What is the startup program "Microsoft Office Launch Helper - OSA.exe" on my Windows 8 computer? Can I remove it to speedup my computer and reduce security risk?

"Microsoft Office Launch Helper - OSA.exe" is a process that helps you to launch common Microsoft Office components to help speed up the launch of Microsoft Office programs.

You will see "Microsoft Office Launch Helper" listed on the Startup tab of Task Manager screen as:

Name: Microsoft Office
Command: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE -b -l
Location: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

Program file information about "OSA.EXE":

Launching method: Common Startup Folder - Microsoft Office
Directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office10
File name: OSA.exe
Description: Microsoft Office XP component
Size: 81.4 KB (83,360 bytes)
Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001, 1:01:04 AM
Version: 10.0.2609.0
Company name: BVRP Software  
System essential: No
Virus/Spyware/Adware: No

Comparing the performance saving, you should remove OSA.exe from your startup application list.

⇒ "Microsoft Office XP Component - OSA.exe" Startup Program

⇐ "Adobe Reader and Arcrobat Manager - AdobeARM.exe" Startup Program

⇑ Application Startup Programs on Windows 8

⇑⇑ Windows 8 Startup Programs