StartDreck

Overview

StartDreck was a free system diagnostic and startup analysis tool designed to help advanced users and security professionals identify malware infections and unauthorized modifications to system startup settings. It provided a detailed report of running processes, registry entries, and system configurations.

Features

• Scans and displays detailed system startup information.
• Analyzes registry keys, processes, and running services.
• Detects suspicious or unauthorized startup entries.
• Helps in diagnosing malware infections and system slowdowns.
• Portable and does not require installation.

Compatibility

StartDreck was compatible with:

• Windows 98
• Windows 2000
• Windows XP

Since the tool has been discontinued, it is not recommended for use on modern Windows versions.

Usage

1. Download StartDreck from a trusted security source.
2. Run the executable as an administrator (no installation required).
3. Perform a system scan to analyze startup entries and running processes.
4. Review the generated report for suspicious entries.
5. Manually disable or remove unwanted startup items.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• ✔ Provides in-depth system analysis.
• ✔ Useful for detecting malware-related startup modifications.
• ✔ Portable and lightweight.

Cons

• ✘ Discontinued and no longer updated.
• ✘ Requires advanced knowledge to interpret results.
• ✘ Not optimized for modern Windows versions.

Alternative Software

• Autoruns – A Microsoft tool for managing startup programs and services.
• HiJackThis – A tool for detecting and removing suspicious registry changes.
• CCleaner Startup Manager – A built-in tool for managing startup programs.

Developer

• Company: Unknown
• Status: Discontinued (No longer maintained)

External Links

• (No official website available)
• May be found on archived security forums (use caution when downloading).