Autoruns vs SIW

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.

SIW is a Windows system information tool for examining computer hardware, software, network and system details. It covers software licenses, devices, processes, services, network connections and open ports. Reports can be generated in HTML, JSON, CSV, TXT, XML or ODBC formats, then saved or printed. Command-line options can choose report modules, create, compress or append reports, and run report creation silently. Reports can also be sent through SMTP, uploaded using FTP, FTPS or HTTP POST, or saved to a database through ODBC. The Technician’s Version runs without installation from a USB flash drive, network drive or domain login script. Customizations include logos, tailored reports and builds limited to command-line use or without selected modules; these cost $50 extra. SIW lists a free viewer and a 14-day trial, which works only on specified 64-bit Windows versions and replaces some values with ***TRIAL***. Paid options range from a 23.99 USD one-time Technician’s Version without updates or support to paid update subscriptions and lifetime-update licenses. The maker identifies administrators, technicians and IT tech support as users.