]" = "[Random file name]"
  50. REANET.B - adds "[file name]" = "[path to file name]"
  51. BANCOS.Q - adds "[filename prefix]" = "[path to filename]"
  52. SPYBOTER.GEN - adds "[key name]" = "[file name of Trojan]"
  53. BOTUK - adds "[random characters]Srv32" = "[random characters]srv.exe"
  54. MADTOL-A - adds "[trojan filename]" = "%System%\[trojan filename]"
  55. HESIVE - adds "[trojan filename]" = "[path to trojan]"

Spyware/Adware/Malware/Foistware & Hijackers

If you want to know more about these types of programs why not start with a search at Wikipedia - the free, community maintained online encyclopedia. Then visit the Safer Networking and BleepingComputer malware forums.

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Created by Paul "Pacman" Collins for Pacman's Portal

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