Start Up Applications F

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.

U F-Secure Management Agent FSMA32.EXE F-Secure Antivirus - F-Secure Policy Manager provides tools for administering F-Secure software products

Y F-Secure Manager FSM32.EXE F-Secure Antivirus - carry out scheduled virus scans automatically

Y F-Secure Startup Wizard FSSW.EXE F-Secure antivirus

Y F-Secure TNB TNBUtil.exe F-Secure antivirus

Y F-StopW F-StopW.exe F-Prot anti-virus background scanner by F-Risk Software

U f1Tray.exe 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"

X f607 f607.exe Added by the URAT.B TROJAN!

U FamilyKeyLogger cisvc.exe "Family Keylogger - is your best choice, if you want to know what other users on your machine are typing". Note! - this is not the cisvc.exe service.

? fapmon fapmon.exe Fair Access Policy monitor for DirecPC/DirecWay internet access

X farmmext farmmext.exe Transponder parasite updater/installer

X Fash Fash.exe Unidentified adware

N fast fast.exe Installs as part of Windows XP PowerToys as an option for very-fast user switching (allowing a keystoke to switch users instead of using the login screen). It is only used for the hot-key switch and yet it hogs 1.5 megs of memory in two separate processes (one run by the user & one by the system). Optional install in PowerToys

N FAST Defrag FAST2.EXE FastDefrag defragmenting software

X Fast start Ntut.exe Added by unidentified adware - recognized by Kaspersky antivirus as Trojan.Win32.Favadd.i

U FastCache fc.exe FastCache from AnalogX - speeds up browsing by resolving DNS requests locally

X FastStart ntnut32.exe Added by the Startpage.L hijacker

N FastTrack Accelerator SPEED UP.EXE FastTrack Accelerator - "speedup" utility for programs that use the FastTrack network such as KaZaA Media Desktop, Grokster and Morpheus

N FastUser fast.exe Installs as part of Windows XP PowerToys as an option for very-fast user switching (allowing a keystoke to switch users instead of using the login screen). It is only used for the hot-key switch and yet it hogs 1.5 megs of memory in two separate processes (one run by the user & one by the system). Optional install in PowerToys

N FastUsr fast.exe Installs as part of Windows XP PowerToys as an option for very-fast user switching (allowing a keystoke to switch users instead of using the login screen). It is only used for the hot-key switch and yet it hogs 1.5 megs of memory in two separate processes (one run by the user & one by the system). Optional install in PowerToys

U FatPipe DHCP Software enabling high speed internet browsing (2-4 times faster) and internet connection sharing for up to 5 users

U Fatpipe Dialer fpdialer.exe Dailler for Fatpipe - software enabling high speed internet browsing (2-4 times faster) and internet connection sharing for up to 5 users

U FaxCenterServer fm3032.exe FaxMan integrates complete fax send and receive support into Windows applications without requiring additional fax software. Incorporated into software by Lexmark, MCI, Lotus, My Software, Broderbund, Traffic Software and many others

U FBDirect FBDirect.exe Software that monitors the status of a Visioneer OneTouch scanner button and allows you to scan, fax, copy, print, and easily communicate by simply dragging and dropping scans on your PaperPort Desktop!. The **** represents the model, 5300, 7600, etc. Available via Start -> Programs

? FBI FBISM.exe Compaq related but what does it do?

X fc runfc.exe Added by the CAMPURF WORM!

? FD_SAP FD.exe Genicom SAP Printer driver. Is it required?

U FEELitDeviceManager feelitdm.exe Associated with Immersion TouchSense devices (Logitech Wingman Force Feedback Mouse and possibly other peripherals)

X fegoze SVCH0ST.EXE Added by the GRAYBIRD.D TROJAN!

U Fellowes Proxy R3proxy.exe Installed with Fellowes EasyPoint mouse software. Not necessary for normal functioning of Fellowes mice but it is necessary to use the extended features of all Fellowes mice

X Fen Startups fensvc32.exe Added by the RANDEX.CCF WORM!

U FerrariWallPaper FerrariWP.exe Calendar that replaces the default desktop background image. It comes with every Acer Ferrari 3000 laptop. Also downloadable for members of www.ferrari.com

X ffis ffisearch.exe iSearch "Desktop Search" hijacker

U FG1_00 frntgate.exe FrontGate MX - e-mail spam blocker

X fGQEGqHOME gwwgtp.exe Added by the RANKY.J TROJAN!

U Fhtisxk fhtisxk.exe XtraKeys - keylogger (monitoring program). Given a "U" recommendation because it depends if you intentionally installed it. If you didn't treat it as "X" and uninstall or remove via Spybot S&D (for example)

U FieldForms Sync SyncService.exe Resco FieldForms. A solution for building of mobile forms that can be viewed or filled in on the run, on a wide range of mobile devices. Supports Microsoft Access databases, and provides for synchronization of other data as well

X FiendlyType csrss.exe Added by the WEBUS TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate csrss.exe process, which should not appear in Msconfig/Startup!

? file indexing service msfindfile.exe New version of MS FindFast and still a resource hog?

X File System Service wmiprvsc.exe Added by the AGOBOT-HZ TROJAN!

N FileFreedom_Plugin wtm.exe FileFreedom peer-to-peer sharing program

X FileManager32 Wscript.exe ..ChkMgr32.vbs Added by the NOTUP.A WORM!

X FileSoft Wscript.exe UpdataFiles.vbs Added by the SST.B WORM!

U FilterGate filtergate.exe Filtergate internet filtering software - filters sounds, popup ads, background sound and other unnecessary website items

U Filterguard Filtrgrd.exe An icon located in the lower left of the screen and looks like a lifesaver. This icon is a �short-cut� to access the basic features of SOS-Guardian, SOS-KidProof Lite, SOS Best Defense and SOS Pro such as Internet filtering utility. You can access this menu by �right-clicking� on the icon

X Find Fast Findfast.exe Complete utter waste of space! Part of MS Office - searches disk drives for Office file types to make opening them easier

Y Find Virus Launch Program fvlaunch.exe Part of Dr. Solomon's Antivirus

N FinePrint Dispatcher vx FPDISPxA.EXE FinePrint - virtual printer for use with any printer. Search for "dispatcher" here for more information. If removed, it will re-install when program is run - hence the Y recommendation

N FineReader7NewsReaderPro AbbyyNewsReader.exe ABBYY FineReader OCR software

X Firewall wmlaunch .exe Added by the ELIPTER.A WORM!

X Firewall wmlaunch .exe Added by the ELIPTER.D WORM!

X FirewallSvr FirewallSvr.exe Added by the NETSKY.X or NETSKY.Y WORMS!

X FireWire Driver samx.exe Added by the SDBOT.AE WORM!

X First Home Page http://find.naupoint.com Naupoint browser hijacker

Y Fix-it mxtask.exe Part of Ontrack's Fix-it Utilities Suite. Loads a System Tray icon that lets you access the full program. Needed if you run the crash guard, intellicluster, anti-virus, or autoupdater. Otherwise not required

Y Fix-it AV memcheck.exe Part of Ontrack's Fix-it Utilities Suite anti-virus. Performs a quick check of memory for signs of any virus. Exits afterward and returns all resources used in one user's experience. Not required but could be left without a drain on resources

N fkSysMon fksysmon.exe fkWrae SysMon - system monitor - "displays the current memory consumption, CPU and resource usage, date, time, Windows uptime, IP address and a lot more"

? FLASH32 -flash32.exe ??

N FlashPath Monitor SDSTAT.EXE System Tray icon that you can't get rid of - and does not need to run!. Tells you the battery status in the floppy disk adapter for the smartmedia cards. Available via Start -> Programs

N FlashPath Monitor FLSHSTAT.EXE System Tray icon that you can't get rid of - and does not need to run!. Tells you the battery status in the floppy disk adapter for the smartmedia cards. Available via Start -> Programs

N FlashPath Status SDSTAT.EXE System Tray icon that you can't get rid of - and does not need to run!. Tells you the battery status in the floppy disk adapter for the smartmedia cards. Available via Start -> Programs

N FlashPath Status FLSHSTAT.EXE System Tray icon that you can't get rid of - and does not need to run!. Tells you the battery status in the floppy disk adapter for the smartmedia cards. Available via Start -> Programs

U Flexicd Flexicd.exe CD player - part of the Win95 Power Toys

U FLMK08KB MMKEYBD.EXE Multimedia keyboard manager. Required if you use the additional keys

? FLMTRUSTKB KbdAp32A.exe Keyboard utility for a Trust brand keyboard. What does it do and is it required?

? FLMTRUSTMOUSE mouse32a.exe Mouse utility for a Trust brand mouse. What does it do and is it required?

X FLooDNeT FLooDeR.exe Added by of the ENDOOL TROJAN!

? Flow Go TV flogotv.exe ??

X flps flps.vbs Added by the BYRON WORM!

X flpycntl flpycntl.exe Added by the CRYPTER.C TROJAN!

? FLSVCI FLSVCI.exe ??

Y FltProcess msinet.exe Part of Cyber Patrol internet filtering software to restrict access to certain types of material on the internet. It can be disabled but do not ask how it's done

X FlyswatDesktop flydesk.exe Advertising spyware

U FmctrlTray Fmctrl.EXE Genius SM-Live Control Panel. Enhances audio output through Genius sound cards (makes a big difference and worth the 3MB Ram used)

X fmnwebassist fmnwebassist.exe Adware popup generator

U FMStart Fmstart.exe GFI FAXmaker - native fax connector for Microsoft Exchange Server or for networks, allows all users to send and receive faxes right from their desktop

X FMSZ fmsz.exe Added by the FMSZ TROJAN!

X fnmwebassist fnmwebassist.exe WinPL adware

? Focus Focus.exe ISDN configuration wizard?

X Folder Service wssdtu.exe Added by the MANIFEST TROJAN!

N Folding@home WINFAH.EXE Folding@Home is a distributed computing project which studies protein folding, misfolding, aggregation, and related diseases - must be running in order to access the internet to upload to the servers. Available via Start -> Programs

N FoneSyncSystemTray FoneSyncSystemTray.exe System Tray icon for Nokia FoneSync utility for the 7160/7190 mobiles. Useful to send data from/to the cell phone and the computer. You can use it to backup data or even to input data through the computer keyboard (which naturally is much more comfortable). Run manually when required

X FontFix fontfix.exe Added by an unidentified VIRUS, WORM or TROJAN!

X FONTVIEW FONTVIEW.EXE Added by the OPASERV.T WORM!

X foobin lptt01 adaware.exe Variant of the RapidBlaster parasite (in a "foo1" folder in Program Files). It is not recommended you manually uninstall RapidBlaster but use RapidBlaster Killer - see here

X foobin ml097e adaware.exe Variant of the RapidBlaster parasite (in a "foo1" folder in Program Files). It is not recommended you manually uninstall RapidBlaster but use RapidBlaster Killer - see here

Y FoolProof fpwinldr.exe FoolProof Security PC security software from SmartStuff