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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZboardTray | U | ZboardTray.exe | Ideazon Zboard gaming keyboard driver - allows you to customise keyboard functions | No |
| zcb | ? | zcb.exe | ?? | No |
| Zcfgsvc | U | ZCfgSvc.exe | Zero Config MFC Application, part of Intel's ProSET utilities and installed by the drivers for many of Intel wireless network cards - essential to the proper functioning of many of the Intel ProSET utilities (but not all) and these System Tray ProSET utilities are a must if you are using your wireless connection, if only so you know when the signal is fading or dropping. The problem is that, in some PCs, ZCFGSVC can be incredibly badly behaved : taking up to 100% of CPU time and therefore resulting in an extremely slow PC, preventing the installation of software or Windows updates, or causing "Not Responding" or "End this Program" shutdown problems. If you experience this, try first the very latest drivers from Intel or your laptop manufacturer. If that still does not solve the problem and you have WinXP/2003, try setting the "Wireless Zero Configuration" service to disabled | No |
| ZCfgSvc.exe | U | ZCfgSvc.exe | Zero Config MFC Application, part of Intel's ProSET utilities and installed by the drivers for many of Intel wireless network cards - essential to the proper functioning of many of the Intel ProSET utilities (but not all) and these System Tray ProSET utilities are a must if you are using your wireless connection, if only so you know when the signal is fading or dropping. The problem is that, in some PCs, ZCFGSVC can be incredibly badly behaved : taking up to 100% of CPU time and therefore resulting in an extremely slow PC, preventing the installation of software or Windows updates, or causing "Not Responding" or "End this Program" shutdown problems. If you experience this, try first the very latest drivers from Intel or your laptop manufacturer. If that still does not solve the problem and you have WinXP/2003, try setting the "Wireless Zero Configuration" service to disabled | No |
| ZDConfig | ? | ZDConfig.exe | Related to various brands of Wireless USB LAN Adapter - what does it do and is it required? | No |
| Zekio Startups | X | znksvc32.exe | Added by the AGOBOT-AGI WORM! | No |
| ZENRC | Y | zenrc32.exe | The main component of Novell's ZenWorks - "Complete End-to-End Directory-enabled Network Management". Leave well alone | No |
| ZENRC Tray Icon | Y | zentray.exe | Part of Novell's ZenWorks - "Complete End-to-End Directory-enabled Network Management". Best left alone | No |
| ZENworks Imaging Service | Y | ZISWin.exe | Imaging Agent. Part of Novell's ZenWorks - "Complete End-to-End Directory-enabled Network Management" | No |
| Zero PoPup Killer XP | U | zpk_xp.exe | Intelligent anti-pop-up software product by Ax-Soft | No |
| ZeroAds | U | Zeroads.exe | ZeroAds - a popular Internet accelerator and anti-adware application | No |
| ZeroSpyware | U | ZeroSpyware.exe | FBM Software ZeroSpyware 2004 spyware detector and remover | No |
| zggjmyd | X | zggjmyd.exe | Added by the AFCORE.O BACKDOOR! | No |
| ZGNUBI | ? | ZGNUBI.exe | ?? | No |
| Zinaps7 | X | Zinaps7.exe | Zinaps Anti-Spyware 2008 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| ZingSpooler | U | ZingSpooler.exe | Was used for a drag and drop program to upload pictures to www.zing.com but Zing has gone out of business. Now used for Sony ImageStation's upload photos to online albums | No |
| Zinio DLM | N | ZDLM.EXE | Zinio - used to read magazines in digital rather than paper format | No |
| Zinio DLM | N | ZinioDeliveryManager.exe | Related to Zinio used to read magazines in digital rather than paper format | No |
| Zip Driver Loader | X | ZipLoader32.exe | Added by the OBLIVION TROJAN! This executable is one of the most common but there are more | No |
| ZipGenius Clean | N | zg.exe | ZipGenius file compression utility | No |
| ziphelp | X | ziphelp.exe | CoolWebSearch parasite variant | No |
| ZipMagic | N | zm32.exe | Zip utility by Ontrack. Preloading ZipMagic allows you to access files within a zip archive without unzipping them first | No |
| zlclient | Y | zlclient.exe | Firewall program from Zonelabs. Pro version inlcudes other online security options | No |
| ZLH | U | ZLH.EXE | System Tray icon for Norman Antivirus | No |
| ZNN | X | znnsvc.exe | Added by the SDBOT-DAA WORM! | No |
| Zolero Translator | X | ZoleroTranslator.exe | Zolero Translator - added by Clickspring, the makers of Purityscan, products and are bundled with the Outer Info Network Client, or OIN client | No |
| zone alarm security | X | zlclint.exe | Added by the NIRBOT WORM! | No |
| Zone Labs Client | Y | zlclient.exe | Firewall program from Zonelabs. Pro version inlcudes other online security options | No |
| ZoneAlarm | Y | zonealarm.exe | Firewall program from Zonelabs - free version | No |
| ZoneAlarm Plus | Y | zaplus.exe | Firewall program from Zonelabs - paid for version | No |
| ZoneAlarm Pro | Y | Zapro.exe | Firewall program from Zonelabs - paid for version | No |
| Zoom | U | zoom.exe | Zoom - speeds up Windows startup and manages startup applications | No |
| Zooming | U | ZoomingHook.exe | Toshiba Zooming Utility - found on Toshiba laptops and Tablet PCs. It allows users to zoom in (or magnify) text | No |
| ZoomingHook | U | ZoomingHook.exe | Toshiba Zooming Utility - found on Toshiba laptops and Tablet PCs. It allows users to zoom in (or magnify) text | No |
| ZPLED | Y | ZPKBDLED.exe | Driver for the Advent ADE-AD2 Wireless Keyboard | No |
| ZPOINT32 | Y | ZPOINT32.exe | USB graphics/writing tablet driver | No |
| zSearch | X | Zstb.exe | TotalVelocity zSearch parasite | No |
| ZSScheduler | U | zsscheduler.dll | ZeroSpyware from FBM Software | No |
| ZSSnp211 | N | ZSSnp211.exe | Vmicro webcam USB utility - allows the webcam to initiate data transfer to a program. Create a shortcut and start it manually when needed | No |
| zupacha.exe | X | zupacha.exe | Added by the DROPPER-QL TROJAN! | No |
| Zupdate | X | Zupdate.exe | Associated with B3d Projector foistware - see here | No |
| zzb | X | zzb.exe | IAGold adware | No |
| zzb2 | X | zzb2.exe | IAGold adware | No |
| [various names] | X | zantu.exe | Fake startup entry created by the Wareout rogue spyware and dialer remover - not recommended, removal instructions here. Archived version of Andrew Clover's original page | No |
| [various names] | X | zxc.exe | Fake startup entry created by the Wareout rogue spyware and dialer remover - not recommended, removal instructions here. Archived version of Andrew Clover's original page | 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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