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The Windows startups, Windows Processes, and Windows Services below are only a subset of the massive database used by our The Ultimate Troubleshooter product. Try it out
— it's simpler than searching these pages. |
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Task
List
Name
|
PROGRAM
&
MANUFACTURER
|
WHAT
IT IS
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO
|
|
Vccleanup |
VcCleanUp.exe
(Symantec) |
Symantec
Venice Component CleanUp. This is a cleanup task which is
installed by many of the Symantec products (Norton AntiVirus,
Internet Security, PCAnywhere) when you do a manual LiveUpdate
and where one of the updates is an update to the LiveReg
Symantec program. The purpose of this startup entry is to
perform post-LiveUpdate clean-up tasks on the next reboot of the
PC – once those clean-up tasks have been performed, this entry
is automatically removed from the Startups tab.
Recommendation :
If you see this task on the Startups tab
of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter, reboot your PC
and allow everything to start at the next reboot (ie. do not
hold the SHIFT key down to prevent auto‑startup programs from
starting). If this startup entry still shows up on full
completion of the next reboot, then delete it from the
Startups tab. |
|
Vcsplay |
VCSPlay.exe
(H+H Software GmbH) |
Virtual CD SDK Player.
System driver for the Virtual CD software. Virtual CD enables
you to store entire CDs and DVDs onto your hard disk so that you
can play them later as if they were running from your CD/DVD
drive but 200 times faster.
Recommendation :
Essential for the proper running of Virtual CD. |
|
Vcssecs |
VCSSecS.exe
(H+H Software GmbH) |
Virtual CD SDK Security
Service. System driver for the Virtual CD software. Virtual CD
enables you to store entire CDs and DVDs onto your hard disk so
that you can play them later as if they were running from your
CD/DVD drive but 200 times faster. This task/service implements
the security features of Virtual CD where you can restrict
access to CD & DVD images.
Recommendation :
Essential for the proper running of Virtual CD. |
|
VersionCue
AdobeVersionCue |
VersionCue.exe
(Adobe) |
Adobe
Version Cue version tracking service.
Background service installed by Adobe Version Cue. Adobe
Version Cue is versioning software which enables you to
assign version numbers to your various Adobe projects, thus
saving you the tedious and error prone techniques of
including the version numbers in the names of your Adobe
projects. Version Cue keeps track of all the various
revisions to your Adobe documents and enables you to quickly
retrieve specific versions. This service tracks modified
documents and updates the Version Cue database accordingly;
it will also retrieve version information or perform
searches for tracked documents.
Recommendation :
Down to end-user requirements. If you do
not use Adobe Version Cue then you can disable
this service on the Services tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter by changing its Startup
Mode to Manual. |
Vetmsg9x
VetmsgNT |
VetMsg9x.exe
VetMsgNT.exe
(Computer Associates) |
Background task from
Computer Associates’ InoculateIT AntiVirus (formerly Vet
AntiVirus). VETMSG9X runs on Windows 9x/ME while VETMSGNT runs
on Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003. This task watches for usage of the
floppy disk drive and automatically kicks in to scan the floppy
for possible viruses – then it lets you use the floppy disk.
Recommendation :
Essential for full protection of your PC by InoculateIT – leave
alone. |
|
Vettray |
VetTray.exe
(Computer Associates) |
System Tray icon for the
Vet Antivirus product. Computer Associates acquired Vet
Antivirus from Cybec in Australia in January 1999 and does not
seem to have pushed the product, so there is very little known
about it. Further investigation reveals that Vet Antivirus is
probably what became Computer Associates’ InoculateIT or
significant parts of it became incorporated into InoculateIT as
VETTRAY can be found in InoculateIT. VETTRAY is simply a System
Tray icon which enables you to launch InoculateIT from the
System Tray. As with Norton AntiVirus, the icon has two states
which show you whether background on-access scanning is enabled
or not.
Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference. Can be disabled by right-clicking
on the icon, or with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Vfp9 |
Vfp9.exe
(Microsoft) |
You have the
Microsoft Visual FoxPro 9 program development
environment currently open (or set as a startup item). |
|
Vidsvr |
VidSvr.exe
(Microsoft) |
Microsoft Video Server for
Microsoft WebTV (Win98/ME).
Recommendation :
Unless you use Microsoft’s WebTV disable or delete this entry
with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Viewport |
ViewPort.exe
(ATI Technologies) |
Background task which is
part of ATI’s HydraVision multi-monitor management software.
This background task is necessary if you have applications that
span across two monitors.
Recommendation :
If you span applications across two monitors, you need this
task. Note : the VIEWPORT task from early versions of the
HydraVision software had some significant incompatibilities with
Microsoft Office programs, resulting in disappearing menus,
blank screens, or Microsoft Outlook also opening when Word was
being opened by the end-user. All such problems are fixed by
installing the latest version of HydraVision. To get rid of
VIEWPORT, you can disable this task with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter, or de-install HydraVision altogether through the "Add/Remove Programs"
icon in the Control Panel if you do not have a multi-monitor
setup. |
|
Vmsrvc |
VMSrvc.exe
(Microsoft) |
Virtual
Machine Additions Services Application. You
are running Microsoft’s Virtual PC or Virtual Server and you
have installed the Virtual Machine Additions which
provide integration of Virtual PC/Server with the host operating
system. This service implements some of the Virtual Machine
Additions, such as the seamless handling of the mouse from the
host to Virtual PC/Server and vice versa, Copy & Paste between
host and the Virtual PC/Server, etc....
Recommendation :
Essential to the proper functioning of the
Virtual Machine Additions – Leave alone therefore. |
|
vmware-tray |
vmware-tray.exe
(VMWare Inc) |
System Tray
icon installed by VMWare Workstation and which
shows up only when you have one or more virtual machines
actually running (when all your virtual machines are closed
no icon shows in the System Tray). It enables you to access
those virtual machines directly from the System Tray –
right-clicking the icon also gives access to some of the
features of VMWare workstation.
Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference. This icon
normally uses 2Mb to 26Mb of memory. In our case we find it
more natural to access virtual machines via the VMWare
Console rather than through this icon which can use up to
26Mb of memory, and which still carries on running in the
background long after you have closed all your virtual
machines and the icon has disappeared from the System Tray.
If you want to disable this program from automatically
starting up at every Windows boot-up, do as follows :
a) Open your VMWare Console.
b) Choose the “Edit \ Preferences” menu.
b) Make sure you on the Workspace tab.
c) Uncheck the Show tray icon when virtual machines
are powered on.
d) OK yourself out.
e) Go to the Startups tab of TUT.
f) Click the REFRESH button on the toolbar.
g) If this task is still enabled on the Startups
tab of TUT, disable it.
h) That’s it – You’re done.
Note : you have to go through the
procedure above for it to be successful. Only doing step
(g) above does not work as the VMWare Console then
re-inserts the entry every time you open the Console. |
|
VPCMap |
VPCMap.exe
(Microsoft) |
Virtual
Machine Additions Folder Sharing Service.
You are running Microsoft’s Virtual PC or Virtual Server and you
have installed the Virtual Machine Additions which
provide integration of Virtual PC/Server with the host operating
system. This service specifically implements the Virtual
Machine Additions feature which allows the Virtual PC/Server to
use folders from the host PC (local and network folders) for the
sharing and exchange of files between the host PC and the
Virtual PC/Server.
Recommendation :
Essential to the proper functioning of the
Virtual Machine Additions – Leave alone therefore. |
|
Vplus |
VPlus.exe
(ICQ.com) |
Skin manager for the well
known ICQ Plus Internet and SMS chat program.
Recommendation :
If you use skins with your ICQ Plus, VPLUS will also start up in
the background. Essential therefore for ICQ Plus users. |
|
VProTray |
VProTray.exe
(Symantec) |
Symantec
LiveState Recovery System Tray icon or
Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery System Tray icon.
System Tray icon which enables the user to access most, if not
all options of their Symantec backup software directly from the
System Tray.
Recommendation :
Down to end-user requirements. This task
normally uses anything between 5Mb to 16Mb of memory. If you
decide that you do not want this task running, turning it off
from within the Tools \ Options menu option is not
enough as all that does is remove the icon from the System Tray,
but the task continues to run in the background. Thus, to
prevent it from starting at Windows boot-up altogether, and
therefore running in the background, disable it on the
Startups tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Vptray |
VPTray.exe
(Symantec)
|
VirusProtect
Shield System Tray icon for Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition
7.x. As with all Norton AntiVirus products this icon
enables you to start Norton AntiVirus in order to configure
it, run a virus scan, do a LiveUpdate, etc…
Recommendation :
Unlike with other Norton AntiVirus products, there are
significant problems with the VPTRAY process which comes with
the Corporate Edition, from the inability of Windows to start
due to timing problems associated with VPTRAY, 100% CPU usage
by VPTRAY, and other problems. Since you can access all
Norton AntiVirus features through "Start \
Programs", if you experience Windows start-up problems,
performance problems, or crashes which you have difficulty
tracking, then disable VPTRAY with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter.
|
|
Vshwin32 |
VSHWin32.exe
(McAfee) |
Background real-time virus
scanning task for McAfee VirusScan (McAfee calls it the
"On-access scanner"). This task runs in the background and
scans files as you use or create them. In version 6 and above
VSHWIN32.EXE is still used but it does not appear in the Task
List on Windows 95/98/ME PCs when you bring up the Task List
with Ctrl+Alt+Del – you need to view the Task List through a
program like The
Ultimate Troubleshooter to see VSHWIN32 running.
Recommendation :
Essential unless you prefer to do manual scans. |
|
Vsmon |
VSMon.exe
(Zone Labs) |
Zone Alarm
True Vector service. Essential core
component of the Zone Alarm Internet firewall program. This
task will be seen on PCs running either Zone Alarm or Computer
Associates’ eTrust Internet Security as, at the time of writing,
11‑Jan‑2006, the Computer Associates Personal Firewall is based
around the Zone Alarm firewall program. This program is started
via the registry in Windows 9x/ME, and as a service in
Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003. This program enforces the security
rules which you configured on the Zone Alarm / eTrust Personal
Firewall screens.
Recommendation :
Essential to the proper running of Zone Alarm /
eTrust Personal Firewall – Leave well alone. |
|
Vsnpstd
Vsnpstd2
Vsnpstd3
Vsnp2std |
Vsnpstd.exe
Vsnpstd2.exe
Vsnpstd3.exe
Vsnp2std.exe
(Sonix Technology) |
Sonix Webcam
detector task. Webcam program installed
by the drivers for Sonix-made webcams. This program enables
the System Tray webcam icon installed by your webcam drivers
to recognize whether your webcam is plugged in or not. At
the time of writing, 21-Jun-2007, our tests show that this
program has no other purpose. Note : Sonix is an OEM
manufacturer. That is, it manufactures webcams for other
companies to re-sell under their own brand names and logos.
As a result you will find this program installed by the
drivers CD for a variety of makes of webcams, such as Argos’
own brand, Mikomi, in the UK, LG, MSI, Olidata, etc...
Recommendation :
Down to end-user requirements. If you
normally have running in the System Tray the icon which
visually shows you whether your webcam is plugged in or not,
then keep this task, otherwise disable it on the
Startups tab of The Ultimate Troubleshooter
as it has no other use as far as our tests have shown so
far. |
|
Vsstat |
VSSTat.exe (McAfee) |
System Tray icon for McAfee
VirusScan which enables you to start VirusScan from the System
Tray.
Recommendation :
If you get errors mentioning VSSTAT, as many users sometimes do,
obtain the latest program updates for VirusScan (as opposed to
virus definitions updates). If that does not solve the problem,
disable VSSTAT with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Vssvc |
VSSvc.exe
(Microsoft) |
Volume Shadow
Copy Service found in Windows XP, 2003, and Vista. This service
manages the “perfect image” backup of volumes that have files
in use (opened) while the backup is going. Traditional backup
software is not able to backup files and documents that are in
use while the backup is running. This particular service
ensures that applications can continue using files and databases
while a backup is running in the safe knowledge that those files
that are opened will not only not be omitted by the backup, but
that they will be backed up fully and without errors. This in
turn ensures that backups can be performed at any time without
needing to lock users out. Typically the backup software you
are using will interact with this service which will provide it
with the appropriate consistent “realtime snapshot” of open
files as they are being backed up. Some backup packages, like
Veritas, call this the “Open File” option, an option you often
have to pay extra for.
Recommendation :
It is not possible to backup open files in
Windows XP/2003 without this service running, and you never know
when backup software, or CD/DVD Writing software, might need to
have this service running. Leave alone therefore. |
|
Vxd32v |
Vxd32v.exe
(???) |
You have the
W32.Dumaru.Y@mm / W32.Dumaru.Z@mm virus. |
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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.
VAIOUpdt.exe, Var.txt.exe, Vb6.exe, VBS_Update-0548656X.vbs,
VCDDaemon.exe, VCDDriveSet.exe, VCDPlayer.exe,
VCDTray.exe, VCGProxyFileManager.exe, Vcltasks.exe, Vds.exe, Vegas60.exe, VersionCueCS2.exe, VersionCueCS2Tray.exe,
VersionCueCS3.exe, VetMsg.exe,
Vfp7.exe, Vidcap60.exe, Viewer.exe, Viewer.exe, ViewMgr.exe,
ViewpointService.exe, Virgins.exe, Virtual PC.exe, VirtualPrinting.exe, VirtualVillagers.exe,
VistaStartMenu.exe, VisualGuard.exe,
VisualTaskTips.exe, VMC.exe, VMNAT.exe, VMnetDHCP.exe, Vmount2.exe, VMserverdWin32.exe, VMSNGRABER.exe, VMUSrvc.exe, VMWare-Authd.exe, VMWare.exe,
VNCclipboard.exe, VNCViewer.exe, VolPanlu.exe, VolPanel.exe, Volumouse.exe, VPNGUI.exe, VProSvc.exe,
VsPDFPrSrv.exe, VSSERV.exe, VsTskMgr.exe, VTTimer.exe,
vVX1000.exe, vVX6000.exe, Vxdmgr32.exe
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February 2008
January 2008
September 2007
August 2007
June 2007
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May 2007
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April 2006
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March 2006
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2005
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2004
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