What is the Program program showing up in Windows 8 Task Manager Startup tab?

Anonymous
2013-01-08T19:16:06+00:00

I just purchased a new HP desktop.  Windows 8 is installed.  I've had it for about three weeks.  I haven't installed much so far...printer drivers, Acrobat Reader, Google Chrome, VLC Media Player, Open Office, and Quicken 2012 are all I can think of.

About two weeks ago I noticed that in the Startup tab of Task Manager there is an application listed named "Program."  The publisher column is blank.  The Status column shows "Enabled."  The Startup impact column shows "Not measured."  When I right click on the listing I have the options to "Disable" and "Search online"; the "Properties" and "Open file location" options are grayed out.  So, I disabled the "Program" program.  Since then I've not noticed any lack of functionality, but Norton Internet Security did crash once; otherwise I seem to have a stable system and everything seems to work.

Still, I want to know what this "Program" program is.  I've searched my system to the best of my ability using all utilities that came installed.  I've also searched the Registry using regedit; nothing.  Finally, today, I downloaded Sysinternals' (a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation) Autoruns.  Nothing again.

I'd appreciate any help to track this down.  What is it?  And, if I don't need it how can I get rid of it?  Thanks!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-03T19:32:54+00:00

    weird... this issue has been known by everyone and yet, each person gets a different reason....

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-03T19:33:38+00:00

    i never was using windows 7... windows 8.1 originally, updated to 10.... and everything was listed by name in startup.....

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-17T18:21:49+00:00

    Thanks for the help - SpiritX.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-11-20T17:26:55+00:00

    After the Nov 2015 large Windows 10 patch, I also had "PROGRAM" show up.  And just like RichardDuke's mine was for the TiVo Desktop that I use, which I also certainly do not want to disable or delete.  I just find it funny that this did not show up for me until after the Win 10 patch.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-11-21T05:38:20+00:00

    Hi, I have tried deleting the entry in the registry but the "Program" don't show up in the list.

    In my case the "Program" program refers to One Note, maybe because I reinstall Office two o three times because of some problems. Or I don't know if this One Note is the version that came with Windows 10.

    And here is the registry. There is no entry for "Program".

    I have also tried to clean the registry with CCleaner but after using it the "Program" is still in the list.

    I hope that someone could help me. Thanks.

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