Change Start Up in Registry

There are seven Run keys in the registry that cause programs to be run automatically:

? HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

? HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

? HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

? HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

? HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ RunServices

? HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ RunServicesOnce

? HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ RunOnce\Setup

Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER
The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed.

WARNING: Do not click to clear the Load system services check box
Configure selective startup options
In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
Click to clear the Process SYSTEM.INI File check box.
Click to clear the Process WIN.INI File check box.
Click to clear the Load Startup Items check box. Verify that Load System Services and Use Original BOOT.INI are checked.
Click the Services tab.
Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box.
Click Disable All, and then click OK.
When you are prompted, save the settings and restart the PC.

After you complete your troubleshooting and fix your configuration, return to a normal startup. To do this, follow these steps:
Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
On the General tab, click Normal startup, and then click OK.
Click Restart.

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance. ;) :D

http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html

Install it, let it do a quick scan of your system files, then (from the systray icon) right click the icon and click on 'Display Startup Info'.

You can then select what you want to stop and what you want to KILL, and what you want to leave running at Startup. There are also other controls like delaying the startup of something that may not run properly until other portions of the startup-sequence have run, you can examine all active tasks etc etc.

Far easier than mucking with the registry.

When using WinPatrol, [b]DO NOT[/b] kill any process unless you are absolutely certain! Better to 'disable' it - that way, if you don't like the result you can simply enable it again.

Oh, and don't jump when the dog barks at you! You'll understand once you install it! ;)

To check the Registry location for the offending file you can use Msconfig
Click Start and type msconfig and press Enter.
For the first suspicious item, expand the "Location" column to see where it is loading from in the registry.
Click on Start, Run, type "regedt32" and click OK.
Browse to the key listed in the "Location" column for Msconfig.
Delete the key on the right hand side only, that specifically matches that startup item. **See example below.**

Note the "Command" folder in Msconfig. **See example below.**

:::::EXAMPLE:::::
In this example, the Startup Tab of Msconfig indicates that:
xyz.exe loads from Command "C:\WINDOWS\xyz.exe" and Location

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
In this case, we go to the registry editor and find that Run key on the left window. On the right hand Window pane you'll see each item in that Run key, specifically "xyz.exe" in this case. Delete the entry for "xyz.exe" in the registry only.
< edit > too much info