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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| procmon | X | procmon.exe | Added by the BIONET.40A TROJAN! | No |
| ProdikeysAutorun | N | Prodload.exe | Creative Prodikeys software - 'an interactive music entertainment device which not only functions as a full-featured, ergonomic "QWERTY" keyboard but also comes equipped with 37 touch-sensitive music keys and accessible music controls for endless entertainment at your desktop. Coupled with the Sound Blaster audio card, you can explore a wide array of realistic instrument sounds and have non-stop fun making music right at your desktop' | No |
| ProDsl | N | ProDsl.exe | Intel Pro/DSL 2100 modem connection manager. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| Profile | X | Profile.vbs | Added by the WHITEHO VIRUS or TRAPPY WORM! | No |
| Profiler | N | Profiler.exe | Enables the "Profiler" to be launched from a System Tray icon for Saitek's game controllers. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| profiler | X | prof.exe | Added by the ZAPCHAS-G WORM! | No |
| Profiler | N | ProfilerU.exe | Enables the "Profiler" to be launched from a System Tray icon for Saitek's game controllers. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| ProfilerU | N | ProfilerU.exe | Saitek SST (Saitek Smart Technolgy) Profile Launcher - allows System Tray access to the "Profiler" and "Control Panel" for Saitek's game controllers. Start manually via Start -> Programs -> Saitek SD6 Programming Software -> Profiler | No |
| Program File | X | Progmon.exe | Added by the PEEPER TROJAN! | No |
| Program Neighborhood Agent | U | pnagent.exe | Citrix Program Neighborhood Agent | No |
| ProgramControl | X | ProgramControl.exe | Added by the DLOADR-BAG TROJAN! | No |
| ProjectWhois | U | ProjectWhois.exe | "Project Whois loads the domain names from all open Firefox and Internet Explorer windows into the one-click menu and gives easy access to the whois records from the System Tray" | No |
| projselector | N | projselector.exe | Roxio Project Selector - can be started manually | No |
| Promon.exe | N | promon.exe | System Tray icon for Intel PRO series ethernet adapters giving access to the diagnostic features | No |
| PromulGate | X | PgMonitr.exe | Delfin Promulgate adware variant | No |
| PRONoMgr.exe | N | PRONoMgr.exe | System Tray icon for Intel PRO series ethernet adapters giving access to the diagnostic features | No |
| PRONoMgrWired | U | PRONoMgr.exe | Intel's Pro 100 Ethernet card manager | No |
| Proof Defender 2009 | X | pdfndr.exe | Proof Defender 2009 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| Propel Accelerator | U | PropelAC.exe | Propel Internet Accelerator | No |
| ProPort Startup | U | ProPort.exe | Proport is a port monitor/protector. Monitors an infinite amount of ports for trojans and nukes. Some additional features are auto connection-kill, and IP resolving | No |
| ProSiteFinder | X | prositefinder.exe | ProSiteFinder adware | No |
| protect | X | protect.scr | Added by the DLOADER-TQ TROJAN! | No |
| ProtectDefender | X | ProtectDefender.exe | ProtectDefender rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| protectinfo | X | protectinfo.exe | ProtectInfo rogue security software - not recommended | No |
| Protection | X | Protection.exe | Added by the FEBELNECK-A WORM! | No |
| Protection System | X | psystem.exe | Protection System rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| ProtectionComplete | X | pgs.exe | ProtectionComplete rogue security software - not recommended. A member of the AVSystemCare family | No |
| ProtectionConue | X | pgs.exe | ProtectionConue rogue security software - not recommended. A member of the AVSystemCare family | No |
| Protections | X | ProtEX32.exe | Ultimate SecuritySuite rogue malware remover - not recommended, see here | No |
| Protector GB | X | protectgb.exe | Added by the BANKER.EIE TROJAN! | No |
| ProtectPcs.exe | X | ProtectPcs.exe | ProtectPcs rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here. A member of the AntiAID family | No |
| ProtectSoldier | X | ProtectSoldier.exe | ProtectSoldier rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| ProtezionefiData | X | pgs.exe | ProtezionefiData rogue security software - not recommended. A member of the AVSystemCare family | No |
| prov | X | prov.exe | Added by a variant of the IRCBOT TROJAN! | No |
| Provan Security | X | psecure.exe | Added by the RBOT.BRV WORM! | No |
| PROXOMITRON | N | PROXOMITRON.EXE | A free, highly flexible, user-configurable, small but very powerful, local HTTP web-filtering proxy - see here | No |
| PROXOMITRON | N | PROXOM~1.EXE | A free, highly flexible, user-configurable, small but very powerful, local HTTP web-filtering proxy - see here | No |
| ProxyCap | Y | ProxyCap.exe | "ProxyCap enables you to tunnel Internet applications through HTTP, SOCKS v4, and SOCKS v5 Proxy Servers" | No |
| ProxyFirewall | U | ProxyFirewall.exe | Proxy Firewall by Unique Internet Services, LLC - "is an automatic proxy selector that will simply and easily manage proxy connections for you" and also acts "as a standard firewall for out-bound connections" | No |
| ProxyWay | U | proxyway.exe | ProxyWay anonymous proxy surfing software | No |
| PRPCMonitor | U | PRPCUI.exe | Intel® SpeedStep™ interface. This automatically detects whether a mobile PC is using battery or AC power. When using battery power, SpeedStep scales the processor clock frequency and voltage to reduce the power it needs by 40% | No |
| prqtect | X | prqtect.exe | Prutect malware from e2Give - attempts to shut down or tamper with a number of anti spyware applications, like Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D. Note - has been seen using alternative file names like prttect.exe, prmtect.exe and so forth! | No |
| prrtect | X | prrtect.exe | Prutect malware from e2Give - attempts to shut down or tamper with a number of anti spyware applications, like Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D. Note - has been seen using alternative file names like prttect.exe, prmtect.exe and so forth! | No |
| prstect | X | prstect.exe | Prutect malware from e2Give - attempts to shut down or tamper with a number of anti spyware applications, like Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D. Note - has been seen using alternative file names like prttect.exe, prmtect.exe and so forth! | No |
| prtcct | X | prtcct.exe | Prutect malware from e2Give - attempts to shut down or tamper with a number of anti spyware applications, like Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D. Note - has been seen using alternative file names like prttect.exe, prmtect.exe and so forth! | No |
| prttect | X | prttect.exe | Prutect malware from e2Give - attempts to shut down or tamper with a number of anti spyware applications, like Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D. Note - has been seen using alternative file names like prttect.exe, prmtect.exe and so forth! | No |
| prutcct | X | prutcct.exe | Prutect malware from e2Give - attempts to shut down or tamper with a number of anti spyware applications, like Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D. Note - has been seen using alternative file names like prttect.exe, prmtect.exe and so forth! | No |
| prutdct | X | prutdct.exe | Prutect malware from e2Give - attempts to shut down or tamper with a number of anti spyware applications, like Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D. Note - has been seen using alternative file names like prttect.exe, prmtect.exe and so forth! | No |
| prutgct | X | prutgct.exe | Prutect malware from e2Give - attempts to shut down or tamper with a number of anti spyware applications, like Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D. Note - has been seen using alternative file names like prttect.exe, prmtect.exe and so forth! | No |
| pruthct | X | pruthct.exe | Prutect malware from e2Give - attempts to shut down or tamper with a number of anti spyware applications, like Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D. Note - has been seen using alternative file names like prttect.exe, prmtect.exe and so forth! | 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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