Close Program/Task Manager
This is NOT a list of tasks/processes taken from Task Manager or the Close Program window (CTRL+ALT+DEL) but a list 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 WinTasks 5 Standard/Professional from LIUtilities or the list at AnswersThatWork. 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.

Operating System Differences
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 "Noeton eMail Protect" in the registry.

To avoid the list becoming too large, all VIRUSES are shown using the registry version which is common to all Windows versions.

Alternatively use your browsers search facility - Ctrl+F for IE users.

Key:

"Y" - Normally leave to run at start-up
"N" - Not required - 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

Use your browsers search facility - Ctrl+F for IE users.

N	B'sCLiP	BSCLIP.exe	CD recording utility that comes with a lot of CDR/CDRW drives and isn't required
N	B.Reader	remin.exe	Birthday Reminder 5.0 - as the name implies
X	b3d	BDEsecureinstall.exe	B3d Projector foistware - periodically trys to access the internet. (1) Uninstall it via Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs. (2) Remove the BDEsecureinstall.exe if still present in C:\Windows\System. (3) Disable and ideally delete it from the registry. (4) Remove the "BDE" directory and all its contents
X	b3dUpdate	Zupdate.exe	B3d Projector foistware - periodically trys to access the internet. (1) Uninstall it via Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs. (2) Remove the BDEsecureinstall.exe if still present in C:\Windows\System. (3) Disable and ideally delete it from the registry. (4) Remove the "BDE" directory and all its contents
U	b9	B9.exe	FireTrust Benign - allows you to receive e-mail which is safe from viruses, worms, scripts, web bugs, privacy threats and other security risks, without affecting your e-mail. "Benign neutralizes or strips out the code that makes viruses, worms, scripts and other potentially harmful things run"
X	b99	msmm.exe	ClientMan parasite variant
X	babeie	rundll32 cnbabe.dll, dllstartup	CommonName Toolbar spyware. To uninstall see here
N	Babylon Client	Babylon.exe	Babylon-Pro is a powerful information tool that instantly provides relevant information, translations & conversions for any word or value you click on"
N	Babylon Translator	Babylon.exe	"Babylon-Pro is a powerful information tool that instantly provides relevant information, translations & conversions for any word or value you click on"
U	BackgroundSwitcher	bgswitch.exe	Background Switcher Powertoy. Included with the last beta version of the XP Powertoys. Whenever a user right clicked his desktop and chose properties he could see a new tab which allowed him to enable a "Desktop Slide Show." This would automatically change the Windows Desktop at an interval specified by the user. Available here
N	Backpack UDF	bpudfmon.exe	Backpack UDF packet writing software for Microssolutions' Back Pack external CD-RW drive. Similar to DirectCD. Run manually before insert an appropriately formatted CD-RW disk
U	BackupExecScheduler	besch.exe	Veritas "Back Up My PC" software
?	BackupNotify	backupnotify.exe	HP Digital Imaging related. What does it do and is it required?
N	BackWeb	backweb.exe	Automatically detects an internet connection and downloads any available updates. Typical on Compaq and HP PC's but not restricted to those OEM's. Resource hog and often causes malfunctions. Available via Start -> Programs
N	Backwork	Backwork.exe	Backwork trojan detector
U	BACPI10	bacpi10a.exe	Known as "PowerKey" - a minimalistic keyboard driver that allows power management keys on BTC keyboards to function properly in older OS's (i.e. Win95/98/NT4). Also adds an icon to the system tray
N	BacsTray	BacsTray.exe	Broadcom Advanced Control Suite - for modems and set top boxes based upon Broadcom chipsets. Not required unless you have networking problems
X	BADDATE	BADDATE.EXE	Added by an unidentified VIRUS, WORM or TROJAN!
X	BagleAV	csrss.exe	Added by the NETSKY.AB WORM! Note - this is not the legitimate csrss.exe process which should NOT appear in Msconfig/Startup!
X	Bakra	IEHost.EXE	IEDriver adware variant
X	Band-Aid	[path to file]	Added by the RANKY.O TROJAN!
U	Banpopup by Pratik	Banpopup.exe	Banpopup - popup killer
X	Bar Ding lolt	Analiz.exe	Added by the RBOT-RP WORM!
X	bargains	bargains.exe	BargainBuddy foistware
X	bargains	bargainbuddy.exe	BargainBuddy foistware
?	Bart Station	station.sbrt	Related to PeoplePC ISP. May be a dialler for dial-up accounts?
N	bascstray	BascsTray.exe	Broadcom Advanced Control Suite - for modems and set top boxes based upon Broadcom chipsets. Not required unless you have networking problems
X	Bat	secure2.bat	Added by the ZCREW.C TROJAN!
N	Batchreg1	N/A	Part of the Windows System Recovery process. Added to the registry via Msbatch.inf. The existence of this key or process after the last reboot during installation indicates an unsuccessful installation, as that key should be deleted automatically. See here
U	BatInfEx	rundll32.exe	Displays battery status information on an IBM Thinkpad
U	Battery Scope	batmgr.exe	Monitors battery levels on a notebook/laptop PC
U	BatteryBar	batterybar.exe	BatteryBar - displays battery usage, and the current percentage of battery power left
X	BatzBack	BatzBack.scr	Added by the BACKZAT WORM!
U	BAUSB	BAUSB.exe	Boston Acoustics Audio, USB driver
X	bawindo	bawindo.exe	Added by the BEAGLE.AR or BEAGLE.AU WORMS!
U	BayMgr	DockApp.exe	Hot-swappable drive management on laptops allowing you to change drives without closing down Windows. Only required if you frequently swap bay devices
U	Bayswap	bayswap.exe	Hot-swappable drive management on Compaq Notebooks which allows you to swap drives without closing down Windows. Only required if you frequently swap bay devices
U	Bayswap2	TbUpdate.exe	Hot-swappable drive management on Compaq Notebooks which allows you to swap drives without closing down Windows. Only required if you frequently swap bay devices
?	BBDial	BT Broadband.exe	Part of BT Broandband - is it required?
N	bbSysTray	bbSysTray.exe	Philips CD-RW related - "the 'Blue Button' feature gives users the chance to receive convenient online support for their possible device problems or questions"
U	bbui	bbui.exe	AOL DSL status monitor displaying a red/green icon indicating if you have a connection
U	bca	bca.exe	BeClean Agent - registry, history, temp files, etc cleaner
U	BCDetect	bcdetect.exe	Bcdetect.exe searches the system to make sure Creative drivers are installed for the video card. It loads the BlasterControl when the drivers are detected. Your choice - try it and see
Y	BCMDMMSG	bcmdmmsg.exe	BCM voicemodem driver. Required for dial-up if you have one of these modems
U	BCMHal	rundll32.exe bcmhal9x.dll, bcinit	BlasterControl for Creative video cards - controls for desktop settings, monitor configuration, colour adjustments and performance tuning. May be needed to retain settings
Y	BCMSMMSG	BCMSMMSG.exe	BCM voicemodem driver. Required for dial-up if you have one of these modems
?	bcmwltry	bcmwltry.exe	Broadcom Corporation Wireless Network Tray Applet. Is it required?
N	BCNT	bcnt.exe	AWS Weatherbug related. What does it do?
X	BCPC	bcpc.exe	BroadcastPC adware variant
X	bcpc_c	bcpc_c.exe	BroadcastPC adware variant
U	BCTweak	bctweak.exe	BlasterControl for Creative video cards - controls for desktop settings, monitor configuration, colour adjustments and performance tuning. May be needed to retain settings
N	Bcvsrv32	bcvsrv32.exe	Added by the GAOBOT.BQJ WORM!
N	BCWipeTM	bcwipetm.exe	BCWipe Task Manager - scheduler for BCWipe so that it runs at convenient times. You can set a time for running the task, as well as special options for the task. Run manually when needed
Y	BDMCon	Bdmcon.exe	BitDefender antivirus
Y	BDNewsAgent	bdnagent.exe	BitDefender antivirus - updater
Y	BDOESRV	bdoesrv.exe	Bitdefender 8 antivirus and firewall
Y	BDSwitchAgent	bdswitch.exe	Bitdefender 8 antivirus and firewall
N	BearShare	bearshare.exe	BearShare file sharing client. Versions known to include spyware - see here
?	BEEI	beei.exe	??
?	BEHL	BEHL.exe	??
?	BEHLO	BEHLO.exe	??
N	Belkin PCMCIA WLAN Monitor	monitorbk.exe	Belkin USB Network Adapter Management utility - can be started manually
U	BelNotify	[path] NPBelv32.dll, RunDll32_BelNotify	"BelTech enables licensees to offer automated, Web-based problem resolution to their end-users. BelTech allows the end-user to simply go to a web page and automatically resolve their problem or point them to the right solution. BelTech Manager allows non-programmers to rapidly and easily deploy and maintain this service"
?	BELORVBI	BELORVBI.exe	??
?	Belsta.exe	Belsta.exe	Configuration tool for Belkin wireless network cards. Required to change the card’s configuration. Is it required for correct operation once the confuiguration is changed?
X	Belt	Belt.exe	Transponder parasite updater/installer
X	Benadril Alert Tool	benadrilalert.exe	Plug-in for WeatherBug advising when pollen count in your area is high - prompting you to buy Benadril
N	BestPopUpKiller	BestPopupKiller.exe	Popup killer of dubious repute by SwankSoft.com. For more info about the company, do a search for 'SwankSoft' on this web page on "Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites"
Y	bg	bullguard.exe	Bullguard antivirus and firewall. The P2P version is free with KaZaA Media Desktop and Grokster
U	BGInfo	Bginfo.exe	BGinfo automatically displays relevant information about a Windows computer on the desktop's background, such as the computer name, IP address, service pack version, and more
Y	BGNewsAgent	bgnewsag.exe	BullGuard antivirus updater
N	bgsmsnd	bgsmsnd.exe	Printer driver to generate PDF files from any program
N	BHOCop	BHOCop.exe	ZDNet's BHO Cop that lets you see what browser helper objects are installed. Useful for detecting spyware
U	BHODemon 2.0	BHODemon.exe	BHODemon "protects you from unknown Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), by letting you enable/disable them individually. When running, it also monitors your Registry and alerts you when a BHO is installed. Best of all, BHODemon knows about the most common BHOs - the good ones, and the not-so-good ones!". If you prefer forgoing resident protection, the application can also be run on demand
X	BIE	Rundll32.exe BDSrHook.dll, Rundll32	BDplugin parasite
N	bigfix	BIGFIX.EXE	BigFix can automatically download and read technical support information provided by computer and software manufacturers and other technical support experts (published in the form of Fixlet® Messages) and can automatically check your computer for bugs, configuration conflicts, and security holes. Should only be started manually as it's a resource hog
U	BigPond Toolbar	bpumTray.exe	Telstra BigPond Toolbar - "Introducing the free and easy to use BigPond Toolbar that is designed to make your internet experience and managing your Telstra internet account a whole lot easier"
N	BigPondCable	bpcable.exe	Telstra Bigpond Cable login software - can be started manually
N	Billminder	Billmind.exe	Can be setup in Quicken to remind user of due payments. Available via Start -> Programs
X	bin32hpu	ppstub.exe	PrecisionPop adware
X	bingdian	Bingdian.vbs	Added by the BINGD WORM!
?	Bingo Charm	charms.exe	Some kind of screen icon kind of like desk flag, but it gives you a choice of icons?
X	Bios	Bios32.exe	Added by an unidentified VIRUS, WORM or TROJAN!
X	BIOS1	BIOS1.EXE	Added by the OPASERV.T WORM!
?	BIOVCIP	BIOVCIP.exe	??
Y	BitDefender Communicator	xcommsvr.exe	BitDefender antivirus
U	BitDefender for MSN Messenger	msnmon.exe	Bitdefender anti-virus for MSN Messenger. Unless you have MSN Messenger running all the time start it manually
U	BitDefender for Yahoo! Messenger	yahmon.exe	BitDefender Antivirus for Yahoo! Messenger - free AV add-on for Yahoo! Messenger
Y	BitDefender Live! Init	bdinit.exe	BitDefender antivirus
Y	BitDefender Scan Server	bdss.exe	BitDefender antivirus
Y	BitDefender Virus Shield	vsserv.exe	BitDefender antivirus
Y	bitdefenderlive	avxlive.exe	Main program of BitDefender virus scanner/firewall
U	BitDefender_P2P_Startup	BitDefender_P2P_Startup.exe	Bitdefender anti-virus for file transfers via internet messaging clients such as ICQ and MSN Messenger. Unless you have these running all the time start it manually
N	BitWare Print Monitor	bwprnmon.exe	FaxServe network fax software
N	BJ Printer Status Monitor	Cjstsr.exe	Canon BJ printer status monitor
N	BJ Status Monitor 5xx	CJSTRxx.EXE	Canon printer status monitor - where "xx" is different depending upon the version. Not required as you can check the printer status via My Computer -> Printers