Start-Up Applications

(1) If you receive an E-mail with an attachment from pac.man_at_ntlworld.com or pacman_at_pacs-portal.co.uk (replace "_at_" with "@") it isn't from me. It's most likely due to somebody elses PC bring infected with a VIRUS such as variants of MYDOOM, NETSKY and BEAGLE which spoof valid E-mail addresses.

(2) If you run Windows XP and have updated to SP2 and have the pop-up blocker for IE enabled by default the off-site links on this site won't work. They're not pop-ups but that's the way it works. Choose Tools -> Pop-up Blocker -> Pop-up Blocker Settings and set the "filter level" to Medium.

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

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 as to where you got the information. You can download an off-line version of the list by clicking on the "Download current list" link on any page.

If you prefer the old format you can still download the HTML ZIP and EXE formats which consist of a single table arranged alphabetically and are recommended for regular visitors anyway. 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.

Introduction

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.

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

Close Program/Task Manager

This is NOT a list of tasks/processes taken from Task Manager or the Close Program window (CTRL+ALT+DEL) but a list 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 WinTasks 5 Standard/Professional from Uniblue Systems Ltd or the list at AnswersThatWork. 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 list becoming too large, all VIRUSES are shown using the registry version which is common to all Windows versions.

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% is a variable - by default this is C:\Windows\System (Win9x/Me), C:\Winnt\System32 (WinNT/2K), or C:\Windows\System32 (WinXP):

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

Check CastleCops for information about these types of program. They have very active forums. You may also want to try SpywareInfo for their forums and a list of startup program managers.

If you decide to disable a program and run it manually, and there isn't a shortcut or Start -> Programs entry available you can create your own shortcut.

Updates - recent changes to the entries in this list

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

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