2 Unknown Programs from Task Manager "Startup" Tab

Question

These programs are bothering me for days. It is something?

PC Specs: (If needed)

Intel®️ HD Graphics

Intel®️ Celeron®️ Quad Core Processor N3450

4GB Ram x64-bit PC, x64 based processor

500GB HDD

Windows 10 Home Version 1703, Build 15063.786

Answer 1

Have you tried Malwarebytes?  If not please do.

Answer 2

Hi,

I have had a similar issue... one just recently with the upgrade of a current Win 10 build... My understanding is that this is actually a residual file from Windows 10 Upgrade\Install..

It seems to me that the file may have eventually disappeared on it's own after a Disk Cleanup or something.. I will double check this... It is no longer on the OS I am currently running, but may be on a different image...

I have also had a circumstance in the past in which the "Program" was a residual installation file of a program I installed... I think it was a "Magix" program..

As mentioned... there is also the possibility that it is "Malicious"..

If it is a Windows 10 residual file, if you right click on it and select "Open File Location", you will get nothing...

If it is a residual program file, it should open a folder location...

I can't say what would happen if it were a malicious file, as I have not encountered this yet..

Regardless, I would disable it...

Answer 3

Hi,

I did some checking of backup Windows 10 images and found this "Program" file appeared only in build 17134.1 (1803)…

After upgrading that build to the current 17763.1 it disappeared...

I checked build 15063 and did not find it there, but that does not mean it doesn't exist on some machines... There may be circumstances which cause this to happen differently on some machines...

You might check out the last reply of this thread as how to remove it from the Startup with a Registry edit...

https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/44912-unknown-program-task-manager-startup-programs.html

BTW... I'm not sure why you have two... There is normally only one..

Answer 4

Hi MGP. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

Uninstall the two anti-virus programs shown in the Startup list, at Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, then restart the PC.

Next run Avast Clear to fully get out all of the Avast bloatware: http://www.avast.com/en-us/uninstall-utility No expert in forums (where we see the most cases, by the thousands) has recommended Avast for about 8 years since it bloated up and started causing problems.

Unless you need Java for a program or webpage to operate I would uninstall it as well since it is an infection path.

Run full scans with the most powerful on-demand free scanners Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner:

https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcle....

Clean up anything they find, restart PC and then run both scans again until they come up clean.

Then check for damaged System Files: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow...

If it cannot repair them see Step 10 here to continue: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

Answer 5

Hi MinemonGamerPlayz

This is nothing to worry about, it is a known issue in Windows

Those are just shortcuts left over from previously uninstalled applications

Click the link below to download a small free utility that does not require installation

When the file downloads, unzip it.

Depending on your system, run Autoruns or Autoruns64 as Administrator

With that utility, you can right click and delete any startup item in Windows

In the list of Startup items, you will see the 'Program' entries, right click those and choose Delete . . .

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/d...