AIDA64 vs Autoruns

AIDA64 Extreme provides home users with detailed PC system information, live monitoring, benchmarking, and stress testing. It identifies processors, motherboards, graphics cards, memory, and storage. Other editions address business and network administration. AIDA64 Business monitors more than 250 sensor devices for temperatures, voltages, fan speeds, and power draw; it can collect hardware and software inventories from Windows computers on a corporate network. Business reports can be saved in open formats or an SQL database, and audit snapshots can be compared to identify changes and trigger real-time alerts. It also supports remote monitoring and control, including administrative tasks and file transfers. Network Audit is limited to inventory and does not include remote control, remote monitoring, diagnostics, or benchmarks available in other editions. AIDA64 supports more than 50 LCD and VFD screens, plus wireless sensor monitoring on smartphones and tablets. Products run on Windows, Android, and iOS, and are available for a 30-day trial. Listed one-time prices include 59.95 EUR for Extreme, 129.90 EUR for Network Audit, and 219.90 EUR each for Business and Engineer.

Autoruns shows programs and drivers configured to run during Windows boot, login, or when certain built-in Windows applications start. It reports startup items from locations such as the Startup folder, Registry keys, Explorer extensions, services, scheduled tasks, and Winlogon entries. Users can hide signed Microsoft entries to focus on third-party items, inspect startup images configured for other accounts, and disable an entry or delete its configuration. Scan options include signature verification and VirusTotal hash checks; submitting files not previously scanned requires the upload option, and VirusTotal features require accepting its terms. The download includes Autorunsc, a command-line version that can output CSV or tab-delimited data, verify signatures, and scan an offline Windows system. The Autoruns and Autorunsc download is listed as 3 MB, and Microsoft offers a Sysinternals Live option. Autoruns costs nothing, with no limit on installation or use on devices owned or supported by the user, but no redistribution license. Microsoft says Sysinternals tools are provided as is without official support and points users to a community forum.