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WindowsNT: Program box keeps starting up

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9 replies

by jburke1

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On a WindowsNT PC, On every login a program box titled PROGRAM will open up. If you delete it it will open again on the next login. There is a directory on C:\ called PROGRAM. IF you delet this directory, you will get the message 'cannot find C:\PROGRAM or one of its components'. You hit ok it goes away until next login. Nothing is in the STARTUP folder for any users or for 'all users'. I have searched the REGISTRY and a the system files but cannot find anywhere where it is trying to start up this program box. ANy ideas?????

9 replies

by syscokid

Go to http://www.sysinternals.com/misc.htm#autoruns
and download a free utility called Autoruns. It will scan your system and tell you where programs are coming from at startup.

If that doesn't work, run regedit on the affected machines and drill down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion and then either Run, RunOnce, RunOnce, RunOnceEx. Look for a key with a blank value (or an invalid value).

by jburke1

Nothing is under RunOnce or RunOnceEx. There are about 9 things listed under Run but none that are blank orlook to be invalid. I did go to Task Mngr and went to Go To Process. It shows the .exe running is Explorer.exe
?? Now what?

by dragon

In the registry, look under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run for anything specified to run at startup. That may give you the path. Another thing you may be able to try if this 'program' stays running for any time, open Task Manager, look at Applications. If you see it listed there, right click the app and select Go To Process. This will show you the exact executable. Hope that helps some.

by jburke1

Nothing is under RunOnce or RunOnceEx. There are about 9 things listed under Run but none that are blank orlook to be invalid. I did go to Task Mngr and went to Go To Process. It shows the .exe running is Explorer.exe
?? Now what?

by jburke1

Yes, tried that. The one thing I thought may have done it , didnt. It is still popping up even after delting a line in the registry that seemed odd.

by clrichardson

Go back to the run key and check for paths that have spaces in it without being in quotes.

ie: C:\Program Files\......should be chg'd to

"C:\Program Files\......."

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