F-sched

F-Sched.exe

(Frisk Software)

F-PROT Scheduler  for the  F-PROT  antivirus software.  This scheduler runs in the System Tray and enables you to schedule unattended virus definitions updates as well as unattended virus scans of your PC.

Recommendation :
At the time of writing, 15‑Nov‑2004, this is in our opinion one of the worst designed antivirus software scheduler programs.  If during the course of a virus definitions update the scheduler determines that there is a new version of the main F‑PROT antivirus software, it waits on the screen till you click  DOWNLOAD,  at which point your web browser is opened for you to manually download the software updates.  We actually do not have a problem with having to manually download full-program updates through the web browser.  What we take extreme exception to is the fact that when the above happens you are no longer in  automatic unattended  mode – until you click either  DOWNLOAD  or  CANCEL  the updating module stays open on the screen and  does not  update your virus definitions.  You could therefore be in the situation which we have seen a number of times where you have left your PC on for hours overnight or during the day, with your email software open and automatically picking up emails as they arrive, a new virus is released during that time, Frisk Software release both virus definitions and a new version of the F‑PROT program, but because your supposed unattended automatic update is actually waiting for user input, F‑PROT does not get updated with the latest definitions and your PC gets infected through a virus email which it received while the  F‑PROT  updater was waiting for user input !   And there is more :  if you have configured the scheduler to check for virus definitions updates every hour, like we do, but it got stuck for hours waiting for user input, and you come back and give it that user input  (either through cancelling or through downloading the full F‑PROT update), then the scheduler stacks up all the update checks it was not able to do while waiting for user input, and you then get bombarded over the next hour or two of work, with endless interruptions from the scheduler checking for updates.  Unbelievable.  Lastly, unlike with other software, it is our belief that, for antivirus software, scheduled automated virus definitions updates should occur seamlessly and  unobtrusively  in the background in the way that Symantec do with Norton Antivirus – you should never have a situation where you find yourself being interrupted by a virus update while you are writing an email with the result that you end up typing in the wrong window !   So, depending on how you use your PC, and on how often you check for virus definition updates, the F‑PROT scheduler can either be  OK  or a total and absolute source of frustration which will make you want to disable this task on the  Startups  tab of  The Ultimate Troubleshooter  and use manual updates instead.  Frisk Software need to have a serious look at this.  Your choice.

F1tray

F1Tray.exe

(FusionOne)

System Tray icon for FusionOne’s  MightyPhone  software.  MightyPhone is a great concept for synchronizing the data on your mobile phone, with your web-based or PC based organizer.  On this one we will allow ourselves to say that we hope it succeeds.  We cannot explain the concept any better than MightyPhone (FusionOne) do themselves (as of 1‑Feb‑2004) :  “MightyPhone provides the ability for end-users to add, remove, or change data on their cellular handsets without having to enter it directly into the device (via the cumbersome keypad) or sync via a cable with a PC. All independent of their carrier, be it CDMA or GSM.  MightyPhone comes in two flavours regular web‑powered MightyPhone and the downloadable MightyPhone Pro desktop application.  The web version allows users to login and enter or change contact, calendar and task data via a web browser, and then sync the updates down to their phone over‑the‑air.  The downloadable desktop sync client, MightyPhone Pro, allows over‑the‑air, 2-way synchronization of contacts, calendar and tasks directly from popular PIM applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, and Lotus Notes.  The web version is worthwhile for those who have minimal contact or calendar information to track, while the Pro version is more for the professional.  The major caveat with MightyPhone is that your phone has to be supported, however MightyPhone can support any mobile phone with built-in SyncML capabilities, something that is appearing in more and more models.  MightyPhone.com”.

Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference.  If you often synchronize your phone with your PC, then it makes sense to have MightyPhone Pro accessible straight from the System Tray.

F1autosync

F1AutoSync.exe

(FusionOne)

See   F1TRAY   above for details of  MightyPhone.  F1AUTOSYNC is the background task which pulls data out of your Personal Information Organizer and sends it to your phone over the web and then over‑the‑air.  It also does the reverse operation when synchronizing from your phone back to your PC.

Recommendation :  
Essential for the proper functioning of MightyPhone Pro.  You can either decide to leave it as a startup task or you can decide to disable it on the  Startups  tab of  The Ultimate Troubleshooter  since starting the MightyPhone Pro software when you next need it will in any case start this task.

Fa_gd32

FA_GD32.exe

(Cybermedia Inc, now McAfee)

First Aid 98 Windows Guardian.  Once upon a time, in the days of Windows 95/98, a number of companies thought they could write software which would prevent or warn of Windows crashes, which would fix problems in tens of thousands of programs (Gee!!) thanks to constantly updated databases, which would provide safe installation and un‑installation of software, and with some of them, which would provide the  “System Restore”  function which is now part of Windows since Windows Millennium Edition.  Would you know, the majority of these products turned out to cause crashes themselves !!!   Right from day one we never believed in such programs, if only because it is an impossible feat to keep track of all the software produced around the world, of their bugs, of their newest bugs or corrections in their latest versions, etc…  Like most other such programs, First Aid 98 and the company that made it, Cybermedia, eventually disappeared (bought by McAfee/Network Associates in the case of Cybermedia).

Recommendation : 
Given that First Aid 98 has been a defunct product for some time, running it in 2002 and beyond without the benefit of program updates that take into account nowadays software, is courting trouble, if not disaster.  You certainly should not run it on anything other than Windows 95/98.  Our view is that if you are still running First Aid you should de-install it. 
Note, however, that because of the way in which First Aid interacts with Windows, the de-installation of First Aid may actually cause you instability problems later (catch 22!!).  So, if your PC is currently relatively stable, do not try to fix what doesn’t need fixing, keep First Aid.

Farmmext

Farmmext.exe

(Farmmext.com)

This startup entry is seriously crippling adware and will, usually, not be the only unwanted entry on your  Startups  tab in  The Ultimate Troubleshooter.  It is responsible, along with the other related programs which get downloaded onto your PC at the same time, for endless popup advertisements, very slow Internet access, freezes, boot-up or shutdown errors, and a generally frustrating computing experience, not to mention what sensitive information it may be sending out from your PC.  The most common method of infection is through the user having clicked somewhere on a web page, or an advertising banner, promising to block ........... popup advertisements and other unsafe web pests !!   Yes!, some adware/spyware masquerades as .... anti-adware/spyware !!!   We have also noticed that a significant number of our users who use the  Morpheus  file sharing program, seem to be infected with this pest.

Recommendation :
Get rid of it immediately, as follows :

1)   Restart your PC into Safe Mode by pressing  F8  continually after turning your PC ON till you get a menu where  “Safe Mode”  is one of the options  (if you are unable to start your PC into Safe Mode, then try the following in Normal Mode).

2)   Next, start  The Ultimate Troubleshooter  and go to the  Startups  tab and for each instance of any of the following –  AUTOUPDATE,  BMAN1,  BKZBRA,  CASHBACK,  CFGMGR51.DLL,  ELITEANV32,  EXP,  FARMMEXT,  GKBLA,  IAKD,  KZPRLK,  MBKWNST,  MORPHSTB,  MZNTXT,  NLS,  PSOFT1,  NETSYNC,  WINTASK,  WINUP2DATE.DLL,  WMSCT  –  do the following :  right-click on it and choose  Delete from the hard disk the file that this Startup points to;  next, right-click on this entry again and this time choose  Delete this Startup entry.

3)   Click the big green  APPLY  button to make your changes stick.

4)   Reboot your PC into Normal Mode.

5)   Download  Ad-Aware  or  SpyBot  from our  Downloads  library and run it to eliminate all possible adware and spyware.

6)   Make sure you have an up-to-date reputable antivirus program and run a full virus scan on your PC.

Faxsvc

FaxSvc.exe

(Microsoft)

Microsoft Fax service for Windows 2000/XP/2003, and also NT4 with Service Pack 4 or later.  This service implements the fax configurations you have defined in the Fax Service Management Console that you can access through the Fax icon in the Control Panel.  FAXSVC also answers fax calls and sends the faxes you send from your programs (e.g. from Word, Excel, etc...).

Recommendation :
If you do not use Microsoft faxing, you can set this service to  Disabled  in  “Control Panel \ Services”  in Windows NT4,  or in  “Control Panel \ Administrative Tools \ Services”   in Windows 2000/XP/2003.  Look for the service called  Fax Service.

Fbdirect

FBDirect.exe

(Visioneer)

Background Task for Visioneer scanners whose purpose seems solely to handle the "one-touch" button of the Visioneer scanners.  It kicks in when the end-user tries to do a direct scan using that one-touch button.

Recommendation :
Since 1999 FBDIRECT has consistently caused problems to end-users :  illegal operations, not responding, "application errors", or "linked to missing export".  This is not good software writing at all. Users who experience all the above can try downloading the latest drivers from our Drivers pages, but that does not always fix the problem.  If the latest drivers do not fix the problem, then disable FBDIRECT with  The Ultimate Troubleshooter.  The only problem with doing so is that you lose the ability to do direct scans using the one-touch button on the scanner itself – you have to use the software to scan.

Fch32

FCH32.exe

(F-Secure Corporation)

F-Secure Configuration Handler.  Task which is part of the Corporate Edition of F-Secure AntiVirus and which receives updated F-Secure security policies handed down by the F-Secure server software on the network server.

Recommendation :  
Essential for the proper configuration updating of your F-Secure antivirus software.  Leave alone.

Firewallsvr

FirewallSvr.exe

(???)

You have the   W32.Netsky.X@mm  \  W32.Netsky.Y@mm   virus.

Flshstat

Flshstat.exe

(Toshiba)

Toshiba’s FlashPath Status Monitor software Tray icon.  The FlashPath Status Monitor software enables you to monitor the performance and possible problems with your FlashPath;  it also enables you to monitor the transfer of your photos from the camera to your PC via the floppy disk drive (using the FlashPath).

Recommendation : 
This Tray icon is not necessary for the good functioning of the FlashPath – it is purely a monitoring program. Unless you use your digital camera on a regular basis, we recommend disabling it with  The Ultimate Troubleshooter.  Whenever you want to monitor your FlashPath, simply start this monitor program through Start \ Programs \ FlashPath \ FlashPath Status.

FMserver

FMserver.exe

(FileMaker Inc)

FileMaker Server  service installed by the FileMaker Pro database software.  This service is the core FileMaker Pro database engine which opens, reads, and updates the FileMaker Pro databases.  All accesses to the databases is done through this service.  In a network environment this service will be found running on the central network fileserver.

Recommendation :
Essential for the proper functioning of your FileMaker Pro databases – Leave alone therefore.

FMShelper

FMshelper.exe

(FileMaker Inc)

FileMaker Server Helper  service installed by the FileMaker Pro database software.  This is a communications service which enables end-user workstations to connect to the FileMaker Pro databases through the FileMaker Pro Server process.  When an end-user opens a FileMaker Pro database and uses it, what actually happens in the background is that the end-user PC talks to this service which in turns passes the request on to the FileMaker Pro server process on the server.  The server process executes the necessary commands and updates, communicates back to this service which in turns communicates back to the end‑user PC.

Recommendation :
Essential for the proper functioning of your FileMaker Pro database system.  Leave alone therefore.

FnKeyHook

FnKeyHook.exe

(Toshiba)

Toshiba Accessibility.  Using Toshiba Accessibility enables the user to make the  Fn  key a sticky key  whereby the user can press the  Fn  key just the once, release it, and then press a function key to activate a  Fn+Fx  hot key combination  (e.g. FN+F1 to zoom the display, etc...).  Toshiba Accessibility is accessed through  “Programs \ Toshiba Utilities \ Accessibility”.  Once  Toshiba Accessibility  has been activated, this task, FNKEYHOOK, ensures in the background that the  Fn  key does behave as a  sticky key.

Recommendation :
Down to end-user requirements.  Essential if you use  Toshiba Accessibility, otherwise you can disable it on the  Startups  tab of  The Ultimate Troubleshooter.

Fpdisp4

Fpdisp4a

Fpdisp5a

FpDisp4.exe

FpDisp4a.exe

FpDisp5a.exe

(FinePrint Software)

The FinePrint Dispatcher.  This program handles the spooling of print jobs to the FinePrint printer.  “4” and “4a” indicate version 4.x of the software, while “5a” indicates version 5.x of the FinePrint software.

Recommendation :
Absolutely essential to the FinePrint software, so leave it alone.

Fppdis1

Fppdis1a

Fppdis2a

Fppdis1.exe

Fppdis1a.exe

Fppdis2a.exe

(FinePrint Software)

FinePrint pdfFactory.  This is the background task which handles the creation of  PDF  files when you print to the FinePrint pdfFactory printer.  The “1” and “1a” indicate versions 1.x, while the “2a” is version 2.x.  Both version 1.x and version 2.x of pdfFactory can co-exist on the same PC.

Recommendation :
Absolutely essential to the pdfFactory, so leave it alone.

Fppdis3a

Fppdis3a.exe

(FinePrint Software)

FinePrint pdfFactory Pro v3.x Dispatcher.  This is the background task which handles the creation of  PDF  files when you print to the FinePrint pdfFactory Pro printer.

Recommendation :
Absolutely essential to the proper functioning of pdfFactory Pro, so leave it alone.

Fsav32

FSAV32.exe

(F-Secure Corporation)

F-Secure  Antivirus Handler  task which is part of the F-Secure AntiVirus and F-Secure Internet Security products.  This task is part of the real-time antivirus scanning module of F-Secure (it scans programs and files for viruses as they are accessed or created/downloaded).

Recommendation :  
This task is crucial to the proper protection of your PC against viruses – Leave alone.

Fsb

Fsb.exe

(???)

You have the   W32.HLLW.Yero.Worm  /  W32/Fesber.worm   virus.

Fsbwsys

Fsbwsys.exe

(F-Secure Corporation)

F-Secure BackWeb.  Installed as a startup item on Windows 9x/ME and as a service under Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003, this task automatically downloads in the background antivirus database updates and informational content for F-Secure AntiVirus and other F-Secure security products.  If your PC is permanently connected to the Internet, F‑Secure BackWeb will automatically download new antivirus updates within about two hours after they have been published by F-Secure.  By default F‑Secure BackWeb also downloads Computer Virus News and F‑Secure News.  Downloading these can be disabled if so desired.  According to F‑Secure :  “F-Secure BackWeb shall be used only for receiving updates and related information on F-Secure's antivirus and security products.  F-Secure BackWeb may not be used for any other purpose or service.  ‘BackWeb’ is a trademark of BackWeb Technologies.”.

Recommendation :
The role of this task makes it a crucial component in the proper protection of your PC by your F‑Secure security product.  Leave alone therefore.

Fsdfwd

Fsdfwd.exe

(F-Secure Corporation)

F-Secure Internet Shield Daemon.  Task installed as a startup item under Windows 9x/ME, and as a service under Windows NT4/2000/XP.  This is one of the main components of the F-Secure firewall found in F-Secure Firewall and F-Secure Internet Security.

Recommendation :
Essential for the proper functioning of your F-Secure firewall.  Leave alone.

Fsgk32

Fsgk32.exe

(F-Secure Corporation)

F-Secure Gatekeeper Handler  task.  This task is the core component of F‑Secure’s Gatekeeper technology which is part of F-Secure Internet Security.  Note that F‑Secure Gatekeeper is also a standalone product for Internet gateways.  F‑Secure Gatekeeper provides virus scanning of emails, of web pages, and of web downloads.  It is also a content filtering engine which provides the ability to block specific file types and/or file sizes, and which also provides the ability to selectively block access to specific websites (e.g. inappropriate websites – in some F‑Secure products this will be called  “Parental Control”).

Recommendation :
FSGK32 is started by  FSGK32ST  below if one or more of the Gatekeeper features is selected.  This task should therefore be left alone and any configuration/termination should be done through the F‑Secure configuration screens.

Fsgk32st

Fsgk32st.exe

(F-Secure Corporation)

F-Secure Gatekeeper Startup Service  installed on Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003 PCs by F‑Secure Internet Security or F‑Secure Gatekeeper.  This service starts  FSGK32, the core component of the F‑Secure Gatekeeper technology.  F‑Secure Gatekeeper provides virus scanning of emails, of web pages, and of web downloads.  It is also a content filtering engine which provides the ability to block specific file types and/or file sizes, and which also provides the ability to selectively block access to specific websites (e.g. inappropriate websites – in some F‑Secure products this will be called  “Parental Control”).

Recommendation :
Since most PCs running either F‑Secure Internet Security or F‑Secure Gatekeeper will be making use of at least one of the above mentioned features, this service should be left alone.  If, however, you want to disable all Gatekeeper features, do so within the F‑Secure configuration screens.

Fshttps

Fshttps.exe

(F-Secure Corporation)

F-Secure Parental Control HTTP Server.  Windows NT4/2000/XP service installed by F‑Secure Internet Security and which implements your  Parental Control  configuration settings by scanning the web pages being accessed and restricting access to those which fall within the criteria that you have defined.

Recommendation :
Core component of F‑Secure’s Parental Control features.  Leave alone.  All configuration should be done through the F‑Secure configuration screens.

Fvprotect

Norton Antivirus AV

FVProtect.exe

(???)

You have the   W32.Netsky.P@mm   virus.

All of the tasks below, and many more, although not detailed on this page, are explained in full in The Ultimate Troubleshooter.

The Ultimate Troubleshooter (TUT), has the full database in a remarkably easy and pleasing interface which makes the process of fine tuning your PC, or troubleshooting your computer problems, a snip.  Get it here.

F-Secure Automatic Update.exe,  Fast2.exe,  Faxcomdos.exe,  FBDirect.exe,  Feed Editor.exe,  Fensvc32.exe,  FerrariWP.exe,  FIH32.exe,  FileBack.exe,  FileMaker Pro.exe,  Firefox.exe,  FireSvc.exe,  FireTray.exe,  Firewall.exe,  FirewallGUI.exe,  Fireworks.exe,  Fixupdattr.exe,  Flashy.exe,  FlashUtil9b.exe,  FlashUtil9c.exe,  FlashUtil9d.exe,  FlashUtil9e.exe,  FlashUtil9f.exe,  FLMain.exe,  FLockBox.exe,  Fm3032.exe,  Fmempro.exe,  FmViewF9.exe,  FNF5SVC.exe,  FNPLicensingService.exe,  FNRB32.EXE,  FolderSizeSvc.exe,  Fooding.exe,  Forge70.exe,  FormatM.exe,  FotomatDeviceConnect.exe,  Foxdg.exe,  Foxdhend.exe,  Foxhhelp7.exe,  Foxhhelp9.exe,  FOXITR~1.exe,  FoxitReader.exe,  FoxMail.exe,  Fpavupdm.exe,  FrameworkService.exe,  FreeCell.exe,  FreeRAM.exe,  FreeRAM XP Pro.exe,  FreeRAM XP Pro 1.40.exe,  FrntGate.exe,  FRO.exe,  FrontPG.exe,  FrostWire.exe,  FSAua.exe,  Fsaw.exe,  FSBrowser.exe,  FSCapture.exe,  Fsguidll.exe,  FSGUIEXE.exe,  FSM32.EXE,  FSMA32.EXE,  FSMB32.EXE,  Fspc.exe,  FSQH.exe,  FSResizer.exe,  FSRW.exe,  Fssm32.exe,  Fsssvc.exe,  Fssui.exe,  FSSW.EXE,  FSUs.exe,  FSViewer.exe,  FTnewsalerts.exe,  FTP.EXE,  FTPS.exe,  Fusion.exe,  Fwr.exe,  FWService.exe,  FWSvc.exe,  Fx_Imager.exe,  FxImager.exe,  Fxsvr2.exe
 

PRESS & RADIO

February 2008
The Wall Street Journal

January 2008
The PC Guy
NorthJersey.com

September 2007
TechByter Worldwide

August 2007
IT Week Labs Blog
London, UK

June 2007
On Computers
Joy&Bob Schwabach
——
Simplehelp.net
——
Courier Mail, Brisbane

May 2007
Christopher Null
at Yahoo!Tech
——
The PC Guy
NorthJersey.com

January 2007
WFAA.com TV
Dallas/Fort Worth  Texas

December 2006
TechNewsWorld.com
——
ArthsLinks.com
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ITP Technology
Dubai

October 2006
Developer Shed
——
Kansas City Star

September 2006
BillingsGazette.com
Montana

August 2006
The Moditory

July 2006
On Computers syndicated column

April 2006
Kingsport
Times-News
Tennessee
——
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March 2006
580 CFRA Radio
Ottawa, Canada

January 2006
WTVN Radio
Columbus, Ohio

2005
The PC Guy's
Top 10 Utilities
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StarTribune.com Minneapolis-St.Paul
——
NorthJersey.com
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WorldStart Computer Tips
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A-Clue.com
——
Corante.com
——
PC Magazine
'Top 100 Classics'
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Infodad.com

2004
PC Magazine
'Top 100 Classics'
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The Wall Street
Journal
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The Examiner (Texas)
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ToledoBlade (Ohio)
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Sydney Morning Herald
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The Age, Melbourne
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Office Zealot
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Kevin Respecki
——
Mike McBride Online