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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
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|
Tabbtnu |
Tabbtnu.exe
(Microsoft) |
Tablet PC
Button Service. Background program
found on Windows Tablet PC and whose role is to manage the
functionality of the Tablet PC Buttons found on all Tablet
PCs (Tablet PC buttons are buttons situated on the sides of
the screen and which the user can click on with the Tablet
pen to perform specific functions – the functions of these
buttons can normally be changed by the user). This process
also puts an icon in the System Tray called “Change
Tablet and Pen settings” to give the user quick
access to the configuration screens for the behaviour of the
Tablet Pen and Buttons.
Recommendation :
Leave alone – this is an intrinsic [and
useful] part of Windows for Tablet PCs.
Note : by turning off all Pen and Button settings you can
prevent this program from starting – that, however, is not
very useful to most users. |
|
Tablet |
Tablet.exe
(Wacom Technology) |
Service
installed under Windows 2000/XP by the drivers for Wacom’s
graphics pen tablets. This service is the interface between
your tablet and the graphics, image editing, or desktop
publishing software (e.g. Quark Express, PageMaker, Photoshop,
Illustrator, etc…) that you are using so that the software knows
how to interpret the pen movements you make. It shows as
TabletService or WacomService on the Services tab
depending on the version of the drivers.
Recommendation :
Essential for the proper functioning of your
graphics tablet – Leave alone. If you experience shutdown or
boot-up errors which mention this service, make sure you have at
least Service Pack 4 installed on Windows 2000, and Service Pack
1 on Windows XP, and also see if Wacom have more recent drivers. |
|
TabTip |
TabTip.exe
(Microsoft) |
You have the
Tablet PC Input Panel currently open. The Input
Panel, also called Virtual Keyboard is the Tablet
PC application which enables the user to enter text in free hand
(which the Tablet PC converts to regular text). |
|
Tabuserw |
TabUserW.exe
(Wacom Technology) |
We are not 100%
certain but we think this is the System Tray icon installed by
the drivers for Wacom’s graphics pen tablets and which enables
the end-user to have instant access to the configuration options
and features of his graphics tablet.
Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference – most tablet users
tend to leave this icon enabled (can be disabled on the
Startups tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Tapisrv |
TAPISRV.exe
(Microsoft) |
Telephony API Server (in
full : Telephony Application Programming Interface Server)
which you will find in Windows 95/98/ME/NT4. It is an essential
task used by all telephony services (eg. Dial-Up networking via
any type of modem) in these operating systems.
Recommendation :
Leave alone. |
|
Taskbar (1) |
TaskBar.exe
(Belkin) |
System tray
icon installed by the software which comes with the Belkin
Bitronics 2‑port and 4‑port AutoSwitch printer sharers.
These sharers allow you to share a printer between two or four
PCs or to have the one PC switch at will between two or four
parallel devices which need to use the PC’s single printer port
(e.g. printer and scanner, or two printers). In the first
configuration (two PCs sharing one printer) you can, through
this System Tray program, transfer files between the two PCs via
their printer ports (both PCs must have this software loaded).
In the second configuration (one PC needing to switch at will
between two or more parallel port devices) this icon is
essential to allow the user to choose the device that he/she
wants to switch to.
Recommendation :
If you are using your Belkin Bitronics switch to
share a printer between two PCs, and your PCs are already
networked in a conventional manner (via network cables or
wireless networking), then you do not need this task and can
disable it on the Startups tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. If you are using your Belkin Bitronics
switch so that you can switch between various devices which
share your printer port, then you will already know that this
task is essential as it allows you to choose the device that you
want to switch to. If, however, you have never had a Belkin
Bitronics switch, then double‑click on this task and see who the
manufacturer/publisher is. If the information you see does not
jog your memory, then run a full virus scan on your PC using
up‑to‑date reputable antivirus software to make sure you do
not have a virus. |
|
Taskbar (2) |
Taskbar.exe
(Sapphire Inc) |
This is a
System Tray utility, called Redline, which
allows the user to tweak his Sapphire graphics card (e.g.
antialiasing, screen settings, textures, compression, TCL),
overclock the graphics card, or create graphics card
configuration profiles so that, for example, a particular
configuration is used for normal day-to-day operation while
another configuration is used for gaming. Redline also enables
the user to define hotkeys to perform special functions (with
gaming hotkeys being the foremost target of this feature).
Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference. If you do not use
any of the Redline features, simply disable this task on the
Startups tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Taskbar (3) |
Taskbar.exe
(Colorado Software Architects) |
System Tray
icon which is an intrinsic part of the Backup Scheduler
of the 1Safe backup software. It allows you to access
the backup scheduler from the System Tray and check on or
configure backup jobs.
Recommendation :
Essential if you use the 1Safe backup software –
Leave alone therefore. |
|
Taskbar (4) |
TaskBar.exe
(Virus!!!!) |
You may have
the W32.Frethem.L@mm virus, particularly if the full
path to this task, as shown on the Tasks tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter, is C:\Windows\Taskbar.exe
or
C:\WinNT\Taskbar.exe.
Recommendation :
Update your antivirus software and then run a
full virus scan on your PC. |
|
Taskeng |
Taskeng.exe
(Microsoft) |
Windows
Vista Task Scheduler Engine. Core task of
the Windows Vista Task Scheduler. Unlike with previous versions
of Windows, the Vista Task Scheduler does not just work on a
timer basis, it also works on a trigger basis, such as : do
this when the PC boots up, do this when a remote user connects,
do this when this other program completes this other task,
etc... This very much enhanced implementation of the Task
Scheduler not only makes it very useful for system engineers to
provide very advanced condition‑based behaviour modification of
PCs (e.g. email me when this finishes), it also means that
Windows Vista itself can use the Task Scheduler for a variety of
system tasks, and this is indeed what Vista does. It uses the
Task Scheduler to start vital background processes. It is not
uncommon, for example, for over 50 specific tasks to be started
and completed in this manner when your Vista PC boots up :
start sound capabilities once core
kernel and drivers are fully loaded; on user logon work out
which notifications this user has configured for availability
and display the appropriate icons; etc..., etc...
Recommendation :
Leave alone – the Task Scheduler Engine is
absolutely vital for the proper functioning of Windows Vista as
well as for the ability for your own scheduled or triggered
tasks to run properly. |
|
Taskmgr (1) |
TaskMgr.exe
(Microsoft) |
The Windows
NT4/2000/XP/2003 Task Manager. This is the very Task Manager
itself, the one that you brought up to see what background tasks
were running ! In Windows 95/98/ME the Task List does not show
up as a separate process when you press Ctrl+Alt+Del, but in
Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003 the Task List is a separate process
called the Task Manager in the shape of the TASKMGR.EXE and
which runs permanently. The path for this program, as shown in
The
Ultimate Troubleshooter,
is C:\WINNT\System32\Taskmgr.exe or C:\WINDOWS\System32\Taskmgr.exe.
Recommendation :
Leave alone, obviously.
|
|
Taskmgr (2) |
Taskmgr.exe
(???) |
If you are
running Windows 2000/XP/2003 and you do not have
the Windows Task Manager currently open, or if you are running
Windows 95/98/ME, then you have the Trojan.StartPage.G
virus, or one of the viruses that masquerades as the Task
Manager. |
|
Taskmon (1) |
TaskMon.exe
(Microsoft) |
The Windows
Task Monitor. In theory the Task Monitor monitors your hard
disks accesses. This information is then passed on to the Disk
Defragmenter to supposedly enable it to defragment and rearrange
the information on your hard disk in such a way that the
programs and files you access the most, will load faster. First
introduced in Windows 98, and also implemented in Windows ME,
but in no other versions of Windows.
Recommendation :
This task belongs to another era ! On
modern PCs (2000 onwards) the supposed benefits are negligible,
if not totally unnoticeable. This task, like the notorious
FindFast, is a useless task. Delete immediately on the
Startups tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter;
next delete all files in the C:\Windows\Applog folder,
and then restart your PC. |
|
Taskmon (2) |
TaskMon.exe
(???) |
You may have
the W32.Novarg.A@mm / W32/Mydoom@mm / WORM_Mimail.R
virus, or one of the many other viruses (e.g. W32.Mydoom.J@mm)
which masquerade as the Windows Task Monitor.
Recommendation :
If you have reputable daily updated antivirus
software, then you do not need to worry, otherwise make sure you
install good and up‑to‑date antivirus software and then run a
full virus scan in Safe Mode to make sure you do not
have a virus. |
|
Taskswitch |
TaskSwitch.exe
(Microsoft) |
Microsoft’s enhanced
Alt+Tab for Windows XP which is part of the Microsoft
PowerToys for Windows XP. Whereas the standard Alt+Tab facility
simply lists the names of opened programs that you can switch
to, TaskSwitch goes further by showing a preview window of each
program you can switch to with Alt+Tab.
Recommendation :
None. If you do not want this task, de-install the TaskSwitch
PowerToy via "Add/Remove Programs". |
|
Tbctray |
TBCtray.exe
(Voyetra
Turtle Beach)
|
A
program that gets installed into your Tray when you install a
Voyetra Turtle Beach sound card. This programs is not
vital and all its features can be accessed through the Control
Panel.
Recommendation :
Disable or Delete using The
Ultimate Troubleshooter.
|
|
Tbnote |
TbNote.exe
(SPIS Ltd.) |
TurboNote System Tray icon
which enables you to do all TurboNote activities from that icon.
Recommendation :
Essential to the use of TurboNote. |
|
Tcpsvcs |
TCPSvcs.exe
(Microsoft) |
Microsoft TCP/IP Services
Application for Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003. This task loads if you have
configured Windows with special TCP/IP services, such as the DHCP Server, Simple TCP, TCP/IP Print Services to print to a
printer using an internal or external print server (a print
server is, effectively, a network card for a printer), etc...
Recommendation :
Essential – Leave alone. |
|
Tdrp |
Tdrp.exe |
See IWAR.
|
|
Teatimer |
TeaTimer.exe
(Safer Networking Ltd) |
SpyBot
Sytems Settings Protector task which runs
in the System Tray and which is installed when you install
SpyBot Search & Destroy 1.3 or later. This task has
the dual function of providing on the one hand a System Tray
icon which enables the end-user to configure or run SpyBot
options on‑the‑fly, and on the other hand it warns the
user if programs which SpyBot does not know about, attempt to
modify the Windows Registry.
Recommendation :
At the time of writing, 25‑Mar‑2005, we feel that
this task is potentially too dangerous. We would like to see
the following option on the right-click menu for TEATIMER :
“Disable Registry Changes Monitoring”. While we think that
SpyBot is a brilliant product, it is our view that the majority
of end‑users will not have the required technical knowledge to
really know when or when not to block Windows Registry changes,
with the results that we have already witnessed too often where
end-users end-up with vital software not functioning properly
because the end-user thought it was a good idea to block the
Registry change which TEATIMER alerted him/her to ! Our
recommendation, therefore, is to right-click on the TEATIMER
icon in the System Tray and choose “Exit SpyBot S&D
Resident” and to then disable this task on the
Startups tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Teekids |
Teekids.exe
(???) |
You have the
W32.BLASTER.C virus. |
|
Tesckey |
TEscKey.exe
(Toshiba) |
Toshiba Escape Key
handler. Enables you to program and use the <FN><Esc> key
combination to perform a specific function.
Recommendation :
You can disable it with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter if you have not programmed that
key. |
|
Tfswctrl |
Tfswctrl.exe
(Hewlett-Packard) |
Background task for
Hewlett-Packard’s DLA software (Drive Letter Assignment). HP’s DLA gets installed when you installed the software that comes with their CD/DVD Writers. HP’s DLA is packet writing software which enables you to store data onto CD’s directly from within Windows applications, without using the actual CD Writing software (much like Roxio’s DirectCD.
Recommendation :
Many users have reported shutdown problems caused by TFSWCTRL
"not responding". In all cases, since they were never using the
DLA software and were instead using the CD Writing software to
create their CDs, they simply de-installed HP’s DLA and that
solved all their problems with TFSWCTRL. |
|
Tfunckey |
TFuncKey.exe
(Toshiba) |
Toshiba Function Key
handler. Enables you to program and use the <FN><F1> to <F4> key
combinations (e.g. <FN><F1> to start email, <FN><F2> to start
your browser, etc...).
Recommendation :
You can disable it with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter if you have not programmed any
of those keys. |
|
T
g c
m d |
T
g c
m d.exe
(Tioga
software /
Support.com)
|
This is the
sort of software we classify as spyware. It is part of
Tioga Software’s remote support and management tools (Tioga.com,
Support.com, and SupportSoft.com are one and the same company)
and is installed by the setup CD of the @Home ISP
(@Home and MediaOne are now part of Comcast, with the
ComcastSupport software being the main culprit for introducing
T
G C
M D on a PC). The Tioga/SupportSoft.com software is also
included in the Sony Support software that comes with some Sony
Vaio’s and HP Pavillion’s, and it is also part of the BellSouth
DSL HelpCenter. The original intention of T
G C
M D is to have your
@Home service or systems software automatically updated when you
are online, to provide a remote support technician with setup
information about your PC, and, in some cases, to allow the
remote support technician to connect to your PC and see what you
are doing – in short, technical support is indeed the original
intention; unfortunately, its features are also very useful to
advertisers and so, depending on who supplied it, T
G C
M D will
also collect information from your PC, which web pages you have
visited, what you have downloaded, and permission based
information about your system, its software, its settings, etc…
As if that were not enough for us to recommend disabling it, it
has additionally also been known to create a WININIT.INI file
in the Windows folder, something which straight away prevents
Windows ME users from using the extremely valuable System
Restore feature of Windows ME. Finally, many users have also
reported : being unable to clear the Internet history files
when it is running, Eudora startup problems, SDCSchedulerWindow
error messages on shutdown of Windows, and inability to delete
video, audio, or graphics files.
Recommendation :
If you are a Comcast
customer, uninstall “Comcast Support” through the
Add/Remove icon in your Control Panel. Next, look up
BJCFD in these Task List pages. If you have a Sony Vaio,
de-install the “Vaio Support Agent” through the
Add/Remove icon in your Control Panel. If you are a
BellSouth DSL customer, uninstall the “BellSouth HelpCenter”.
In all cases, if the un‑installation of Comcast Support or Vaio
Support Agent or BellSouth HelpCenter does not remove T
G C
M D
after a reboot, then immediately disable T
G C
M D on the
Startups tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter !
|
|
Tgshell |
TGSHELL.exe (Tioga
Software / Support.com) |
Read T
G C
M D above.
Recommendation :
Absolutely nightmarish software which eats up CPU, drives the
hard disk hard, causes boot-up Kernel32 errors, generates
illegal operations, invalid page faults, and much more.
De-install as per instructions for T
G C
M D above. |
|
TiVoBeacon
TiVoBeacon2
TiVo Beacon |
TiVoBeacon.exe
(TiVo Inc) |
TiVo Beacon
Service. Service which discovers your TiVo
Digital Video Recorder(s), DVRs, on your home network, and which
establishes a connection once discovered – thereafter you can
use the TiVo Desktop software to program the TiVo box, or to
play or transfer recorded shows. A TiVo Digital Video Recorder,
or DVR, is a hard disk based box which will automatically record
to its hard disk your favourite TV programmes and TV shows. You
can then replay those programs later directly on your TV, PC,
laptop, or transfer them to DVD or directly to the laptop or PC.
Recommendation : Down to end-user
requirements.
If you use your TiVo box together with the TiVo Desktop
software, then this service must be running to enable your PC or
laptop to connect to your TiVo DVR.
If you no longer use a TiVo box, then you either uninstall the
software from the “Add\Remove Programs” icon in the
Control Panel, or you can set the Startup Mode of this
service to Manual or Disabled on the
Services tab of The Ultimate Troubleshooter
as that alone will not only stop this service from starting, but
in so doing will also prevent the TiVo Desktop software from
working. |
|
TkBellExe |
Evntsvc.exe
(Real Networks) |
Read EVNTSVC for
full details. |
|
Tkonnect |
TKonnect.exe
(Tiscali.co.uk) |
Straight from the Tiscali
UK website, 27-Nov-2002 : "A small program that allows you
to always keep your Tiscali dial-up settings up-to-date ensuring
you always have a fast and reliable connection. By downloading
TKonnect, your dial-up number will automatically be kept up to
date. Tiscali is committed to continually improving your
internet experience and ensuring your Tiscali service is second
to none. Therefore this software allows you to connect on the
numbers that will provide you with the best available service
automatically".
Recommendation :
Has anyone told Tiscali UK that one of the golden rules of being
an ISP is that they should change access numbers only
extremely rarely with the emphasis on "never",
instead of spending money on developing a program which will
automatically update end-users’ dial-up connections with new
access numbers !! As an AnswersThatWork user put it : "It's
small and relatively harmless, but if everyone took liberties
with your system in this way you would have no memory left.".
We have worked with Tiscali UK users and you definitely do
not need this piece of software. You will find the
instructions on how to uninstall it
here. |
|
TlntSvr |
TlntSvr.exe
(Microsoft) |
Microsoft’s
Telnet Server service for Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003. When
running, this service gives Telnet access to remote users. For
the layman : Telnet access is a method of connecting and login
onto a remote computer and run DOS commands, command-line
programs, and DOS commands which can start Windows
NT4/2000/XP/2003 services on the remote PC/server.
Recommendation :
This service should only ever be turned ON by
advanced users who know about Telnet, who know what they are
doing, and who know how to securely configure their PC/server
with Telnet services running (ie: through securely restricting
access to a specifically set up “Telnet Users” group). In all
other cases the safest startup setting for this service is
Disabled. If you find your Telnet Server service set to
start at boot-up, and you know you do not want to provide Telnet
services, then you most probably are infected by a virus or were
at some stage prior – as and when you are clear of viruses, make
sure this service is set back to Disabled if you know
this PC/server is not meant to provide Telnet access. You can
modify the startup mode of this service by going to “Control
Panel \ Services” in Windows NT4, or “Control Panel \
Administrative Tools \ Services” in Windows 2000/XP/2003. |
|
Tmeejme |
TMEEJME.exe
(Toshiba) |
Task which is
part of Toshiba Mobile Extensions and found on current Toshiba
laptops (2003 onward).
Recommendation :
We do not yet know what this task does, so we can only recommend
that you leave it alone. |
|
Tmerzctl |
TMERzCtl.exe
(Toshiba) |
Task which is
part of Toshiba Mobile Extensions and found on current Toshiba
laptops (2003 onward).
Recommendation :
We do not yet know what this task does, so we can
only recommend that you leave it alone. |
|
Tmesbs32 |
TMESBS32.exe
(Toshiba) |
Toshiba Mobile
Extension Slim Select Bay Service. Task/Service found on
Toshiba laptops running Windows 2000/XP and which enables the
DVD+CD‑Writer to be hot swappable.
Recommendation :
You can disable this task if you have no intention of ever
taking the DVD+CD‑Writer out while the laptop is turned ON.
This task is sometimes installed as a startup task, in which
case you will be able to disable it with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. In other
cases it is installed as a service, in which case go to
“Control Panel \ Administrative Tools \ Services” and set
this service to Manual. If you experience problems
getting your Toshiba laptop to hibernate, try disabling this
task as a first step towards solving the problem. |
|
Tmesrv31 |
TMESrv31.exe
(Toshiba) |
Toshiba Mobile
Extensions Service. Background task which provides support for
the Toshiba Mobile Extensions.
Recommendation :
Essential. While you may decide you do not need
some of the Toshiba Mobile Extensions features, you should still
leave this task alone as it is required for any
Toshiba Mobile Extension feature to work. |
|
Tmlisten |
TMListen.exe
(Trend Micro) |
Trend Micro OfficeScan NT
Listener task – Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003. OfficeScan is an
antivirus solution for networks which features automated
deployment options and software updates, centralized management
reporting, and security policies. On the end-user PCs TMLISTEN
"listens" for antivirus definitions updates or administrative
commands from the OfficeScan server (e.g. "do a scan right now,
or at a specific time today"). We are not sure yet of the role
of TMLISTEN on the server.
Recommendation :
Essential for the proper functioning of your Trend Micro network
antivirus protection. That said, TMLISTEN has had its share of
problems; thus, if you experience TMLISTEN running away with
CPU cycles (your PC regains responsiveness after you terminate
it !), talk to your network manager and ensure that all software
updates and patches from Trend Micro have been installed,
followed by a full virus scan of your PC. We have also
ourselves seen poor network card drivers and chipsets cause
TMLISTEN to shoot up to 80%-90% of CPU processing power. You
can disable TMLISTEN with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter while troubleshooting problems
with it – your PC will still be protected against viruses; just
make sure you do manual updates daily. |
|
Tmntsrv |
TMNTSrv.exe
(Trend
Micro) |
Real-time
scanning task of the PC-Cillin antivirus software. This task
works in the background and scans files for viruses as and when
you access them, or whenever you save new files to the hard
disk.
Recommendation :
Essential to the proper protection of your PC – Leave
alone. Note : if you run Windows 2000/XP and you run PC-Cillin
2000 or 2001, you should upgrade to the 2003 version as those
earlier versions have had regular problems when running under
Windows 2000 or XP. |
|
Tmoagent |
TMOAgent.exe
(Trend
Micro) |
Trend Micro’s
Outbreak Agent background task which is part of Trend
Micro Internet Security suite. This task provides Virus
Outbreak Alerts. If a new major virus is released, and
Trend Micro know there will be some lag before they are able to
provide the necessary updates for their antivirus products to
properly handle the new virus, then virus outbreak alerts
are made available. If you are connected to the Internet, or
when you next connect to the Internet, TMOAGENT picks up these
alerts and displays them – such alerts will typically inform
you of the characteristics of the new virus, they will tell you
what to watch out for, the type of email attachments NOT
to open, the sort of PC behaviour or strange new tasks that may
be involved, etc...
Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference. In our opinion this
is essentially an excellent concept. However, some users may
decide that the frequency of virus alerts is too disruptive and
they may want to disable outbreak alerts because they feel that
in any case they are usually careful enough not to open
attachments that look suspicious. If this is you, you can
disable outbreak alerts by going to “Start \ Programs \
Trend Micro Internet Security \ Outbreak Warning Settings”
and uncheck Enable Outbreak Alert to provide proactive
recommendations. Next, reboot and then disable this task on
the Startups tab of The
Ultimate Troubleshooter
if it still shows as enabled. |
|
Tmproxy |
TMProxy.exe
(Trend Micro) |
Background task
in Windows 95/98/ME, and Service in Windows NT4/2000/XP, which
is installed by Trend Micro Internet Security suite.
TMPROXY is used by Trend Micro’s Internet Security suite to
virus scan both POP email traffic and webmail emails (Webmail
are services such as Hotmail, Yahoo, etc..) and is also used to
check that the web pages you access do not have malicious
embedded ActiveX or Java code which could harm your PC or infect
it with viruses.
Recommendation :
Essential for the proper functioning of your
Trend Micro PC‑cillin Internet Security software –
Leave alone therefore. Note, however, that there
have occasionally been significant issues with this task in the
past, ranging from frustrating Internet Explorer problems to
TMPROXY using up too much memory (60Mb and upward!). At the
time of writing, 8‑Jan‑2006, all these problems have been fixed
and we know of no issues with this task. Nevertheless, if you
start experiencing Internet Explorer problems, slow Internet
access, email problems, or you run out of memory, experiment
with turning off virus scanning of emails and web pages in PC‑cillin
Internet Security and see if that helps after rebooting your PC. |
|
Toshibsu |
ToshibSu.exe
(Toshiba) |
Task found on Toshiba
laptops and which handles hibernation by saving all data to disk
after the specified hibernation delay.
Recommendation :
Only ever disable if you do not use any power saving or
hibernation settings (ie: they are all OFF). |
|
Toshkcw |
TosHKCW.exe
(Toshiba) |
Toshiba
Wireless Hotkey. This task provides support for the Fn+F8
wireless hotkey on Toshiba laptops which have Wi-Fi (wireless
networking) and/or Bluetooth support (typically Toshiba laptops
from 2003 onward). Using that function key combination the
end‑user can toggle between enabling or disabling Wi‑Fi,
Bluetooth, or both. Depending on whether one or both are
available on the laptop, a small screen pops up presenting the
end-user with 2 or 4 on/off toggling options when Fn+F8
is pressed.
Recommendation :
You can disable this task with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter if you are never likely
to use this toggling facility, or if you do not use the built-in Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth capabilities (if that is you, first toggle
both to OFF, and then disable this task). If you are not sure
about whether or not you are using Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth, leave
this task alone. |
|
Tp4mon |
TP4Mon.exe
(IBM???) |
We think this is the
TrackPoint Monitor background task for older IBM ThinkPads.
Recommendation :
None, as we are not yet sure as what this task really does. |
Tphkmgr
Tphotkey |
TPHKMgr.exe
(IBM) |
ThinkPad Hotkey Manager
task. This background task handles the FN keys on your IBM
ThinkPad laptop. Some of these FN keys are programmed to do
specific tasks by default, such as bringing up the Help, putting
the laptop "to sleep", or playing with your audio settings, but
you can re-program these keys to perform other tasks if you wish
– TPHKMGR must be running for your settings to be implemented
every time you hit an FN key combination.
Recommendation :
Leave alone – some of the default FN key combinations are
extremely useful, if not essential sometimes; you may need them
one day ! |
|
Tppaldr |
TPPaldr.exe
(DataStor) |
TPP Auto Loader
Application. Background task installed with the drivers for
DataStor’s USB 2.0 based external cases for DVD, CD-ROM, and
CD-Writer drives, or also installed by the Ahead’s InCD packet
writing software (direct write to rewritable CDs). Many
DataStor products are re-badged by other manufacturers so this
task will be found in other manufacturers’ products (e.g LaCie).
Recommendation :
If you save documents and files directly to CD (via InCD) rather
than through CD-Writing software, then you will need this task
running. If you always use CD-Writing software, then disable
TPPALDR with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Tppstray |
TPPstray.exe
(DataStor) |
TPP System Tray. Background
task installed with the drivers for DataStor’s USB 2.0 based
external cases for DVD, CD-ROM, and CD-Writer drives. Many
DataStor products are re-badged by other manufacturers so this
task will be found in other manufacturers’ products (e.g LaCie).
Recommendation :
We do not know enough about this task to recommend anything
other than to leave it alone. |
|
Tpsrv |
TPSrv.exe
(Panda Software) |
Panda
TruPrevent Service installed by Panda Antivirus 2006 or
Panda Internet Security 2006 on Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003 PCs.
Using behavioural and heuristic techniques this service is
crucial in the ability of your Panda security software to detect
programs as highly probable viruses even when the Panda software
does not yet know what exact viruses they are thanks to updated
virus definitions.
Recommendation :
Crucial to the thoroughness of your Panda
antivirus software – Leave alone. |
|
Tpsrv9x |
TPSrv9x.exe
(Panda Software) |
Panda
TruPrevent Startup task installed by Panda Antivirus 2006
or Panda Internet Security 2006 on Windows 98/ME PCs. Using
behavioural and heuristic techniques this service is crucial in
the ability of your Panda security software to detect programs
as highly probable viruses even when the Panda software does not
yet know what exact viruses they are thanks to updated virus
definitions.
Recommendation :
Crucial to the thoroughness of your Panda
antivirus software – Leave alone. |
|
TpWAudAp |
TpWAudAp.exe
(Lenovo) |
Lenovo
ThinkPad Windows Audio Application.
Background task found on Lenovo laptops which provides
background support for the Fn+Esc, Fn+F1, and Fn+F2
function key combinations which automatically open the Windows
Volume Control and then enable the user to mute, turn ON, or
increase or decrease the volume purely through those function
keys. The Volume Control screen automatically goes off the
screen 3 seconds after the user stops using the above keys.
Recommendation :
The Windows Volume Control can sometimes be a
little reluctant to open when you double-click on it with the
mouse, particularly when there are lots of things going on in
the background and particularly on Windows XP. This is a great
little program, using next to no memory, which enables the user
to reliably control the sound through Fn
combinations, and it is of even greater value for users who use
their laptop without an external mouse. Keep. |
|
Tpwrtray |
TPwrTray.exe
(Toshiba) |
Toshiba Power
Management icon which sits in the System Tray. Clicking on the
icon enables the user to access the Toshiba Power Management
Options.
Recommendation :
In our view most users will not need this icon
once they have configured their laptop after initial purchase,
as power management is the sort of feature one usually only
configures once. Even without this icon the power management
features can still be accessed through clicking the
Performance and Maintenance icon in the Control Panel and
then “Toshiba Power Management”. Disable this task with
The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Trayclnt |
Trayclnt.exe
(Microsoft) |
System Tray icon for MSN
subscribers which gives users a quick way to connect to MSN.
Microsoft produce wonderful software sometimes, but when are
they ever going to get their act together with MSN ? From the
resources crusher LOADQM to the often hanging, not responding,
illegal operation culprit TRAYCLNT, MSN beggars belief and
frustrates too many users.
Recommendation :
Many users will at some stage or other experience problems with
TRAYCLNT. Sometimes re-installing MSN cures the problem, at
other times extracting the MAILCOM.DLL file with the System File
Checker or MSCONFIG also does the trick. Our advice, however :
if TRAYCLNT is giving you problems, disable it with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter – you do not actually need it. |
|
TridTray |
TridTray.exe
(Aztech)
|
Utterly
useless System Tray icon which gets installed with some Aztech
sound cards.
Recommendation :
Delete using The
Ultimate Troubleshooter.
|
|
True
Vector |
VSmon.exe
(Zone
Labs)
|
Essential
component of the Zone Alarm Internet firewall software.
It is started via the registry in Windows 9x/ME, and as a
service in NT/2000/XP/2003.
This program enforces the security rules which you configured
on the Zone Alarm screens.
Recommendation :
Essential to the proper running of Zone Alarm;
leave well alone.
|
|
TSAdBot |
TSADBOT.EXE
(Conducent / TimeSink) |
This is about the worst
type of advertising spyware (adware) you can find on the web.
Difficult to de-install, significantly hammers your network with
connection attempts if it operates behind a firewall and cannot
connect to Conducent’s ad servers, and a significant proportion
of the ads that it displays on your PC are full page ads.
TSADBOT comes with free versions of software packages such as
PKZIP for Windows. As if the above problems were not enough, at
the time of writing of this page TimeSink / Conducent seem to
have gone out of business with the result that TSADBOT makes
endless attempts to connect to non-existing servers, thereby
seriously degrading the performance of your Internet connection.
Recommendation :
While the software manufacturers who use TSADBOT will sing a
different tune, we feel no-one should ever use software which
makes use of such ill-behaved adware. Look for alternatives,
there usually are some pretty good ones, and the reason for this
advice is that most products which use TSADBOT will not work if
you de-install, delete, or try to disable this advertising
spyware. As a result our advice is : check with us to see if we
know an alternative "free" product for the product you are using
– if we do know one, then de-install your present software,
download, install, and run SpyBot Search & Destroy from
our Downloads section to remove TSADBOT and all other TimeSink
advertising spyware, and then install the alternative product we
have suggested. |
|
Tsircsrv |
TSIRCSrv.exe
(Laplink) |
Internet Remote Connection
Server task for Laplink Gold 11.
Recommendation :
Essential for the proper functioning of Laplink Gold 11 when
connecting two computers over the Internet rather than via
cable. If you do not use the connection-via-the-Internet
feature, you can disable this task with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Tsircusr |
TSIRCUsr.exe
(Laplink) |
Internet Remote Connection
User task for Laplink Gold 11.
Recommendation :
Essential for the proper functioning of Laplink Gold 11 when
connecting two computers over the Internet rather than via
cable. If you do not use the connection-via-the-Internet
feature, you can disable this task with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Tskmg
Winsockdriver |
Tskmg.exe
(???) |
You have the
W32.HLLW.Warpigs.C virus, also known as
Backdoor.Spyboter.gen. |
|
Tsystray |
TSysTray.exe
(Real Networks) |
System Tray icon for Real
Jukebox.
Recommendation :
We have absolutely nothing good to say about Real Jukebox. In
our experience all versions of the software contribute to an
incredible slow-down of the PC, sometimes making it unusable.
We can make only one recommendation and that is to de-install
Real Jukebox. |
|
Tvwakeup |
TVWakeUp.exe
(Microsoft) |
Microsoft’s Hidden TV
Control. Installed when you install WebTV in Windows 98/ME.
Recommendation :
We do not know what this task does, but we do know that if you
do not use Microsoft’s WebTV then you can disable/delete
this task with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
Ttuh |
Ttuh.exe
|
See IWAR. |
|
Tweakui |
TweakUI.cpl
(Microsoft) |
This entry is
actually a startup entry rather than a running task. The entry
will typically show as rundll32.exe tweakui.cpl,
TweakMeUp. It will only be present if you have
Microsoft’s TweakUI installed. Advanced Users :
TWEAKUI.CPL is, essentially, a Control Panel icon for TweakUI,
but it is also in fact a formatted DLL and the startup
command above runs that DLL with the TweakMeUp argument
so that boot‑up TweakUI settings are implemented as Windows
starts up.
Recommendation :
Essential for the proper functioning of TweakUI –
Leave alone. If you want to de‑install TweakUI, do so via the
“Add/Remove Programs” icon in the Control Panel. |
|
Twunk_16 |
Twunk_16.exe
(Twain Working Group) |
Twain_32.dll
Client’s 16-bit Thunking Server. Phew! Let’s jump straight
away to layman terms ! First, TWAIN : TWAIN is originally
derived from “Technology Without An
Important Name”. TWAIN, or as it is most
commonly know, the TWAIN Driver, is a program that is
packaged with all scanners and which allows the user to scan
images or text directly from the scanner into the application
that will be used to manipulate the image or text. Thus, most
graphics programs, and many of the newer Microsoft Office
programs, enable you to scan a document directly into the
program. Without the TWAIN driver a user would have to
always use a scanner specific software program, save the
image to a folder, and then pick up the image from within the
application that it was intended to be used in in the first
place. The TWAIN driver has two parts to it : the 16-bit
driver which interfaces with 16-bit applications and scanner
driving programs (older generation software from the Windows
95/98 days), and the 32-bit driver which interfaces with more
modern applications and scanner driving programs. The two
drivers are needed at all times because you could have a 32-bit
program on one side of the driver, e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint
2002, and a 16-bit program on the other side of the TWAIN
driver, e.g. the scanner driving program for an oldish scanner.
With this in mind, when a 16-bit program starts the 16-bit
portion of the TWAIN driver, TWUNK_16.EXE comes into action and
its sole purpose is to start the 32-bit part of the TWAIN driver
in case there should be some 32-bit scanner driving programs on
your PC (to drive current generation scanners) so that the
program you are about to use is aware of all possible scanners
connected to your system, whether they are old or new generation
scanners.
Recommendation :
Essential – Leave alone. |
|
Type32 |
Type32.exe
(Microsoft) |
Background task which is
installed as part of the Intellitype software which comes with
the Microsoft Office Keyboard. The Microsoft Office Keyboard
enables you to program specific keys to perform specific
functions, and TYPE32 needs to be running in the background for
the keys you have re-programmed to work exactly as you intended
them to.
Recommendation :
Absolutely necessary if you use the Hot Keys. If you do not,
then you can disable TYPE32 with The
Ultimate Troubleshooter. |
|
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.
TAcelMgr.exe, Tagmr.exe, Tapi32init.exe, TAPPSRV.exe, TaskbarShuffle.exe, Taskdir.exe, Taskfile.exe, Taskgamr.exe, Taskgmgr.exe, Taskgmr.exe, Taskgmr32.exe, Taskgmrr.exe, Taskgmrs.exe, Taskimgr.exe, TaskInfo.exe,
TaskMan.exe, TASKMANAGER.exe, Taskmrg.exe, Tasksmanagers.exe, TaskSwitchXP.exe, Tasksys.exe,
TBLMouse.EXE, TBMAIN.exe, TBMon.exe, TClock.exe, Tclock2.exe, TClockEx.exe, TDispVol.exe, Te.exe, Telnet.bat, Telnet.exe, Termsrv.exe, Tesc.exe, Test.exe, Test2.exe, Test3.exe, textExtractor.exe, TfncKy.exe, TFnF5.exe, TFSServ.exe, TheBat.exe, TheRegister.exe, THGuard.exe, THotkey.exe, ThpSrv.exe,
Thunderbird.exe, THUNDE~1.exe, Timer.exe, Timesht.exe,
TimeZone.exe, TimounterMonitor.exe, Titlebar Time.exe, TiVoDesktop.exe, TiVoNotify.exe, TiVoServer.exe, TiVoTransfer.exe, TMAS.exe, TMAS_OEMon.exe,
TMAS_OL.exe, TMasy.exe, TmPfw.exe, TNBUtil.exe,
ToolMemoryOptimizer.exe, TorontoStarAlerts.exe, TOSCDSPD.exe, Toggler.exe, Toshiba.exe, TotalCMD.exe, TotRecSched.exe, TouchED.exe, Tp4ex.exe,
TP4serv.exe, TPFNF7SP.exe, TPHDEXLG.exe, TpKmapMn.exe, TpKmpSVC.exe, TPONSCR.exe, TPSBattM.exe, TpScrLk.exe, TpShocks.exe, TpScrex.exe, TPSMain.exe, TPTray.exe, Trace32.exe, TrayDay.exe, TreeSize.exe, Trickler3103.exe, Trillian.exe, TrkWksvc.exe, TRot.exe, TroxoLiveUpdate.exe, TrueImage.exe, TrueImageMonitor.exe, TRUG.vbs,
TrustedInstaller.exe, TSC.exe, TscHelp.exe, Tscupgrd.exe, TSkrMain.exe,
TSNP2STD.exe, TSNPSTD3.exe, TSRV.exe, Tssdis.exe, TUT_Updater.exe, TVSTray.exe, TVTSched.exe, TTax.exe, TUT_UPDATER.EXE, TVADMIN.exe, TVCLIENT.exe
|
TGCMD
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February 2008
January 2008
September 2007
August 2007
June 2007
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May 2007
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January 2007
December 2006
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October 2006
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September 2006
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