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 :- 31st August
21939 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? |
|---|
| BOCleanautostart | Y | Boclean.exe | NSClean's BOClean anti-trojan software | No |
| BOINC Manager | U | boincmgr.exe | BOINC manager - "controls the use of your computer's disk, network, and processor resources" | No |
| Boingo Wireless Utility | U | Icon###XXX#X#.exe | Starts the Boingo Wireless utility, used to detect and login into Boingo wireless hotspots. The filename may be autogenerated when installing, two different variations along the lines listed here, where # is a number and X is a letter. Shortcut available via Start -> Programs | No |
| bolenja | X | bolenja.exe | Added by the WANTVI.BF TROJAN! | No |
| bolenjx | X | bolenjx.exe | Added by the ELDYCOW.O TROJAN! | No |
| boler.exe | X | syser.exe | Added by the RBOT-AYS WORM! | No |
| bombshel | U | BOMB32.EXE | Part of McAfee Nuts & Bolts. Protects your Windows system from application failure and crashes - similar to Norton Crashguard. Your choice - may cause problems | No |
| Bonzi Buddy | X | ?? | Bonzi Buddy adware - see here for removal instructions | No |
| BONZI Task Switcher | X | Taskswitch.exe | Added by the SPYBOT.DTR WORM! | No |
| boo | X | boo.exe | Adware downloader - detected by Kaspersky as the FAVADD.O TROJAN! | No |
| BookedSpace | X | RunDLL32.EXE bs2.dll,DllRun | BookedSpace parasite. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted. The "bs2.dll" file is located in %Windir% | No |
| Bookmark | U | bookmark.exe | System Tray access to Power Favorites by Desksware - which "is a bookmark manager for Windows that helps you organize and synchronize your bookmarks. It takes bookmarks from Internet Explorer, Firefox or Opera, merges them into one file, and automatically synchronizes them between computers. You can use it to detect dead links and duplicates if you have many bookmarks" | Yes |
| Bookmark.exe | U | bookmark.exe | System Tray access to Power Favorites by Desksware - which "is a bookmark manager for Windows that helps you organize and synchronize your bookmarks. It takes bookmarks from Internet Explorer, Firefox or Opera, merges them into one file, and automatically synchronizes them between computers. You can use it to detect dead links and duplicates if you have many bookmarks" | Yes |
| BookmarkCentral | N | BMLauncher.exe | Bookmark Express - "offers a more flexible way to manage Web site bookmarks, regardless of which browser you use" | No |
| BookMarkSink | N | syncit.exe | Bookmark synchronization utility | No |
| BookMarkSync | N | syncit.exe | Sync2IT BookMarkSync - "real-time automatic synchronization service that allows you to access your bookmarks, favorites and favorite files from any computer or any browser". Only installed with the users explicit permission and generally only remains running if the user decides to subscribe to the service. If it is no longer required it should be uninstalled to prevent a large number of clients 'checking in' to the server that have no chance of synchronizing | No |
| BookMarkSync2It | N | sync2it.exe | Sync2IT BookMarkSync - "real-time automatic synchronization service that allows you to access your bookmarks, favorites and favorite files from any computer or any browser". Only installed with the users explicit permission and generally only remains running if the user decides to subscribe to the service. If it is no longer required it should be uninstalled to prevent a large number of clients 'checking in' to the server that have no chance of synchronizing | No |
| Boost XP Service | U | bxservice.exe | Boost XP from Systweak - WinXP tweaking utility | No |
| BoostSpeed | U | boostspeed.exe | System Tray access to Auslogics BoostSpeed 4 system optimization utility - which "Start programs faster. Speed up computer start time. Increase Internet speed, optimize your Internet Explorer, Firefox and E-mail programs" | Yes |
| boot | X | boot.exe | Added by the PUPPET-A TROJAN! Located in the %System% | No |
| Boot | U | Boot.exe | Part of Acer Empowering Technology. "Acer ePower Management is a straightforward interface that allows users to select from pre-configured power usage profiles, or to create their own customized profiles". Located in Acer\Empowering Technology\ePower | No |
| Boot Check | X | bootchk.exe | Added by the DELBOT-AB WORM! | No |
| Boot Client | X | bootcli.exe | Added by the IRCBOT-ACF BACKDOOR! | No |
| Boot Config | X | bootconfig.exe | Added by the FLOOD-EV TROJAN! | No |
| Boot K | X | bootk.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! See here | No |
| Boot Manager | X | Njgal.exe | Added by the KILO TROJAN! | No |
| Boot Manager | X | bootmng.exe | Added by a variant of the SPYBOT WORM! | No |
| Boot Server | X | bootserver.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! See here | No |
| Boot Service | X | bootservice.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! See here | No |
| Boot Service | X | bootsv.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! See here | No |
| Boot Verify | X | bootvfy.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! See here | No |
| BootCfg | X | Install.log.vbs | Added by the YPSAN.D WORM! | No |
| BootClean | X | smartdrv.exe | Added by the LURKA-A VIRUS! | No |
| BootCTRL | X | bootctrl.exe | Added by an unidentified WORM or TROJAN! | No |
| BootLoader | X | BootLoader.exe.vbs | Added by the WATERWORKS WORM! | No |
| bootpd.exe | X | bootpd.exe | Added by the AGENT-DT TROJAN! | No |
| Boots Insert Detect | ? | InsDetect.exe | Part of Boots Picture Suite. Detects a digital camera is plugged into a USB port or when a memory card with photos is inserted? | No |
| BootsCfg | X | wscript.exe [path] Date.POP.vbs | Added by the KUULLIO WORM! Note that wscript.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch script files and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| BootsCfg | X | wscript.exe [path] All Users.vbs | Added by the SPILTRON WORM! Note that wscript.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch script files and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| BootsCfg | X | wscript.exe [path] All Users.vbe | Added by the SPILTRON WORM! Note that wscript.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch script files and shouldn't be deleted | No |
| BootsCfg | X | wscript.exe Install.log.vbs | Added by the YPSAN.E WORM! Note that wscript.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch script files and shouldn't be deleted. The "Install.log.vbs" file is located in %System% | No |
| bootsec | X | NAVSSE.exe | Added by the FORBOT-CY WORM! | No |
| BootSkin Startup Jobs | Y | BootSkin.exe | Stardock BootSkin is a program that allows users to change their Windows 2000 and Windows XP boot screens | No |
| BootStatus | U | BOOTST~1.EXE | Visual Basic program that pops up a small window on startup telling you how many times the machine has been booted that day. Once you exit it, it has no more effect on resources | No |
| BootWarn | U | BootWarn.exe | From here: "Norton AntiVirus Boot Warning. This program is installed as a startup item when you install Norton AntiVirus, and also sometimes when you do a LiveUpdate which updates Norton AntiVirus significantly enough that a reboot is needed to complete the installation. We believe its purpose to be to warn the end-user that he must reboot his PC before using Norton AntiVirus in those cases when a reboot did not happen with the result that Norton AntiVirus did not fully complete its installation or software updating. Recommendation : Start Norton AntiVirus from "Start → Programs → Norton AntiVirus". If Norton AntiVirus comes up without problems, then fix this entry from the Msconfig Startup tab - it was left behind by mistake and is no longer needed now that Norton AntiVirus is fully installed and opens without error messages" | No |
| boot_reg | X | [path to file] | Added by the BANCBAN-CA TROJAN! | No |
| boot_reg | X | svchot.exe | Added by the BANCBAN-BQ TROJAN! | No |
| BortMedVirus | X | pgs.exe | BortMedVirus rogue security software - not recommended. A member of the AVSystemCare family | No |
| borzoi | U | blg.exe | Borzoi surveillance software. Uninstall this software unless you put it there yourself | No |
| Bose Wave/PC Monitor | N | wavepcmonitor.exe | System Tray access for this system (more info on the system here). Available via Start -> Programs | No |
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The following files are available for people developing mirrors of the site and using the information presented here:
Startup XML File - Startup INI File - Startup HTML File
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.
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.
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