Regular visitors will know that I normally update this site at the end of each month. Unfortunately I won't be doing so this month in honour of my father who passed away last week - I'm sure you can understand.
R.I.P.
James Collins
5th October, 1940 - 22nd January, 2010
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 December, 2009
20360 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? |
|---|
| ExtraFilmHemmaAgent | N | Agent.exe | ExtraFilm Photo Assistant | No |
| Extranet AutoDial | ? | AutoExt.exe | Nortel Networks Contivity Extranet Switching Software | No |
| ExxtremeHelperDemon | ? | exxdemon.exe | Creative Exxtreme graphics card related? | No |
| Eye Tide Launcher | N | oneeyetideone.exe | Nascar wallpaper | No |
| EYORE | X | Notepad.scr | Added by the GIMLET-A WORM! | No |
| EZ Firewall | Y | ca.exe | eTrust EZ Armor Internet Security | No |
| EZ-DUB Finder | U | EZ-DUB.exe | Support software for the Lite-On EZ-DUB external DVD writer from Lite-On IT Corporation | No |
| ezagent | N | ezagent.exe | EzVCR recording software for the ASUS TV FM card. Available via Start -> Programs | No |
| EzButton | N | EzButton.EXE | EZbutton is a quick launcher for the Media player app that comes with certain laptops | No |
| EZDesk | N | EZDESK.EXE | Utility that remembers icon locations for each user and resolution. Available here | No |
| EZEJMNAP | U | EzEjMnAp.Exe | EasyEject Utility for IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad notebooks. Quote: "The IBM ThinkPad EasyEject Utility makes removing multiple devices from your computer faster and easier by enabling you to stop more than one device at once, rather than stopping each device individually." Configuration and performing of EasyEject actions is available via Fn+F9 key combination on some models | Yes |
| EZEJTRAY | N | EZEJTRAY.EXE | System Tray access to the EasyEject Utility for IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad notebooks. Quote: "The IBM ThinkPad EasyEject Utility makes removing multiple devices from your computer faster and easier by enabling you to stop more than one device at once, rather than stopping each device individually." Configuration and performing of EasyEject actions is available via Fn+F9 key combination on some models | Yes |
| ezHelper | N | ezHelper.exe | Part of the ezPeer+ ezHelper music sharing program. | No |
| eZmmod | X | mmod.exe | eZula TopText adware | No |
| EZNORUN | ? | EZNORUN.EXE | Easy Internet related? | No |
| EzPrint | N | ezprint.exe | Lexmark Fast Pics - helps users of their printers to enhance, print and manage their photos quickly and easily | No |
| ezPS_Px | Y | ezSP_PxEngine.exe | Engine that allows PrimoDVD from Veritas (was Prassi) and Drag'n Drop CD from Easy Systems (and maybe others) to record and protects against other software overwriting the settings | No |
| ezPS_Px | Y | ezSP_Px.exe | Engine that allows PrimoDVD from Veritas (was Prassi) and Drag'n Drop CD from Easy Systems (and maybe others) to record and protects against other software overwriting the settings | No |
| ezShieldProtector for Px | Y | ezSP_Px.exe | Engine that allows PrimoDVD from Veritas (was Prassi) and Drag'n Drop CD from Easy Systems (and maybe others) to record and protects against other software overwriting the settings | No |
| ezShieldProtector for Px | Y | ezSP_PxEngine.exe | Engine that allows PrimoDVD from Veritas (was Prassi) and Drag'n Drop CD from Easy Systems (and maybe others) to record and protects against other software overwriting the settings | No |
| EZSMART App | U | ezsmart.exe | EZ-S.M.A.R.T. hard drive monitoring software from StorageSoft - appears to be no longer supported | No |
| EzTune | U | dthtml.exe | EzTune from Gateway. Rebranded version of Display Tune from Portrait Displays, Inc. - which "is the perfect software utility to initially set-up and adjust your display to achieve its optimum performance. All adjustments are made through a simple graphical user interface" | No |
| ezula | X | eZmmod.exe | eZula TopText adware | No |
| eZulaMain | X | eZulaMain.exe | eZula TopText adware | No |
| eZuluMain | X | eZuluMain.exe | Comes with "KaZaA" installation. Advertising Spyware. Not required but KaZaA won't work | No |
| eZWO | X | wo.exe | eZula TopText adware | No |
| E_S10IC2 | U | E_S10IC2.EXE | Epson Status Monitor 3 for the Stylus C44 Series printer - for monitoring printer status, checking ink levels, etc | No |
| E_S23 | U | E_SICN03.exe | Epson printer status monitor - for checking ink levels, etc. | No |
| E_S4I2F1 | U | E_S4I2F1.EXE | Epson Status Monitor 3 for the Stylus Photo R300 Series printer - for monitoring printer status, checking ink levels, etc | No |
| E_S4I2G1 | U | E_S4I2G1.EXE | Epson Status Monitor 3 for the Stylus CX5400 printer - for monitoring printer status, checking ink levels, etc | No |
| E_SOEIC1 | U | E_SOEIC1.exe | Epson Status Monitor 3 - for monitoring printer status, checking ink levels, etc | No |
| E_S[numbers] | U | [path] E_[various].EXE [path] E_S[numbers].tmp | Temporary entry related to Epson Status Monitor 3 for their range of printer and AIO devices - for monitoring printer status, checking ink levels, etc | No |
| f | X | ftkclean.exe | FlashEnhancer adware | No |
| F-PROT Antivirus Tray application | U | FProtTray.exe | System Tray access to F-PROT Antivirus | No |
| F-Secure 2005 | X | svchost.exe | Added by the BIFROSE-CH TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate svchost.exe process which is always located in %System% and should not normally figure in Msconfig/Startup! This one is located in %Windir% | No |
| F-Secure 2006 | Y | fspex.exe | F-Secure Anti-Virus automatic updater | No |
| F-Secure Gatekeeper | X | [malware name].exe | Added by the NUWAR.AXQ WORM! | No |
| F-Secure Management Agent | U | FSMA32.EXE | F-Secure antivirus - F-Secure Policy Manager provides tools for administering F-Secure software products | No |
| F-Secure Manager | Y | FSM32.EXE | F-Secure antivirus - carry out scheduled virus scans automatically | No |
| F-Secure Startup Wizard | Y | FSSW.EXE | F-Secure antivirus | No |
| F-Secure TNB | Y | TNBUtil.exe | F-Secure antivirus | No |
| F-StopW | Y | F-StopW.exe | F-Prot anti-virus background scanner by F-Risk Software | No |
| f1Tray.exe | U | F1TRAY.EXE | System Tray icon for FusionOne's MightyPhone software. "MightyPhone is a concept for wirelessly synchronizing the data on your mobile phone with your web-based or PC based organizer" | No |
| f23mxins | ? | f23mxins | Related to the now discontinued ATI Fire GL3 graphics card. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| f2install.exe | X | f2install.exe | Added by the IEFEAT-I TROJAN! | No |
| F5D7050v3 | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D7050 Wireless G USB Adapter | No |
| F5D8001 | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D8001 N1 Wireless Desktop Card | No |
| F5D8011 | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D8011 N1 Wireless Notebook Card | No |
| F5D8055v1 | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D8055 Wireless N+ USB Adapter | No |
| F5D8071 | U | Belkinwcui.exe | Wireless configuration utility for the Belkin F5D8071 N1 Wireless ExpressCard | No |
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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.
Sponsored link: Leased Line
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