Startup Items

[maws]

Hey folks, I've got a problem with the msconfig utility. I regularly go through the startup tab, making sure that no unnecessary apps are running when I turn the system on. Recently though, there's been a problem where the computer seems to be automatically resetting to default startup. As in, it ignores the selective startup I've set, and simply loads all the programs on the damn list. I've changed it back several times, but it keeps doing it.

 

Any ideas as to what's causing it? Could it be a virus or spyware? The system gets scanned regularly with Norton, AdAware and Spybot, and I recently ran HijackThis and got rid of the browser sh*t (f*cking New.Net).

 

Help would be appreciated.

[villarule]

Does your system clock keep resetting too? Also, how old is your system? It could be your CMOS battery has gone.

 

It could be malware related, have you ran all your programs again since this has happend?

[Wolf68k]

While I would still suggest running Ad-Aware, Spybot and your antivirus (throw in ScanDisk and DiskDefrag for good messure), I doubt that's the problem but then I wouldn't put anything past that sort of stuff either.

 

Personally I find using MSConfig (since XP) to be annoying to use when you come back from a restart. I do a manual "disable" of those things using MSConfig as a reference.

 

Start->Run type: regedit

Also have MSConfig open at the StartUp tab.

Most of the things list there are going to be found at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

What I do as a back up is to create a new key under CurrentVersion called Run-

I then create in there new String Values.

 

For the \Run\ key I found the one I want to disable, right-click on it and select Rename then I copy that name.

Back to \Run-\ create a String Value and paste in the name I just copied.

Back to \Run\ right-click that same String and select Modify. Highlight the info on the Data line and copy

Back to \Run-\ right-click that String Value I created and select Modify, on the Data line Paste.

Back to \Run\ delete that String Value.

 

Yes it's a buttload of steps but like I said this way I know it's disabled and it can't just be reselected to be turned back on. To get enabled again some thing would have to recreate the registry entry.

 

The StartUp items can also be found in

Start->Programs->Startup

and

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

 

Local_Machine mean it's global

Current_User means it's unique for that user account that is being used.

 

 

Something you can try if you want to use something that might be as annoying as MSConfig; http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/system/fwstartup.html

 

 

 

@villarule

The CMOS battery has nothing to do with what Windows (or any OS) has set to run at start or any thing to do with the OS.

 

A bad CMOS battery would ONLY effect the BIOS and it's settings, which does include the clock.

While it is true that the OS can change the clock and have those changes effect the BIOS clock, but that is the only interaction that the OS can effect within the BIOS.

Edited September 26, 2005 by wolf68k

[maws]

Cheers wolf, I'll have a shot at that. Thanks for your help.