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	V.92 Modem On Hold	Ltmoh.exe	Modem On Hold utility - manages incoming/outgoing voice calls on a single phone line while being connected to the internet
Y	V128IID	Rundll32.exe v128iitw.dll, STB_InitTweak	Loads drivers for some STB graphics cards such as the STB nVIDIA TNT 16MB. Required if you don't want to experience lock-ups or error messages
?	V128IITV	??	Loads drivers for some STB graphics cards. May be related to such a card with a TV out option?
?	V66SHELL	V66SHELL.EXE	It looks to be part of the display driver set for ASUS V3800, V6600 and V6800 display adapters. Probably a system tray quick access control?
U	va10key	va10key.exe	Only required if you use the 10 kay bay unit with a Sony Vaio laptop
Y	VAGCtrl	VAGCTRL.EXE	Vexira Antivirus - virus scanner from Central Command
Y	VAGuard	VAGNT.exe	Vexira Antivirus - virus scanner from Central Command
U	VAIO Action Setup (Server)	VAServ.exe	Sony Vaio utility that auto-launches selected applications when you plug in a digital video camera, digital still camera, etc. via iLink (FireWire) or USB
U	VAIO Recovery	PartSeal.exe	System backup for Sony Vaio PCs. Adds a recovery mechanism for users over and above any System Restore features - allowing users to revert a drive back to the state it was when bought form the factory by hitting F10. The user obviously loses any data stored if not backed-up elsewhere
X	ValidData	[path to trojan]	Added by the RANKY.H TROJAN!
X	vb6	vb6.exe	Added by the MUGLY.D WORM!
X	VBouncer	VirtualBouncer.exe	Virtual Bouncer - malware from Spyware Labs. It is distributed by the same bundling and drive-by download techniques as the parasites it claims to remove, so definitely qualifies as unsolicited commercial software in itself. It also has an update feature that can download and execute arbitrary code. Warning - choose "custom" uninstall as "automatic" may remove other programs - see here and here
X	VbouncerDL	VbouncerInner****.exe [* = random char]	Virtual Bouncer - malware from Spyware Labs. It is distributed by the same bundling and drive-by download techniques as the parasites it claims to remove, so definitely qualifies as unsolicited commercial software in itself. It also has an update feature that can download and execute arbitrary code. Warning - choose "custom" uninstall as "automatic" may remove other programs - see here and here
X	VbouncerDL	VBouncerInner.exe	Virtual Bouncer - malware from Spyware Labs. It is distributed by the same bundling and drive-by download techniques as the parasites it claims to remove, so definitely qualifies as unsolicited commercial software in itself
X	VBundleOuterDL	BundleOuter.EXE	VirtualBouncer 2.0 - malware from Spyware Labs. It is distributed by the same bundling and drive-by download techniques as the parasites it claims to remove, so definitely qualifies as unsolicited commercial software in itself. It also has an update feature that can download and execute arbitrary code. Warning - choose "custom" uninstall as "automatic" may remove other programs
X	VB_run	comctl_32.exe	Dubious downloader from densmail.com
X	VC5MediaPlayer	csmss.exe	Added by the DEDLER-B WORM!
N	VC5Play	VC5Play.exe	Virtual CD drive emulator - version 5. Available via Start -> Programs
X	VCatch	Vcatch.exe	CommonSearch Vcatch - "antivirus" software which actually bundles spy/adware itself!
X	VCatch Premium	VCatchpre.exe	VCatch antivirus. Considered spyware itself - see here
N	VCDPlayer	VCDPlayer.exe	Virtual CD drive emulator. Available via Start -> Programs
N	vcdplayx	vcdplayx.exe	CD emulation part of GameDrive & VirtualDrive from Farstone. Not required as starting these programs load this automatically
U	VCDTower	VCDTower.exe	Goldensoft CD Ghost related - turns a computer into a 200X-speed CD-ROM tower. Working from the hard drive, users can simultaneously access as many as 23 virtual CD-ROM drives at a speed of 200X for true multitasking
?	VCDWATCH	VCDWATCH.EXE	Confirmed as Voyetra CD Watcher as it was found in a Compaq/Voyetra/AS2 directory but what does it do?
N	VCSPlayer	vcsplay.exe	Virtual CD drive emulator. Available via Start -> Programs
?	VDI Manager (HP)	HPO0VDX05.exe	HP (Hewlett-Packard) related. Now - what does it do?
N	vdtask	vdtask.exe	Program part of GameDrive & VirtualDrive from Farstone. Not required as starting these programs load this automatically
N	Vegas Palms - Launcher	Launcher.exe	Vegas Palms on-line cassino
N	Verizon Control Pad	cpad.exe	Control Pad - installed with Verizon DSL accounts. Tool designed to streamline the online experience
U	Verizon Online Support Center	matcli.exe	"matcli.exe is a motive Assistant Command line interface that gathers information about your system's identity like your name email address, city, state, etc and gets written to a log file". Verizon Online Support Center is required to run with the Help and Support program. If you uncheck Verizon Online Support Center and and then run help and Support it will add another Verizon Online Support Center in the startup menu. If you remove the Verizon Online Support Center in the add/remove program some help menus in help and support will not be available. You decide
X	vern16.dll	regsvr32.exe [path] vernn16.dll	DailyWinner adware
U	versato	versato.exe	"Hot" button (such as volume and browser control) management and a CD player as supplied with QTronix (as possibly Micro Innovations) keyboards
X	Version	Version.exe	JRAUN adware variant
X	Version	manage.exe	JRAUN adware variant
X	version	adl_dh.exe	DealHelper adware related
Y	Vet Alert	vetmsg9x.exe	Computer Associates "InnoculateIT" and Vet Anti-Virus virus software
Y	Vet Start Up	vet98.exe	Computer Associates "InnoculateIT"  and Vet Anti-Virus virus software. This option will slow down your system, if set too aggressively. There is no need to scan every file when opened, closed, etc. Check in InoculateIT PE options
Y	Vet Start Up	vet32.exe	Computer Associates "InnoculateIT"  and Vet Anti-Virus virus software. This option will slow down your system, if set too aggressively. There is no need to scan every file when opened, closed, etc. Check in InoculateIT PE options
U	VetTray	vettray.exe	Computer Associates "InnoculateIT"  and Vet Anti-Virus virus software. System Tray quicklaunch access, not really necessary but only occupies 36k resources
X	VFW Encoder/Decoder Settings	RUNDLL32.exe MSSIGN30.DLL ondll_reg	Added by a variant of the LOVGATE WORM!
U	VGAUtil	G-VGA.exe	Gigabyte VGA Utility - access card options (application needs to be run at startup, but is not system critical)
X	vid32cntl	vid32cntl.Exe	Added by the CRYPTER.A TROJAN!
X	vidcntl	vidcntl.Exe	Added by the CRYPTER.A TROJAN!
X	Vidcompat	Vidcompat.exe	Added by the GEMA TROJAN!
X	Video	explored.exe	Added by the GAOBOT.RF WORM!
X	Video	winamp32.exe	Added by the AGOBOT-NG WORM!
X	Video Lan Player	VideoLanPlayer.exe	Added by the RBOT-MY WORM!
X	Video Manager	videomgr.exe	Added by the PANDEM.C WORM!
X	Video Multimedia Driver	ndrives32.exe	Added by the RBOT-DK WORM!
X	Video Proces	winaps.exe	Added by the AGOBOT.HD WORM!
X	Video Process	sysconf.exe	Added by the GAOBOT.GEN!POLY or GAOBOT.UM or GAOBOT.ADX WORMS!
X	Video Process	MS32x16.exe	Added by the RBOT.RH WORM!
X	Video Process	netsvcs.exe	Added by the AGOBOT.LH WORM!
X	Video Process	MSlti64.exe	Added by the AGOBOT.UE WORM!
X	Video Process	[random filename]	Added by the RBOT-LM WORM!
X	Video Process	winasp.exe	Added by the AGOBOT-IS WORM!
X	Video Services	explore.exe	Added by the GAOBOT.GL WORM!
X	Video Services	videol_32.exe	Added by the AGOBOT-DM WORM!
X	Video Services	sys32.exe	Added by the AGOBOT.PS WORM!
X	Videocntl	Videocntl.exe	Added by a variant of the GEMA.D TROJAN!
X	VideoDriver	[filename]	Added by the GSPOT20.A TROJAN!
X	VideoDriver	videodrv.exe	Added by the MIMAIL.A WORM!
X	VideoDriver	gspotbot.exe	Added by the SPIGOT.C TROJAN!
X	Videool32	VIDEOL32.EXE	Added by the AGOBOT.EC WORM!