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.

X	E-Card	ecard.exe	Added by the YODI WORM!
U	E-color	IconMgr.Exe	Sets the colour of your monitor when running games that recognise E-Color so that you get 'what the game designer intended' when you see the game. Also allows monitor callibration through a program called 3-Deep. If you play a lot of games it can be useful. Can be disabled from starting up from within the program
N	E6TaskPanel	TaskPanl.exe	Earthlink Task Panel - part of Earthlink TotalAccess 2003 internet access software. Quick access to internet, E-mail and web-space
U	eabconfg.cpl	EabServr.exe	Easy Access Buttons control panel on Compaq laptops. Only required if you use the extra keys
X	Eac Download	download.exe	Associated with Webcelerator - spyware. Read eAcceleration's privacy statement here
U	EACLEAN	eaclean.exe	For Compaq PC's. Easy Access button support for the keyboard
X	Eac_Cnry	canary.exe	Added by the CANARY TROJAN!
?	Eac_rnvdl	ANTIVIRUS_INSTALL.EXE	??
X	EanthologyApp	EANTHO~1.EXE	eAcceleration Stop-Sign related - not recommended, see note
N	EanthologyApp	eanthology.exe	eAcceleration Stop-Sign related - not recommended, see note
X	eanth_critical_update_alert	sys_alert.exe	eAcceleration Stop-Sign related - not recommended, see note
N	eanth_system_patcher	sys_alert.exe	eAcceleration Stop-Sign related - not recommended, see note
N	Eapcisetup	sbsetup.exe	Rockwell RipTide soundcard application software. Sound works without it
N	EAPCISETUP	wizard.exe	Part of the Creative Sounblaster PIC Installation Wizard. Probably left as a result of a failed installation
N	EarthLink ToolBar 5.0	etoolbar.exe	EarthLink Toolbar is a tool to help you get to all of the resources of the internet. EarthLink 5.0 Setup adds a few basic buttons to the Toolbar, but you can delete these or add more buttons any time
U	Easy Key	easykey.exe	For programming of the built-in functions keys on some laptops (and maybe desktops). Required if these are used
N	Easy Start Button	esb.exe	Provides functionality on certain laptops that have additional keys. Not required unless you use the extra keys
X	EasyAV	EasyAV.exe	Added by the NETSKY.S or NETSKY.T WORMS!
X	EasyDates	EasyDates.exe	Premium rate adult content dialler
X	EasyDates_nl	EasyDates_nl.exe	Adult content dialler
U	EasyKey	easykey.exe	For programming of the built-in functions keys on some laptops (and maybe desktops). Required if these are used
U	EasyMessage	em2.exe	Easy Messenger, instant messenger for MSN, AOL, ICQ, and Yahoo. See here
X	EasySearchBar	ESBUpdate.exe	EasySearchBar adware downloader
X	easyServ	Server.exe	Added by the EASYSERV TROJAN!
U	EasySync Pro	XCPCMenu.exe	EasySync Pro is a Lotus program for synchronizing a PDA with Lotus Notes
U	EasyTuneIII	EasyTune.exe	Tuning (overclocking) utility for Gigabyte motherboards. Shortcut available
U	EasyTuneIV	ET4Tray.exe	Tuning (overclocking) utility for Gigabyte motherboards. Shortcut available
X	easywww	easywww2.exe	Added by an unidentified VIRUS, WORM or TROJAN!
N	EbatesMoeMoneyMaker	wjview ...Code	Ebates adware
X	EbatesMoeMoneyMaker0	EbatesMoeMoneyMaker0.exe	Ebates adware
X	eBay Toolbar	EBAYTBAR.EXE	eBay Toolbar - reportes as spyware as it "phones home"
U	eBoard	Eboard.exe	eMachines multimedia keyboard manager. Required if you use the extra keys
N	eBot	DownloadWizard.exe	eBot from Digital River - "helps ensure your computer always has the latest technology, fixes, add-ons, upgrades and 'cool stuff'." Can optionally be installed with software such as Net Nanny internet filtering software. Available via Start -> Programs
?	ecpe	ECPE.EXE	??
?	edexter	edexter.exe	??
X	editpad	editpad.exe	Added by the CONSPER-B TROJAN!
N	EDLoader	DTLoader.exe	Effective Desktop from MiniStars Software - desktop management software no longer being supported
U	EDRestore	??	Set Point from Easy Desk Software - "small utility that automatically sets System Restore points for WinME/XP"
X	educational writer	[random filename]	Added by the RBOT-LZ WORM!
U	Edwizard	Edwizard.exe	SafeGuard Easy - "provides total company-wide protection for sensitive information on laptops and workstations. Boot protection, pre-boot user authentication and hard disk encryption using powerful algorithms guarantee against unauthorized access and hacker attacks"
N	eFax.com Tray Menu	HotTray.exe	eFax Messenger Tray Menu system tray icon for eFax Messenger Plus. Available via Start -> Programs. Disabling instructions available here
X	efaxs lptt01	efaxs.exe	Variant of the RapidBlaster parasite (in an "efaxs" folder in Program Files). It is not recommended you manually uninstall RapidBlaster but use RapidBlaster Killer - see here
X	efaxs ml097e	efaxs.exe	Variant of the RapidBlaster parasite (in an "efaxs" folder in Program Files). It is not recommended you manually uninstall RapidBlaster but use RapidBlaster Killer - see here
U	Efpap.exe	Efpap.exe	Easy File & Folder Protector. Deny access to certain files and folders, or to hide them securely from viewing and searching
?	ehTray	ehtray.exe	eHome Media Center PC related - what does it do and is it required?
X	ei10.exe	ei10.exe	Added by the AGOBOT-NK WORM!
U	Eicon NetworksLAN_DAEMON	watch.exe	Associated with an Eicon Networks ISDN or ADSL modem. Watch protocols your connection with numbers and duration. You need callvu.exe (from Start Menu) to see your connection statistics. You can manually start watch.exe before you go online. Needs diinfo.exe (started by DiTask) to work correctly which can be started manually
U	Eicon TechnologyLAN_DAEMON	watch.exe	Associated with an Eicon Networks ISDN or ADSL modem. Watch protocols your connection with numbers and duration. You need callvu.exe (from Start Menu) to see your connection statistics. You can manually start watch.exe before you go online. Needs diinfo.exe (started by DiTask) to work correctly which can be started manually
X	eixfi	china.bat	Added by the WCUP.A WORM!
U	Elbycheck	ElbyCheck.exe	From Elaborate Bytes who make CloneCD - monitors the installed filters of CD-ROMs/DVD-ROMs. Note - under Win2K removing this from startup causes the CD drive in the computer to not be recognized in the OS and after rechecking it prompts that the driver has been corrupted and asks you to restart the computer to fix it
U	Electron Microscope	EMIII.exe	Electron Microscope or EM - is a program used to track Stanford's distributed computing program client called Folding at Home, FAH. It will monitor up to 50 clients and give you the details about each client's progress as the FAH client runs. EM will also show you what each change in the protein looks like as the process continues
X	Element	Element.txt	Added by the ELEM TROJAN!
N	elm	Elmenv.exe	ViaTech eLicense for securing, distributing and selling music online
U	ELSA WINman Suite	Winmsuit.exe	Allows you to totally customize your ELSA graphics card settings, including overclocking the GPU
Y	ElsaCapiCtl	Rcapi.exe	Assumed to stand for Remote Common Application Programming Interface (RCAPI), this was installed with an Elsa Microlink ISDN modem. If it is not there you can not bring up the dialog box which is sometimes needed to reset the modem
U	ELSAChipGuard	elsavect.exe	ChipGuard for ELSA graphics cards - monitoring solution which monitors both the GPU temperature and fan speed, and will halt the system if either are at dangerous levels and restore the default clock speeds upon reboot. Leave enabled if overclocking
N	EMA.exe	EMA.EXE	Time management system which helps you to manage your time and appointments
U	eMachines eBoard	Eboard.exe	eMachines multimedia keyboard manager. Required if you use the extra keys
X	emsw.exe	emsw.exe	Attune HelpExpress - spyware. Disable and uninstall - see here
N	eMusicClient Systray	eMusicClient.exe	eMusic MP3 download software
U	EM_EXEC	EM_EXEC.EXE	Logitech Mouseware driver. Needed to support some additional functionality of Logitech mice/trackballs such as "SmartMove". If you disable it and find you don't need it leave it disabled
N	EN4060C Taskbar	en4060ct.exe	Comes with Efficient Networks DSL Modems. Little red/green/yellow flashing icon in system tray
?	encapsulated command tool	wintr.com	??
N	Encarta Dictionary Quickshelf	QSHLFED.EXE	Provides quick access to Encarta's Dictionary features?
N	ENCMONITOR	monitor.exe	The Encompass Monitor. This program is the Connect Direct Program.  It is more trouble than it is worth and few use it
N	Encoder Agent	WMENCAGT.EXE	MS Windows Media Encoder, which already has a shortcut in the Start Menu if installed
U	Encompass_ENCMONTR	ENCMONTR.EXE	Optional simple browser from Yahoo (Encompass)
?	ENCSurf	surfboard.exe	??
U	Energizer FileSaver	Energizer FileSaver.exe	Energizer FileSaver - UPS back-up utility for Energizer UPS products
Y	EngUtil	EngUtil.exe	Part of Roxio EasyCD Creator 6.0 - corrects any modification made to the Roxio Engine, it exits after checking
X	Enh Win Updt	enhupdt.exe	Adware downloader - recognized by Kaspersky antivirus as Trojan-Downloader.Win32.OneClickNetSearch.h
X	enhance32	enhance32.exe	Added by the CRYPTER.A TROJAN!
N	EnigmaPopupStop	EnigmaPopupStop.exe	SpyHunter - spyware remover of somewhat dubious repute, see note
?	ENSApServer2_0	APSERVER.EXE	Intel AnyPoint Wireless II Home Network related. What does it do and is it required?
?	ENSMIX32.EXE	ENSMIX32.EXE	Sound card driver. Is it required?