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? |
|---|
| accwizzz.exe | X | accwizzz.exe | Added by the RULAND.A WORM! | No |
| ACDaemon | N | ACDaemon.exe | Used to serve notice of product information and updates when running ArcSoft products such as TotalMedia | Yes |
| acdllib3 | X | bcdlmem.exe | Added by the MAILBOT-BA TROJAN! | No |
| ACDSee | N | ACDSee8Pro.exe | ACDSee 8 photo software. Organize, manage, enhance, and share all your valued photo memories | No |
| Ace bows | ? | Ace bows.exe | ?? | No |
| AceGain LiveUpdate | N | LiveUpdate.exe | "AceGain LiveUpdate can help to automate and optimize product updates. AceGain LiveUpdate will automatically detect new patch updates, driver updates or full product updates and automatically download and install them according to user configuration" | No |
| Acer eAP Launch Tool | U | EAPLAU~1.EXE | Empowering Technology Launcher, installed on Acer computer | No |
| Acer ePower Management | U | Acer ePower Management.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" | No |
| Acer ePresentation HPD | N | ePresentation.exe | Allows you to connect your Acer laptop to a projector | No |
| Acer Product Registration | N | ACE1.exe | Acer Product Registration - remove when registration is completed | No |
| Acer Tour Reminder | N | Reminder.exe | Popup reminder to take the tour of your new Acer laptop | No |
| AcerGoto | U | AcerGoto.exe | Acer Computer "Goto Drive" Cold Swap Driver - a swappable second disk drive provides convenient backup of large files, or easy importation of data from user's previous computer | No |
| AcerNotebookManager | U | almxptray.exe | System Tray access on some Acer Notebooks to give faster access to system settings | No |
| AcerPowerkey | U | Powerkey.exe | PowerKey utility for Acer TravelMate notebook PCs. Allows the user to quickly switch between different power schemes by pressing Fn+F3 | No |
| Acess2007a | X | access2007a.exe | Added by the GAOBOT.PQA WORM! | No |
| Aceu | X | [random filename] | PurityScan adware | No |
| acEventServ | Y | acevtsrv.exe | ActivCard Gold from ActivIdentity, Inc. Smart card-based strong authentication software - for photo IDs, proximity badges for facility access and as digital identification and authentication | No |
| AClntUsr | U | AClntUsr.exe | Altiris AClient Service Windows Tray Icon | No |
| Acme.PCHButton | N | pchbutton.exe | Used by HP Instant Support | No |
| ACMonitor_X63 | U | ACMonitor_X63.exe | Button monitor for the Lexmark X63 all-in-one multifunction printer/copier/scanner. Works in conjunction with the "Lexmark Scan & Copy Control Program" button manager whose filename is "AcBtnMgr_X63.exe" | No |
| ACMonitor_X63.exe | U | ACMonitor_X63.exe | Button monitor for the Lexmark X63 all-in-one multifunction printer/copier/scanner. Works in conjunction with the "Lexmark Scan & Copy Control Program" button manager whose filename is "AcBtnMgr_X63.exe" | No |
| ACMonitor_X73 | U | ACMonitor_X73.exe | Button monitor for the Lexmark X73 all-in-one multifunction printer/copier/scanner. Works in conjunction with the "Lexmark Scan & Copy Control Program" button manager whose filename is "AcBtnMgr_X73.exe" | No |
| ACMonitor_X83 | U | ACMonitor_X83.exe | Button monitor for the Lexmark X83 all-in-one multifunction printer/copier/scanner. Works in conjunction with the "Lexmark Scan & Copy Control Program" button manager whose filename is "AcBtnMgr_X83.exe" | No |
| ACMonitor_X84-X85 | U | ACMonitor_X84-X85.exe | Button monitor for the Lexmark X84-X85 all-in-one multifunction printer/copier/scanner. Works in conjunction with the "Lexmark Scan & Copy Control Program" button manager whose filename is "AcBtnMgr_X84-X85.exe" | No |
| acocash | X | fastdown.exe | Adult content dialler | No |
| acocash | X | FASTFOWN.EXE | Adult content dialler | No |
| Acombo3dmouse | U | Acombo3d.exe | Mouse driver - required if you use non-standard Windows driver features | No |
| Aconti | X | aconti.exe | Adult content dialler | No |
| acoustic | U | acoustic.exe | Control panel program for Philips Acoustic Edge soundcard. Not required unless changed settings aren't retained | No |
| acpart | N | agpart11.exe | Program for finding trucks on-line | No |
| Acrobat | X | acrmon32.exe | Added by the SMALL-ECT TROJAN! | No |
| Acrobat Assistant | U | AcroTray.exe | Essential for creating PDF files with Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Distiller. For Win9x/Me systems you can run this file manually beforehand. For WinXP systems this file must run at startup. Hence the "U" recommendation | No |
| Acrobat Assistant 7.0 | U | Acrotray.exe | Essential for creating PDF files with Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Distiller. For Win9x/Me systems you can run this file manually beforehand. For WinXP systems this file must run at startup. Hence the "U" recommendation | No |
| Acrobat Assistant 8.0 | U | Acrotray.exe | Essential for creating PDF files with Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Distiller. For Win9x/Me systems you can run this file manually beforehand. For WinXP systems this file must run at startup. Hence the "U" recommendation | No |
| Acrobat Read | X | acroup32.exe | Added by the VANBOT-BQ TROJAN! | No |
| Acrobat Speed Launch | N | acrobat_sl.exe | Speeds up the time it takes to load Adobe's Acrobat PDF creation and management tool. From version 7.0 onwards | No |
| ACROMOUSE | U | ACROMAPP.exe | Related to ACROMOUSE Laser mouse control | No |
| Acronis Popup Blocker | U | RunDll32.exe [path] Blocker.dll, Run | Part of Acronis Privacy Expert - anti-spyware and security suite
| No |
| Acronis Scheduler Helper | U | schedhlp.exe | Part of Acronis True Image backup software. Co-operates with the "schedul2.exe" service to perform backup/restore tasks correctly. Required if you want to use True Image to do some real backup/restore tasks - not if you only want to explore/mount images | No |
| Acronis Scheduler2 Service | U | schedhlp.exe | Part of Acronis True Image - backup software. Co-operates with the "schedul2.exe" service to perform backup/restore tasks correctly. Required if you want to use True Image to do some real backup/restore tasks - not if you only want to explore/mount images | No |
| Acronis True Image | U | TimounterMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image backup software. Monitor for the backup archive explorer for moving and viewing files within an archive | No |
| Acronis True Image Monitor | N | TrueImageMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image - backup software. Can be disabled without affecting TrueImage | No |
| Acronis TrueImage Monitor | N | TrueImageMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image - backup software. Can be disabled without affecting TrueImage | No |
| Acronis*True*Image Monitor | N | TrueImageMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image - backup software. Can be disabled without affecting TrueImage | No |
| AcronisTimounterMonitor | U | TimounterMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image backup software. Monitor for the backup archive explorer for moving and viewing files within an archive | No |
| AcronisTrueImage Monitor | N | TrueImageMonitor.exe | Part of Acronis True Image - backup software. Can be disabled without affecting TrueImage | No |
| Act! Preloader | U | Act8.exe | Sage Software's ACT! "enables individuals and small business customers to instantly access key contact and customer information, manage and prioritize activities, and track all contact-related communications so you can grow productive business relationships" | No |
| Action Manager 32 | N | am32.exe | Associated with a Plustech scanner. Small utility that runs in the background for doing fax/copy/etc. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| ActionAgent | ? | actionagent.exe | "A COM server that runs on the client as part of the Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation 6.x package; provides a simple method for a remote administrator to perform actions on the instrumented client". Is it required? | No |
| Activation | N | Activation.exe | Part of Microsoft Money | No |
|
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