Task List
Name

PROGRAM &
MANUFACTURER

WHAT IT IS
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO
Vcsplay VCSPlay.exe

(H+H Software GmbH)		 Virtual CD SDK Player. System driver for the Virtual CD software.  Virtual CD enables you to store entire CDs and DVDs onto your hard disk so that you can play them later as if they were running from your CD/DVD drive but 200 times faster.

Recommendation :
Essential for the proper running of Virtual CD.
Vcssecs VCSSecS.exe

(H+H Software GmbH)		 Virtual CD SDK Security Service.  System driver for the Virtual CD software. Virtual CD enables you to store entire CDs and DVDs onto your hard disk so that you can play them later as if they were running from your CD/DVD drive but 200 times faster.  This task/service implements the security features of Virtual CD where you can restrict access to CD & DVD images.

Recommendation :
Essential for the proper running of Virtual CD.
Vetmsg9x

VetmsgNT		 VetMsg9x.exe

VetMsgNT.exe

(Computer Associates)		 Background task from Computer Associates’ InoculateIT AntiVirus (formerly Vet AntiVirus).  VETMSG9X runs on Windows 9x/ME while VETMSGNT runs on Windows NT4/2000/XP. This task watches for usage of the floppy disk drive and automatically kicks in to scan the floppy for possible viruses – then it lets you use the floppy disk.

Recommendation :
Essential for full protection of your PC by InoculateIT – leave alone.
Vettray VetTray.exe

(Computer Associates)		 System Tray icon for the Vet Antivirus product.  Computer Associates acquired Vet Antivirus from Cybec in Australia in January 1999 and does not seem to have pushed the product, so there is very little known about it. Further investigation reveals that Vet Antivirus is probably what became Computer Associates’ InoculateIT or significant parts of it became incorporated into InoculateIT as VETTRAY can be found in InoculateIT.  VETTRAY is simply a System Tray icon which enables you to launch InoculateIT from the System Tray.  As with Norton AntiVirus, the icon has two states which show you whether background on-access scanning is enabled or not.

Recommendation :
Down to end-user preference.  Can be disabled by right-clicking on the icon, or with Starter.
Vidsvr VidSvr.exe

(Microsoft)		 Microsoft Video Server for Microsoft WebTV (Win98/ME).

Recommendation :
Unless you use Microsoft’s WebTV disable or delete this entry with Starter.
Vplus VPlus.exe

(ICQ.com)		 Skin manager for the well known ICQ Plus Internet and SMS chat program.

Recommendation :
If you use skins with your ICQ Plus, VPLUS will also start up in the background.  Essential therefore for ICQ Plus users.

Vptray

VPTray.exe

(Symantec)

VirusProtect Shield System Tray icon for Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition 7.x.  As with all Norton AntiVirus products this icon enables you to start Norton AntiVirus in order to configure it, run a virus scan, do a LiveUpdate, etc…

Recommendation : 
Unlike with other Norton AntiVirus products, there are significant problems with the VPTRAY process which comes with the Corporate Edition, from the inability of Windows to start due to timing problems associated with VPTRAY, 100% CPU usage by VPTRAY, and other problems.  Since you can access all Norton AntiVirus features through "Start \ Programs", if you experience Windows start-up problems, performance problems, or crashes which you have difficulty tracking, then disable VPTRAY with Startup Manager.
Vshwin32 VSHWin32.exe

(McAfee)		 Background real-time virus scanning task for McAfee VirusScan (McAfee calls it the "On-access scanner").  This task runs in the background and scans files as you use or create them.  In version 6 and above VSHWIN32.EXE is still used but it does not appear in the Task List on Windows 95/98/ME PCs when you bring up the Task List with Ctrl+Alt+Del – you need to view the Task List through a program like Starter to see VSHWIN32 running.

Recommendation :
Essential unless you prefer to do manual scans.
Vsmon VSMon.exe

(Zone Labs)		 This actually displays as True Vector in the Task List in Windows 95/98/ME, and as VSMON in Windows NT4/2000/XP.  Essential component of the Zone Alarm Internet firewall software.  It is started via the registry in Windows 9x/ME, and as a service in NT/2000/XP.  This program enforces the security rules which you configured on the Zone Alarm screens.

Recommendation :
Essential to the proper running of Zone Alarm; leave well alone.
Vsstat VSSTat.exe

(McAfee)

 System Tray icon for McAfee VirusScan which enables you to start VirusScan from the System Tray.

Recommendation :
If you get errors mentioning VSSTAT, as many users sometimes do, obtain the latest program updates for VirusScan (as opposed to virus definitions updates).  If that does not solve the problem, disable VSSTAT with Startup Manager.