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? |
|---|
| ContentService | X | winservn.exe | PurityScan adware - see here | No |
| ContinueInstall | X | bpsinstall.exe | BrowserAid/BrowserPal foistware | No |
| Contraviro | X | Contraviro.exe | Contraviro rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| ContraVirus | X | ContraVirusPro.exe | ContraVirus rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| ContraVirus | X | ContraVirus.exe | ContraVirus rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| Control | X | rundll32.exe ctrlpan.dll, Restore ControlPanel | CoolWebSearch Msconfd parasite variant | No |
| Control Center | U | Center.exe | Associated with Hawking Technologies, Inc wireless products. Located in %Program Files%\Hawking\WLAN Card Utilities | No |
| Control handler | X | ***********.exe [* = random char] | CoolWebSearch parasite variant | No |
| Control handler | X | ahjinst.exe | CoolWebSearch parasite variant | No |
| Control handler | X | [10 to 14 random char]THD.EXE | Added by the KREPPER-AI TROJAN! | No |
| control panel | N | smctrlw.exe | System Tray icon for a Silicon Motion LynxEM based PCI Graphics Card | No |
| Control Panel | X | System.exe | Added by the DANI TROJAN! | No |
| control panel software service | X | cprs.exe | Added by the RBOT-FPI WORM! | No |
| Controladores | X | [path to trojan] | Added by the TELEFO-A TROJAN! | No |
| ControlCenter | Y | ctlcntr.exe | Part of Lenovo's (IBM) ThinkVantage Fingerprint Software - used on laptops and keyboards with integrated fingerprint readers | No |
| ControlCenter2.0 | N | brctrcen.exe | Brother scanner 'Control Center' application - can be started manually
| No |
| ControlCentreTray | N | XWCTray.exe | System Tray access for the Xerox ControlCentre 2.0 software for their range of printers, copiers, faxes, etc | No |
| Controlled Resource System Service | X | crss.exe | Added by the AGOBOT.GH WORM! | No |
| Controller | N | WFXCTL32.EXE | From Symantec's TalkWorks Pro and WinFax. Appears if you chose to have the program appear in the taskbar (System Tray) during installation and displays a yellow fax/telephone icon. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| ControlPanel | X | rundll32 internat.dll, LoadKeyboardProfile | CoolWebSearch parasite variant | No |
| ControlPanel | X | host32.exe internat.dll, LoadKeyboardProfile | Added by a vairant of the DELF.DW TROJAN! | No |
| ControlPanel | X | cmd32.exe internat.dll,LoadKeyboardProfile | Added by the DLOADER-HF TROJAN. Note - the "cmd32.exe" file is found in %System% | No |
| ControlPanel | X | systemctrl.exe internet.dll, LoadNetworkProfile | Browser hijacker, also detected as STARTPA-FX | No |
| ControlPanel | X | [path to executable] internat.dll,LoadKeyboardProfile | Added by the BIZVES-A TROJAN! | No |
| ControlPanel | X | popcorn.exe internat.dll, LoadKeyboardProfile | Added by the BIZVES-B TROJAN! | No |
| ControlPanel | X | popcorn64.exe rundll.dll, LoadMouseProfile | Added by the DLOADER-OI TROJAN! | No |
| ControlPanel | X | popcorn72.exe rundll.dll, LoadMouseProfile | Added by the DLOADER-RA TROJAN! | No |
| ControlPanel | X | svcc.exe internat.dll,LoadKeyboardProfile | WorldSearch adware - re-directing searches to "world-search.biz". Note - the "private.exe" file is found in %System% | No |
| ControlPanel | X | popcorn320.exe rundll.dll, LoadMouseProfile | Added by a variant of the DLOADER-RA TROJAN! | No |
| ControlPanel | X | private.exe internat.dll,LoadMouseCarpetProfile | Added by the CLICKER-AZ TROJAN!. Creates the files sdfff, fdsf and zxczxc. In the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 directory creates the files d.exe, s.exe and r.exe. Note - the "private.exe" file is found in %System% | No |
| ControlPanel | X | twink64.exe internat.dll,LoadKeyboardProfile | Added by the DLOADER-BW TROJAN. Note - the "twink64.exe" file is found in %System% | No |
| ControlServiceMgr | X | csmsv.exe | Added by the AGENT-XC TROJAN! | No |
| Cookie Cop 2 | U | CookieCop.exe | Cookie Cop 2 from PC Magazine - cookie manager. Allows you to decide which internet sites can add "cookies" related to their sites for the next time you return | No |
| Cookie Pal | U | CPBRWTCH.EXE | Kookaburra Software's Cookie Pal cookie manager. Allows you to decide which internet sites can add "cookies" related to their sites for the next time you return | No |
| CookieJar | U | Cookiejar.exe | Cookie Jar cookie manager from Jason's Toolbox. Allows you to decide which internet sites can add "cookies" related to their sites for the next time you return. No longer being actively supported | No |
| CookiePatrol | U | CookiePatrol.exe | CookiePatrol - cookie interceptor stopping spyware cookies that used to be part of PestPatrol before CA's aquisition | No |
| CookieWall | U | cookie.exe | CookieWall from Analog X. Allows you to decide which internet sites can add "cookies" related to their sites for the next time you return | No |
| cookw | X | cookw.exe | Part of the ErrClean rogue system error and cleaning utility - not recommended. See here | No |
| Cool Desk | U | cdesk.exe | Cool Desk is a virtual desktops manager. "Ever you wished to have several screens on your computer? Cool Desk creates up to 9 virtual desktops and offers you to have different windows on each of them". Not required but may be of use to you | No |
| CoolDownloads | X | rundll32.exe MSA64CHK.dll, DllMostrar | MatrixDialer related. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted. The "MSA64CHK.dll" file is located in the Winnt or Windows folder | No |
| CoolMon | U | CoolMon.exe | "CoolMon monitors vital system stats and almost anything else you wish to display on the desktop" | No |
| CoolMP3 | X | rundll32.exe MSA64CHK.dll, DllMostrar | MatrixDialer related. Note that rundll32.exe is a legitimate Microsoft file used to launch DLL file types and shouldn't be deleted. The "MSA64CHK.dll" file is located in the Winnt or Windows folder | No |
| CoolSwitch | U | taskswitch.exe | ALT+TAB replacement Powertoy for Windows XP - enhances the graphics displayed when you want to switch between programs running full-screen | No |
| Coolwallpaper | N | cwm_tray.exe | Cool Wallpaper software allows you to manage high quality photos as desktop wallpaper and screen savers | No |
| coolwebprogram | X | clrssn.exe | CoolWebSearch Smartsearch parasite variant | No |
| Copernic Desktop Search | N | DesktopSearch.exe | Copernic Desktop Search - "Easily search your entire hard drive in less than a second to pinpoint the right file, e-mail, music or pictures" | No |
| Copernic Desktop Search 2 | U | DesktopSearchService.exe | Copernic Desktop Search - search agent | No |
| CopernicPerUserTaskMgr | U | CopernicPerUserTaskMgr.exe | Automatic tasking feature of Copernic Pro multi-search engine tool | No |
| Copperhead | Y | razerhid.exe | Razer Copperhead mouse driver | No |
| Copy handler | U | Copy Handler.exe | Copy Handler lets you copy between hard disks, floppies, local networks, CDs, and many other storage media. Copy Handler gives you the power to pause, resume, restart, and cancel during the copying and moving processes | 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