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
    2015-11-21T18:10:00+00:00

    You can see the system path in 'linea de comandos' Have tried removing that file and restart?

     

    Make sure it is not a working file/program that you use.

    I tried the trial version of Microsoft Office and after it was done, I removed it from programs but it left some files and the 'program' such as this. I cleaned out all the associated files/folders and removed it.

    Also, check your registry keys @ Microsoft Office/Office16 as a precaution/just for knowledge.

    Note: OneNote does come with windows 10 but there's no startup for it. It's a manual trigger.

    Good Luck!

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-11-22T02:23:28+00:00

    I have deleted the folder yes and is not a program I am using.

    Regarding to the registry, I don't know what do you mean. I have checked the "Run" list and as you could see there is no entry of the element "Program".

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-11-22T06:48:40+00:00

    Check in the registry keys path:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run

    You might find it there?

    What I meant by 'check the registry keys' is that what you're looking for could be somewhere else, like the above path. Example: While I was checking for this path I found junk keys, that I was looking to delete, hiding.

    I hope this helps!

    Regards,

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-11-23T11:38:27+00:00

    Hi again!

    I have checked that path and there is no entry for OneNote or whatever.

    However in the path below that I found this:

    Maybe that could be what we are looking for?

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-11-23T11:57:56+00:00

    Yes, more than likely, that's it. You can export it and then delete it and check. If you use one note then leave it. There is a way to change it to a manual trigger rather than auto-start up. In any event, you know where it is and what it's doing.

    F.Y.I.: I have a bunch of auto-starts, some are listed in run but many are not. The ones I don't use I just disable. It doesn't hurt anything and when I click on that program then it starts, which is manual.

    Very Good!

    Saludos,

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