Task List
Name

PROGRAM &
MANUFACTURER

WHAT IT IS
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO
E_s10ic2 E_s10ic2.exe

(Epson)		 Epson Status Monitor 3 for the Epson Stylus C62 Series of inkjet printers.  In its version 3 flavour the Epson Status Monitor does not get installed automatically with the printer drivers – you go through a separate installation process.  When installed the Epson Status Monitor 3 appears as a printer icon in the System Tray.  Double-clicking on the icon enables you to check the ink level in the ink cartridges and also gives you all the specifications of your printer.  Right-clicking on the icon, on the other hand, enables you to perform Nozzle Checks, Head Cleaning, and Print Head Alignment checks on the printer, as well as give you access to the "Printer Settings" dialogue, and modify the behaviour of the Status Monitor 3 itself.

Recommendation :
The Epson Status Monitor 3 does not usually cause problems, so we would advise that you have it running, particularly since it is your only way of being able to tell how much ink there is left in your ink cartridges, as the cartridges are too opaque to be able to see the ink level, and the indicator lights on the printers themselves are also too inaccurate.
E_srcv02

E_srcv03		 E_Srcv02.exe

E_Srcv03.exe

(Epson)		 Epson Status Monitor 2, or the newer version, Epson Status Monitor 3.  The Epson Status Monitor gets installed with almost all Epson inkjet printers and, basically, gives you a progress of your print jobs as they are printing.  It also warns you when your ink cartridges are running low and it informs you of printing problems and their probable causes.  The Epson Status Monitor appears as a minimizable task on your Task Bar.

Recommendation :
Aside from rare installation problems, the Epson Status Monitor does not usually cause problems, so we would advise that you keep it running as, for long print jobs, it is a useful guide as to how long the job will take.  Also, for the new generation of Epson inkjets, the Epson Status Monitor application is the only way you have of being able to tell how much ink there is left in your ink cartridges, as the cartridges are too opaque to be able to see the ink level, and the indicator lights on the printers themselves are also too inaccurate.
Eausbkbd EAUSBKBD.exe

(Compaq)		 Compaq’s Easy Access Button support task for Compaq USB Keyboards which enables you to program the extra "Easy Access keys" on the Compaq USB multimedia keyboards.  Without this task you will not be able to use those extra keys. This task is often seen in conjunction with STARTEAK.

Recommendation :
Essential if you use the "Easy Access Keys", not needed otherwise – you can disable it with Starter.
Ebot EBot.exe

(Digital River)		 According to Digital River :  ‘EBot is an "electronic robot" that sits on your PC's desktop and helps ensure your computer always has the latest technology, fixes, add-ons, upgrades and "cool stuff". EBot also helps you download, install and manage your downloadable digital products.’  EBot will typically be installed as an icon on your Windows desktop.  The "Ebot" task which shows in your Task List is the System Tray icon which enables you to start Ebot from the System Tray.

Recommendation :
Our translation of this product :  it "encourages" users to "fix" their software environment, something we are totally against.  For the great majority of users, if your PC is working fine then assume there is nothing to fix or update.  Applying fixes and updates without properly evaluating what the fixes/updates are for, can have disastrous results, as some Windows XP users have found in recent times (April/May 2002) (if you want to know what updates you should apply, check our upcoming Updates news page).  Therefore, on that count alone we would advise against EBot.  Worse, however, EBot also brings you "cool stuff".  Our translation :  advertisements.  Add to this that anything that queries a remote server, whether for ads or for software updates, is bound to reduce your Internet connection performance, we believe that EBot is not a good idea.  Unless you are a great believer of EBot, and swear by it, our recommendation is to de-install it.
Ebrr Ebrr.exe

(Epson)		 Epson Bi-directional Request Router (EBRR).  This program is a component of the Epson Status Monitor program for such printers as the Stylus 640, 660, 680, 740, 870, 875, 880, etc..  This task is a background interface task which passes commands and responses back and forth between your printer and the Status Monitor program where you can monitor print jobs and see how much ink you have left in your cartridges.

Recommendation :
In some environments this task causes endless frustrations to the end-user through endless error conditions (blank error windows, Invalid Page Faults, Illegal Operations).  Thankfully Epson seem to have realised they had to do something and their later models, the Stylus C Series (C60, C62, C82, etc...), do not suffer this problem.  If you have problems with EBRR, try installing the latest drivers for your printer, if there are any available, otherwise de-install the Epson Status Monitor software and run your printer without the Status Monitor.
Echoctrl EchoCtrl.exe

(C-Media Inc.)		 Task which is part of some C-Media soundcard drivers. From an AnswersThatWork user :  "ECHOCTRL is a System Tray icon which, when clicked, allows you to turn ON or OFF an echo effect for microphones plugged into C-Media soundcards. You can also increase or decrease the volume of the echo. Great for budding karaoke stars !!".

Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference – you can disable it with Starter.

Edmsrv32

Edmsrv32.exe

(FileNet Corp / Novell)

This is a background program which runs when you have Novell GroupWise 5.5 running.

Recommendation : 
Essential.  Leave alone.

Edsdlv32

Edsdlv32.exe

(FileNet Corp / Novell)

This is a background program which runs when you have Novell GroupWise 5.5 running.

Recommendation : 
Essential.  Leave alone.
Em_exec EM_Exec.exe

(Logitech)		 Logitech MouseWare Tray icon program.  This program displays a mouse icon in the System Tray.  Right-clicking or double-clicking on the icon enables you to access the Control Panel Mouse properties or the MouseWare help.

Recommendation :
Once they have set their mouse preferences, most users never go back to them unless the mouse is changed.  This Tray icon is therefore superfluous and simply adds to the System Tray clutter for older Logitech mice, in which case you can disable this task (do not Delete) using Starter.  With the more modern generations of Logitech mice, such as cordless optical mice, EM_EXEC is actually more than just a System Tray icon and disabling it will prevent the scroll wheel or some of the additional mouse buttons (middle and fourth when present) or features (eg. smartmove) from working properly; so you should leave it alone.
En4060ct En4060ct.exe

(Efficient Networks)		 System Tray activity icon for Efficient Networks’ SpeedStream 4060 DSL modem.

Recommendation :
Pretty but not needed.  Harmless.  You can keep it, or disable it with Startup Manager.
Enternet EnterNet.exe

(Efficient Networks)		 Normally ISP supplied Access Manager software which enables the ISP’s subscribers to connect to its DSL network when that DSL network uses the PPPoE DSL connection protocol.

Recommendation :
Leave alone – if your ISP supplied it, you probably need it.

Epscansv

Epscansv.exe

(Epson)

Epson Scan Server System Tray icon. Scan server software which needs to run on the PC attached to an Epson networkable scanner (ie. Epson Expression 1680).  This software, usually started through the "Startup" program group, is essential as it makes the networked scanner visible to the other PCs on the network.

Recommendation : 
Leave untouched if your Epson scanner is networked for other PCs to use.
Essspk EssSpk.exe

(ESS Technologies)		 Call waiting task which gets installed by the drivers for V92 modems based on ESS Technologies chipsets.  If you enable the call waiting facility, and your telephone line has the capability, and someone calls you while you are browsing the Internet, a popup comes up on the Taskbar, ESSSPK, informing you of the call and which number is calling you.  You can decide to ignore the call or to accept it :  if you accept it, your Internet connection is disconnected and your modem and/or phone rings.

Recommendation :
Some versions of ESSSPK cause Blue Screen Fatal Exceptions.  If this happens to you, see if upgrading to the latest drivers for your modem solves the problem.  If not, then disable call waiting. You can also disable this task with Starter.
Eventmgr EventMgr.exe

(Microtek)		 Background task for the EventManager module of the ScanWizard software that comes with some Microtek scanners.  You configure the front panel button of your Microtek scanner through EventManager and EVENTMGR.EXE runs in the background to implement the configuration options that you set up.

Recommendation :
If you use the front panel button on your Microtek scanner, then you will need to leave EVENTMGR running.  Otherwise, if you do not have a front panel button, or have one but do not use it, you can disable EVENTMGR with Startup Manager.
Evntsvc

TkBellExe

Realsched		 Evntsvc.exe

or

Realsched.exe

(Real Networks)		 Real Networks Scheduler which gets installed with RealOne Player.  Under Win9x/ME this task shows as TKBELLEXE, and as EVNTSVC under Windows 2000/XP or REALSCHED depending on which version of RealOne Player you have installed.  From our experience, everything that applies to EVNTSVC below, also applies to REALSCHED.  RNDAL elsewhere in these Task List pages is a good starting point to read about RealOne Player.  Next, a 15-Jun-2002 extract from the RealOne Player License Agreement that is specific to EVNTSVC (the said License Agreement was updated on 25-Nov-2002 by Real Networks and EVNTSVC was replaced by REALSCHED in that version of the License Agreement) :   An application Scheduler, known as "evntsvc.exe," is installed along with RealOne Player. Once installed, it runs independently of RealOne Player.  The Scheduler does not collect personal information or communicate with RealNetworks’ servers.  It is used to remind AutoUpdate and Message Center to perform their tasks at pre-scheduled intervals.  The Scheduler is also used to automatically launch RealNetworks’ Media Type Helper.  The Media Type Helper ensures the system is configured for correct operation of the RealOne Player with Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Extensions ("MIME") types, file extensions, Internet protocols and other media types.  If a media type has been assigned a different action by a different application, Media Type Helper may override the association and substitute its own association.

Recommendation :
If reading about RNDAL did not put you off, then read on.  RealPlayer Classic used to be one of the most needed pieces of software on a PC.  Its successor, RealOne Player, is vying for the title of the most hated piece of software.  For a start, on many PCs EVNTSVC slows down boot-ups unacceptably, using up to 90% of CPU time at times.  There have also been reports of EVNTSVC dropping advertising shortcuts onto the desktop during idle times.  Next, if you try to disable EVNTSVC via Startup Manager or MSCONFIG, RealOne Player checks to see if it has been deleted from the Registry and re-instates it as a startup item !  To be fair, there is a facility within RealOne Player to "only perform automatic services while RealOne Player is in use".  As stated in our write-up for RNDAL, our recommendation is to de-install RealOne Player and either use the classic RealPlayer, or something else such as WinAmp.  If you absolutely want to keep RealOne Player, we suggest you rename EVNTSVC.EXE to EVNTSVC.EXE.OLD (or REALSCHED.EXE to REALSCHED.OLD) as that is the only way to make absolutely certain that it never runs, and RealOne Player works fine without it.

Explorer

Explorer.exe

(Microsoft)

In a confusing way this refers to the Windows end-user interface :  the desktop, the Task Bar, the Start Menu, etc....   It is not to be confused with Windows Explorer which uses the same program file !!

 Recommendation :
Vital !!  Leave untouched.
Explorer.scr Explorer.scr

(???)		 You have the BENJAMIN.A virus.
Exshow95 Exshow95.exe

(Kensington)		 Background driver for Kensington’s Expert Mouse range of mice.  We are not sure yet as to what it does.

Recommendation :
Mice drivers are simply not needed unless you want to make use of specific features that the software has and which are not part of Windows.  Additionally, EXSHOW95 has been known to interfere with the installation of some games.  Thus, if you are not using the Kensington Expert software, de-install it via Add/Remove Programs or disable this task with Starter.
Ezsp_px ezSP_Px.exe

(Easy Systems Japan Ltd)		 Background task installed by the Easy Systems Drag’n Drop CD & DVD writing software found on most Japanese laptop and desktop PCs.

Recommendation :
This task is essential for the good functioning of Drag’n Drop as it provides the common routines (functions) used by the various components of Drag’n Drop.
Ezulamain EZulaMain.exe

(EZula)		 This program is one of the worst parasites there can be.  Installed as part of the TOPText software which itself is installed in most cases together with the KaZaA file sharing program, this program hijacks your Internet browser and inserts advertising links in all the websites that you visit by turning specific words into links which send you to an advertiser’s site.  Between pop-up ads, pop-under ads, and this type of insidious advertising, there is very little to choose as to which is worse.

Recommendation :
Always read the License Agreement when installing supposedly FREE software !  If you do, in most cases you will not fall prey of nightmares like this one, as you will either cancel, or in some cases you will have the choice of selectively not installing the parasite software which has nothing to do with the main purpose of the program you are about to install.  If you can find an entry for it in "Control Panel \ Add/Remove Programs", de-install TOPText.  Next, download SpyBot Search & Destroy from our downloads page, make sure you run the online update, and then run it to fully get rid of the Ezula software.