Found in the \HPSelect\Frontend\ directory on a HP machine. What is it's purpose and is it required?

ct.exe is a file is for the HP Learning Adventure software and if you use this software it is required to run it

For Creative Soundblaster Live! series soundcards. Plays the EAX animation on start-up and adds a System Tray icon for it. Available via AudioHQ

Price comparison based spyware

A quicklaunch bar that comes with SoundBlaster Audigy series cards for easy access to Creative's software and sound card settings.

Auto-detect Creative Technology\'s MP3 players (Muvo NX etc) and run Mediasource Organizer/Player.

Program four SoundBlaster Audigy2 card which auto detects a DVD.

Auto-detect and play a DVD when using a Creative Soundblaster Audigy2 soundcard. Uses about 2.2 MB of memory. Disable it by heading to the MediaSource DVD Audio Player, selecting Tools, then uncheck the Auto Start box. It should not start up automatically again

Splash screen with sound on every boot up. Installed with a Sound Blaster Audigy soundcard

Added by the DONBOMB.A TROJAN!

Added by the STARTPAGE.P TROJAN!

Handles Alternative User Input Text Processor (TIP) and the Microsoft Office Language Bar.It provides text input support for speech recognition, handwriting recognition, keyboard, translation, and other alternative user input technologies

CTFMon is involved with the language/alternative input services in Office XP. CTFMON.exe will continue to put itself back into MSConfig when you run the Office XP apps as long as the Text Services and Speech applets in the Control Panel are enabled. Not required if you don\\\\\\\'t need these features. For more info on ctfmon see here. CTFMON can be disabled from Control Panel, Text & Speech Services

Ctfmon.exe activates the Microsoft Office Alternative User Input Text Input Processor (TIP) and the Microsoft Office Language Bar. It monitors the active windows and provides text input service support for speech recognition, handwriting recognition, keyboard, translation, and other alternative user input technologies. Can be disabled using the Microsoft Office installer. See details.

Added by the CWS-F TROJAN!

Added by a variant of the WOOTBOT WORM!

CTHELPER is a background task that is a plug-in manager for Creative drivers. The theory is that 3rd party manufacturers can use the CTHELPER plug-in interface to produce drivers, add-on features, and fixes that will integrate with a tighter fit with Creative抯 sound drivers and utilities. Given its purpose CTHELPER would normally be classified as a "leave alone" background task.Unfortunately there are often problems with CTHELPER, most notably that it can use 100% of CPU time so it's best left disabled

Background task that works as a plug-in manager for Creative drivers. It helps the third party manufacturers to produce drivers, add-on features, and fixes that will integrate with a tighter fit with Creative sound drivers and utilities.

Phone Interface for controlling and logging. A part of the Callview software package. Origin Intertel , see www.inter-tel.com

For Creative Soundblaster Live! series soundcards. Adds a quick-launch bar to the top of the display and a System Tray icon. Available via Start -> Programs

Creative Audigy task bar

Installed with the Sound Blaster Audigy range of soundcards. Allows you to set EAX effects or equalizer settings for the Sound Blaster Audigy from a systray icon.  Also allows you to launch the Taskbar via right-click -> Show Taskbar. The tasktray can be accessed via Start -> Programs -> Creative -> Sound Blaster Audigy -> Taskbar

Creative soundcard System Tray access to, for example, volume slider controls as normally provided by the "speaker" icon. Not required unless you adjust any settings otherwise available via the standard icon

Detects the Creative NOMAD jukebox/MP3 player at the time it is attached to USB and starts the needed application (Creative PlayCentre 2) that you use to copy MP3 files to and from it. This is required if you want PlayCentre 2 to take control of the NOMAD once connected

Creative driver to detect NOMAD Jukebox connection via USB / firewire. It's not required to detect this external MP3 player.