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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hid_start | X | gzmrotate.dll | AdRotator/IconAds adware | No |
| HistoriaLout. | X | GDC.exe | HistoriaLout. rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| HOT FIX | X | Gothic.exe | Added by the SDBOT.FIR WORM! | No |
| hpSdwxmark | X | Gaddw.exe | Added by the SDBOT-RB WORM! | No |
| IEXPLORE.EXE | X | goot.exe | Added by the BIFROSE-C TROJAN! | No |
| Jfwehnrt | X | ghgfjrs.exe | Added by the SDBOT-IJ WORM! | No |
| kernel32dll | X | guardpc.exe | Added by the FORBOT-CU WORM! | No |
| LG Intelligent Update | U | giljabistart.exe | Related to LG Electronics system updates | No |
| Maxsized | X | gqasqs.exe | Added by the LIOTEN.IR WORM! | No |
| Mcsoft | X | gfeqzvq.exe | Added by the SDBOT-NV WORM! | No |
| MenaceFighter | X | GDC.exe | MenaceFighter rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| Microsoft | X | guard.exe | Added by a variant of the SDBOT WORM! | No |
| Microsoft Games | X | gamemanager.exe | Added by the SPYBOT.AHQ WORM! | No |
| Microsoft Greetings Workshop Reminder | N | Gwremind.exe | You really want to be reminded about somebody's birthday at the expense of resources? | No |
| Microsoft Internet Firewall Manager | X | GMT16.exe | Added by the RANDEX.AT WORM! | No |
| Microsoft Intrenet Explorer | X | goaw.pif | Added by the RBOT-API WORM! | No |
| Microsoft Netview | X | gesfm32.exe | Added by the RANDEX.C WORM! | No |
| Microsoft Office Groove | U | GROOVE.EXE | System Tray access to and alerts for MS Office Groove - a stand-alone product or included with the Enterprise/Ultimate versions of MS Office 2007. "A collaboration software program that helps teams work together dynamically and effectively, even if team members work for different organizations, work remotely, or work offline". Users can create workspaces and invite other Groove users to share the workspace and when a document is edited within the workspace the changes made become available to all other users in the workspace when they come online - synchronized using LAN, WAN and the Internet | Yes |
| Microsoft Update Machine | X | gbhglj.exe | Added by the IRCBOT-ZJ TROJAN! | No |
| Microsoft Windows WKS Service | X | gt.exe | Added by the SDBOT.IR BACKDOOR! | No |
| MicrosoftAntiSpywareCleaner | Y | gcASCleaner.exe | Microsoft Antipsyware - now superseded by Microsoft's Windows Defender | No |
| Miniphone | N | glophone.exe | VoiceGlo Glophone - "an affordable and convenient way to call friends and family throughout the world using a dial-up or broadband Internet connection on your computer" using the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). No longer available | No |
| MistikotitaTuIpologisti | X | GDC.exe | MistikotitaTuIpologisti Greek rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| MonContenuassistant | X | GDC.exe | MonContenuassistant French rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| MS-Connect | X | game.exe | Adult content dialler - see here | No |
| Multi-function keyboard | U | GWHotkey.exe | Software that sets up the Gateway AnyKey keyboard shortcuts (a series of buttons that allow one-click access to e-mail, browser, volume and CD/DVD controls, etc) | No |
| MyContentAssistant | X | GDC.exe | MyContentAssistant rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| NetSurfageAssure | X | GDC.exe | NetSurfageAssure French rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| Nettordinateur | X | GDC.exe | Nettordinateur rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| NettoyeurDePC | X | GDC.exe | NettoyeurDePC French rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| NoCompromaat | X | GDC.exe | NoCompromaat Dutch rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| Norton Ghost 10.0 | N | GhostTray.exe | Norton Ghost tray icon - the application can be launched manually | No |
| Norton Ghost 9.0 | N | GhostTray.exe | Norton Ghost tray icon - the application can be launched manually | No |
| Nowe Gadu-Gadu | N | gg.exe | Polish language Instant Messaging client | No |
| OczyszczaczKomputerza | X | GDC.exe | OczyszczaczKomputerza Polish rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| Office Monitors | X | GoogleUpdater.exe | Added by the RBOT-GKZ WORM! Note - this is not the updater for the popular Google tools | No |
| OnlineHelpmate | X | GDC.exe | OnlineHelpmate rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| oxbvpen | X | gwthtis.exe | Added by the SILLYFDC-AH WORM! | No |
| PC Drive Tool | X | GDC.exe | PC Drive Tool rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| PCPrivacyTool | X | GDC.exe | PCPrivacyTool rogue privacy tool - not recommended. There are number of variants in this family sharing the same filename and user interface - see here | No |
| Popup Terminator | U | GLADManager.exe | Popup Terminator - pop-up killer | No |
| PrivacyConductor | X | GDC.exe | PrivacyConductor rogue privacy tool - not recommended, removal instructions here. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| PrivacyWarrior | X | GDC.exe | PrivacyWarrior rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| ProtectionDeDriver | X | GDC.exe | ProtectionDeDriver rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| pviever | X | Gay-Lesbian-Photo.exe | Added by the DELF-EYL TROJAN! | No |
| RBOT v2 with NetAPI exploit traded with billgates I gave my mother Greetz - OG - Bluehell Irc Server | X | glossary.exe | Added by the VANEBOT-J WORM! | No |
| Run Google Web Accelerator | U | GoogleWebAccWarden.exe | Google Web Accelerator | No |
| RUNGogoTools | X | GoGoLaunch.exe | GoGoTools adware | No |
| SanitarDiska | X | GDC.exe | SanitarDiska Romanian rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | No |
| SchijfControleur | X | GDC.exe | SchijfControleur Dutch rogue privacy tool - not recommended. A member of the PCPrivacyTool family | 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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