Bits from Bill

Technology thoughts leaking from the brain of "Bill Pytlovany"

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

QuickTime Most Popular Unwanted File

The release of Windows 95 was suppose to spell the end of Microsoft’s 8.3 filename specifications.  The folks in Redmond hailed the era of long filenames that would provide better descriptions of what a file would be used for. Unfortunately, years later Microsoft and others continue to use filenames which are small and non-descriptive.

WinPatrol PLUS is a program which allows users to click on a filename and read an description of a file and find out if it’s required. Apple Computer once bragged about long filenames but stick their files with cryptic filename into Windows Startup Programs and have them running in the background.

One of the ones most commonly requested belongs to QuickTime and tends to stick itself back into the autorun registry frequently. Below is the results from our online Cloud stats.

QTTASK.EXE – Apple’s QuickTime Player

8,425 Requests for information on this file.
47,426 Users chose to allow this file to run.
105,864 Users decided to prevent this file from running.

Apple’s QuickTime holds the record for the file WinPatrol users want removed. It doesn’t help that Apple keeps trying to put QTTASK.exe back even after it’s removed. Luckily, WinPatrol has a Disable function so we can automatically remove it without any alert messages.

quicktime

More Mystery Files
There are plenty of other filenames which WinPatrol users were confused about and/or wanted more information. You’ll notice most users made their decision without checking the Info that is available to WinPatrol PLUS members.

The 1st number represents how many times a WinPatrol PLUS member requested an explanation or description of a filename.
The 2nd number indicates how many times, when alerted, a user clicked on “Yes” to say they approved the file and wanted it to continue loading. 
The 3rd number indicates a user clicked No. It can also indicate the filename was found in one of WinPatrol’s lists and made the decision to remove the file entry from the registry or kill the file while it was running.


ADOBEARM.exe - Adobe Acrobat Reader Manager

7,254  Requests for information on this file.
51,676  Users chose to allow this file to run.
61,017  Users decided to prevent this file from running.


IGFXTRAY.EXE - INTEL Graphics Card System Tray Icon

4,083  Requests for information on this file.
9,815  Users chose to allow this file to run.
11,799 Users decided to prevent this file from running.


MSSECES.EXE - Microsoft Security Essentials

4,812 Requests for information on this file.
32,440 Users chose to allow this file to run.
13,342 Users decided to prevent this file from running.


GOOGLEUPDATE.EXE -
Google Automatic Update

4,001 Requests for information on this file.
49,317 Users chose to allow this file to run.
30,362 Users decided to prevent this file from running.

JUSCHED.EXE - Sun's Java Plug-in Updater

6,485 Requests for information on this file.
68,538 Users chose to allow this file to run.
56,428 Users decided to prevent this file from running.


CTFMON.exe - Alternative User Input Text Manager

2,508  Requests for information on this file.
6,521 Users chose to allow this file to run.
18,240 Users decided to prevent this file from running.

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6 Comments:

Blogger Don said...

Thanks for the great article, Bill. I would like to see your opinion on how important some of these files are.

1:21 PM  
Blogger Fits said...

Now be so kind, Bill, as to tell me how to be finally rid of CTFMON. Disabling doesn't work as it pops right back, sometimes in duplicate as if to say nyah-nyah.

Can't fix it from the Start-Up program list either.

5:17 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Well, WinPatrol PLUS members can look up our research on all the files mentioned in the article.

In our description for CTFMON is a link to Microsoft's instructions on how to remove the Alternate Input method. This link provides a good explanation and instructions for varies versions of Windows and Office.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q282599

5:52 PM  
Blogger John said...

Bill, What about jucheck.exe. I guess it harmlessly checks for Java updates, but it's sort of pain w multiple copies showing up at the same time.

8:02 PM  
Blogger John said...

Bill, what about jucheck.exe which checks for Java updates? It's a pain. Multiple copies show up at once.

8:03 PM  
Anonymous Haarverlängerung said...

Interesting statistics! The QuickTime Player really sucks, no wonder people are sick of it.

6:44 AM  

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