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 :- 29th October, 2009
19979 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? |
|---|
| 252 | X | winmgr.exe | Added by the LEGMIR-AT TROJAN! | No |
| 27 | X | slsorve.exe | Added by the SLSORVE-A TROJAN! | No |
| 27 | X | csrss32.exe | Added by the SLSORVE-D TROJAN! | No |
| 27 | X | msm32.exe | Added by the SLSORVE-E TROJAN! | No |
| 2Search | X | main.exe | 2Search adware | No |
| 2thousandbuck | X | [path to file] | Added by the RANKY.L TROJAN! | No |
| 2wSysTray | U | 2portalmon.exe | 2Wire Homeportal user interface | No |
| 3-habibie | X | habibie.exe | Added by the BRONTOK-CR WORM! | No |
| 32-bit Thunking service | X | thunk32.exe | Added by the DERDERO.A WORM! | No |
| 333 | X | svchost.exe | Added by the JD-A TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate svchost.exe process which is always located in %System% and should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! This one is located in a "Syswm1i" directory | No |
| 360antiarp | X | [path to trojan] | Added by the PASTA.AIB TROJAN! | No |
| 36X Raid Configurer | Y | JMRaidSetup.exe | JMB36x series RAID configuration utility from JMicron Technology for their PCI Express to SATA II and PATA Host Controllers | No |
| 388529725448 | X | AutomaticUpdates.exe | Added by the SDBOT-DEN WORM! | No |
| 39ELTFH25Z8SKF | ? | Ezg1q5.exe | Seems to be associated with software by Resplendence SP ? | No |
| 3c1807pd | Y | 3cmlink.exe 3cpipe-3c1807pd | 3Com WinModem driver. See here for more WinModem information | No |
| 3capplnk | Y | 3capplnk.exe | US Robotics Modem driver | No |
| 3cdminic | N | 3CDMINIC.EXE | 3Com DMI (DynamicAccess Desktop Management Interface) Agent associated with 3Com network cards | No |
| 3CM Link | Y | 3cmcnkw.exe | Required for a US Robotics WinModem as it provides the link to Windows - won't work without it | No |
| 3Cmlink | Y | 3CmlinkW.exe | For a US Robotics WinModem. Provides the link to Windows as the CPU does the processing on WinModems - won't work without it. See here for more WinModem information | No |
| 3Com Launcher | ? | Launcher.exe | Related to networking products from 3Com Corporation. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| 3ComDMIAgent | N | 3CDMINIC.EXE | 3Com DMI (DynamicAccess Desktop Management Interface) Agent associated with 3Com network cards | No |
| 3cpipe-USRpdA | Y | USRmlnkA.exe | Modem driver files from US Robotics | No |
| 3D Text | X | 3D Text.scr | Added by the JERMY.A WORM! | No |
| 3Deep Control Panel | U | 3DeepCTL.EXE | 3Deep® from E-Color corrects lighting, shading and color for all your 2D and 3D games. Now superseded by 3DxWizzard™ | No |
| 3Dfx Acc | X | GFXACC.EXE | Added by the GIBE WORM!
| No |
| 3dfx Task Manager | N | 3dfxMan.exe | System Tray application for 3dfx Voodoo 3/4/5 functions. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| 3dfx Tools | Y | 3dfxCmn.dll | Updates the registry with information that can't be held for Voodoo 3/4/5 series graphics cards. Important for owners of these cards | No |
| 3dfxv2ps.dll | Y | 3dfxv2ps.dll | Updates the registry with info that can't be held for 3dfx Voodoo 2 video cards. Important for owners of these cards | No |
| 3Dlabs Taskbar Display Manager | ? | 3DLman.exe | 3DLabs graphics driver related. System Tray access to display settings? | No |
| 3DLabsHelperDemon | U | 3dldemon.exe | Directly from the programs author "It is a tiny program that is installed by the Permedia2/3 and probably other Oxygen-series cards. Normally it sits in the background doing nothing at all (sleeping on a semaphore), so it should take zero CPU time and virtually zero memory, since it will all be paged out to the hard drive." In most cases it can be safely disabled | No |
| 3DMouse.EXE | Y | 3DMouse.EXE | Dritek System Inc. 3D Mouse driver | No |
| 3d_sound | X | 3d_sound.exe | Added by the RIADOS-A TROJAN! | No |
| 3P_UDEC_IA | X | IAInstall.exe | Installer for the Internet Antivirus and Internet Antivirus Pro rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| 3qdctl.exe | U | 3qdctl.exe | Provided with Terratec 128i PCI and similar sound cards. Loads a sound profile at bootup, restoring volume and other audio settings to a pre-determined default. Similar to Creative Lab's AudioHQ | No |
| 3ware 3DM | Y | 3dm.exe | Monitors status of the disk array on 3ware IDE RAID controllers | No |
| 4-gusdur | X | gusdur.exe | Added by the BRONTOK-CR WORM! | No |
| 456655 | X | explorer.exe | Added by the BIFROSE-DE TROJAN! Note - the legitimate Windows Explorer (same filename) is located in %Windir% and would not normally appear in Msconfig/Startup unless you added it manually! This one is located in %System% | No |
| 4684735485910 | X | netdll32.exe | Added by the SDBOT-DEV WORM! | No |
| 49U5T1N4 | X | 49U5T1N4.exe | Added by the KORRON.B WORM! | No |
| 4da92ad5.exe | X | 4da92ad5.exe | Added by the DLOADR-WZ TROJAN! | No |
| 4k51k4 | X | 4k51k4.exe | Added by the BRONTOK-BH WORM! | No |
| 4oD | U | KHost.exe | Verisign Kontiki Delivery Management System - Windows-based client software that enables secure delivery of content to users' desktops | No |
| 4wd!!! | X | Natal!.pif | Added by the OPASERV.AI WORM! | No |
| 5-1-61-96 | X | members-area.exe | Adult content dialler | No |
| 5-2-46-112 | X | 5-2-46-112.exe | Adult content pop-up dialler. Removal instructions here | No |
| 5-megawati | X | megawati.exe | Added by the BRONTOK-CR WORM! | No |
| 55278 | X | grepclient1.exe | Added by the LINEAGE-S TROJAN! | No |
| 5p4m | X | [path to trojan] | Added by the LITEBOT-C TROJAN! | No |
| 5whgue21 | X | 5whgue21.exe | ClearSearch adware | No |
| 6-susilo b | X | sby.exe | Added by the BRONTOK-CR WORM! | No |
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You can download off-line HTML ZIP, EXE and EXCEL ZIP versions of this list from here.
In addition the following files are available for people developing mirrors of the site and using the information presented here (right-click and select "Save Target As..." for IE and "Save Link As..." for Firefox):
Startup XML File - Startup INI File - Startup HTML File
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.
Free licenses available for Oops! Backup (by Altaro) BETA Testing - Apply online here
Presentation, format & comments Copyright © 2001 - 2009 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