Startup Applications List
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:
Variables:
| Name or Startup Item | Status | Command or Data | Description | Tested? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MicrosoftCorp | X | flashsplayer.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! See here | No |
| Microsoftf DDEs Control | X | FEnR.exe | Added by the RBOT-AIM WORM! | No |
| MicrosoftNAPC | X | flashsplayer.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT BACKDOOR! See here | No |
| Monstersoundtray | N | Freectrl.exe | Diamond Multimedia sound card control panel | No |
| Mount Safe & Sound | U | Fbmount.exe | From McAfee VirusScan version 5.x. Creates back-up sets of critical files in a separate area of a hard drive. If you make regular back-ups it's not needed and can be painful during system start | No |
| Mozila Firefox | X | firebox.exe | Added by the RBOT-AIP WORM! | No |
| Mozilla Firefox | X | F1REF0X.EXE | Added by the SDBOT-UP BACKDOOR! Note that the filename has the numbers "1" and "0" in place of upper case "i" and "o" respectively | No |
| Mozilla Firefox | X | firefox.exe | Added by the AUTOTUN.POM WORM! Note - this is not the popular FireFox web browser and is located in %System% | No |
| MS32DLL | X | ffqca.exe | Added by the SDBOT-YD WORM! | No |
| MSFWAVTSM | X | FTPDev.exe | Added by the RBOT-ACF WORM! | No |
| msjdqs | X | fddwqt.exe | Added by the SDBOT-PO WORM! | No |
| MSMSGNER | X | fgozmox.exe | Added by the AGENT-EBJ BACKDOOR! | No |
| MSN | X | Fixdriver.exe | Added by the SILLYFDC.BBY WORM! | No |
| mule_st_key | X | flec006.exe | Added by the BAGLE.AV TROJAN! | No |
| NetOnHold | U | FTNOHMgr.EXE | "FaxTalk NetOnHold 1.5 works with the Modem-On-Hold capabilities found in V.92 modems to provide the ability to place an Internet connection "on hold" and receive incoming calls or place outgoing calls" | No |
| Norton Antivirus AV | X | FVProtect.exe | Added by the NETSKY.P WORM! Note - this is not the popular AV software! | No |
| Norton Auto-Protect | X | ffbaqe.exe | Added by the SLINBOT.RF BACKDOOR! Note - this is not a valid Norton product | No |
| NTFSS Microsoft System | X | filees.exe | Added by the RBOT.GAB WORM! | No |
| NTFSS MICROSOFT SYSTEM | X | filess.exe | Added by the RBOT.AXZ WORM! | No |
| NTSF Microsoft System | X | fylez.exe | Added by a variant of the RBOT WORM! | No |
| NTSF MICROSOFT SYSTEM | X | fufffy.exe | Added by the RBOT-AEL WORM! | No |
| ODBC BackUp | U | fdxxl.exe | G Data "PC Spion". PC monitoring and surveilling software, captures all users activity on the PC, see here. Disable/remove if you didn't install it yourself! | No |
| OM2_Monitor | N | FirstStart.exe | Olympus Master 2 - digital camera management tools | No |
| OM_Monitor | N | FirstStart.exe | Olympus Master 1 - digital camera management tools | No |
| OutpostFeedBack | Y | feedback.exe | Part of Outpost firewall by Agnitum. The feedback service is for reporting issues directly to Agnitum from within OP | No |
| PC Tools Firewall Plus | Y | FirewallGUI.exe | System Tray access to PC Tools Firewall Plus from PC Tools - which "is a powerful personal firewall for Windows that protects your computer from intruders and controls the network traffic in and out of your PC" | Yes |
| pdfFactory Dispatcher v1 | U | fppdis1a.exe | FinePrint pdfFactory Dispatcher - background task which handles the creation of PDF files when you print to the FinePrint pdfFactory printer. Version 1.x of the software. "pdfFactory products offer a unique approach to PDF creation that is simpler, more effective and less expensive than that offered by other programs" | No |
| pdfFactory Dispatcher v2 | U | fppdis2a.exe | FinePrint pdfFactory Dispatcher - background task which handles the creation of PDF files when you print to the FinePrint pdfFactory printer. Version 2.x of the software. "pdfFactory products offer a unique approach to PDF creation that is simpler, more effective and less expensive than that offered by other programs" | No |
| pdfFactory Pro Dispatcher v1 | U | fppdis1.exe | FinePrint pdfFactory Pro Dispatcher - background task which handles the creation of PDF files when you print to the FinePrint pdfFactory PRO printer. Version 1.x of the software. "pdfFactory products offer a unique approach to PDF creation that is simpler, more effective and less expensive than that offered by other programs" | No |
| pdfFactory Pro Dispatcher v3 | U | fppdis3a.exe | FinePrint pdfFactory Pro Dispatcher - background task which handles the creation of PDF files when you print to the FinePrint pdfFactory Pro printer. Version 3.x of the software. "pdfFactory products offer a unique approach to PDF creation that is simpler, more effective and less expensive than that offered by other programs" | No |
| Personal Firewall V9 | X | Firewall-UpdateV9.exe | Added by the RBOT-BJR WORM! | No |
| PP****usb | N | FBDirect.exe | Software that monitors the status of a Visioneer OneTouch scanner button and allows you to scan, fax, copy, print, and easily communicate by simply dragging and dropping scans on your PaperPort Desktop!. The **** represents the model, 5300, 7600, etc. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| PP3100b | N | flatbed.exe | Twain driver for the Visioneer PaperPort 3100b scanner that allows you to scan, fax, copy, print, and easily communicate by simply dragging and dropping scans on your PaperPort Desktop | No |
| Protection | X | Firewall.exe | Added by the ELIPTER.A or ELIPTER.B WORMS! Located in %ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer | No |
| qfqqza | X | fzqw.exe | Added by the SDBOT-EL WORM! | No |
| Quick Startup | Y | Fquick32.exe | For a Nisis G6 USB Graphics Tablet. Re-enables itself if disabled therefore best left alone | No |
| Raymond present | X | friska_w32.exe | Added by the RUBBLE-C WORM! | No |
| reg_key | X | FUKULAMER.exe | Added by the BEAGLE.AH WORM! | No |
| RightFAX Print-to-Fax Driver | U | FaxCtrl.exe | Part of RightFAX from Captaris - "the proven market leader in fax server and document delivery software" | No |
| run= | X | fntldr.exe | CoolWebSearch Tapicfg parasite variant | No |
| run= | N | fmedia.exe | FMedia FaxWorks related - can be run manually | No |
| runner1 | X | faceback.exe | Added by the DLOADR-BSX TROJAN! | No |
| Safeworld | U | Freedom.exe | SafeWorld Internet Security - now no longer available | No |
| Savasddwq | X | ffasd.exe | Added by the SDBOT-SI WORM! | No |
| Screen Saver Control | N | FSScrCtl.exe | Installs as part of the Hubble Space Telescope screen saver (and possibly others). Lets you control your installed screensavers from a System Tray icon | No |
| scroller | X | fpapli.exe | CoolWebSearch parasite variant | No |
| serpe | X | formatsys.exe | Added by the SERFLOG.A WORM! | No |
| Service Cleaner | X | filen.exe | Added by the RBOT.BRH WORM! | No |
| Service Monitor | X | filen.exe | Added by a variant of the RBOT WORM! | No |
| Shockwave Support | X | FlashPlayer.exe | Added by the DELF-DRA WORM! | No |
Download Alternative Formats
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.
Warning
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.
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Copyright
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
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