Sysinfo.org

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.

Name or Startup Item	Status	Command or Data	Description	Tested?
- show all
all others A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z [0-17]
.nvsvc	X	smss.exe	Added by the IRCBOT-FP TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate smss.exe process which should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup!	No
.nvsvcb	X	smssb.exe	Added by the BOXED.CG TROJAN!	No
clfmon	X	nvsvca32.exe	Added by the TACTSLAY.E TROJAN!	No
Generic Service Process	X	nvsvc.exe	Added by the AGOBOT.BY WORM! Note - this is not the valid NVIDIA Driver Helper Service and is located in %System%	No
Network Security XP	X	nvsvc86.exe	Added by the RBOT-GUI WORM!	No
Norton protect	X	nvsvc.exe	Added by a variant of the RBOT WORM!	No
nVidia Display Driver	X	nvsvc64.exe	Added by the IRCBOT-YK WORM! Note - this is not related to any nVidia based graphics card	No
NVIDIA Driver Helper Service, Version *	U	RUNDLL32.EXE nvsvc.dll,nvsvcStart	Initially installed with Vista display drivers for NVIDIA based graphics cards. This entry replaced the "NVIDIA Display Driver Service" or "NVIDIA Driver Helper Service" in XP - which was used in part to maintain overclocked display settings. In a GeForce 8800GT test system this isn't the case. Disabling it caused no ill effects but it's exact purpose isn't known - hence the "U" recommendation	Yes
NvSvc	N	nvsvc.exe	NVIDIA Driver Helper Service - installed when you change from the WDM drivers to nVidia's latest versions but not requied. Extreme shutdown delays can be encountered with this service active, but no adverse side effects with it disabled. NOTE: If using drivers other than nVidia's, such as Asus, this service may have been renamed to reflect that	No
nvsvc	X	nvsvc.exe	Added by the BANKER-HQ TROJAN! Note - this is not the valid NVIDIA Driver Helper Service and is located in %System%	No
NVSVC	X	nvsvc.exe	Added by the AGOBOT.ALX WORM! Note - this is not the valid NVIDIA Driver Helper Service and is located in %System%	No
NvSvc	U	RUNDLL32.EXE nvsvc.dll,nvsvcStart	Initially installed with Vista display drivers for NVIDIA based graphics cards. This entry replaced the "NVIDIA Display Driver Service" or "NVIDIA Driver Helper Service" in XP - which was used in part to maintain overclocked display settings. In a GeForce 8800GT test system this isn't the case. Disabling it caused no ill effects but it's exact purpose isn't known - hence the "U" recommendation	Yes
nvsvc16	U	nvsvc16.exe	MySuperSPy surveillance software. Uninstall this software unless you put it there yourself	No
nvsvca32	X	nvsvca32.exe	Added by the TACTSLAY.E TROJAN!	No
nvsvca32	X	clfmon.exe	Added by the TACTSLAY.E TROJAN!	No
Office Monitor	X	nvsvc86.exe	Added by the IRCBOT.BVO BACKDOOR!	No
Symantec Security Addon	X	nvsvc.exe	Added by a variant of the AGOBOT/GAOBOT WORM! Note - do NOT confuse with the legitimate NVIDIA Driver Helper Service file of the same name as described here	No
Windows Virus Scanner	X	winvsvc.exe	Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! See here	No
all others A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z [0-17]

The following files are available for people developing mirrors of the site and using the information presented here:

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.

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