Blank entries in MSCONFIG

[Bad Head]

I have just noticed that I have 3 entries in Startup that have no names,
just a blank where there should be one. One of these entries is located in
"HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run", whilst the other to
are in "HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run".

Any ideas what these could be? Are they safe to disable?

Ad-Aware 1.5 SE finds no problems on my system, as does SpyBot 1.3. Both
these programs have the latest updates and definitions installed. I have no
Viruses.

Thanks!
--
BadHead
----
OS: Windows XP Professional SP2
MOBO: Gigabyte GA7VT600 1394
CPU: AMD3000+
RAM: 1024MB PCI3200
GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon 9800Pro

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I have just noticed that I have 3 entries in Startup that have no
names, just a blank where there should be one. One of these entries
is located in "HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run",
whilst the other to are in
"HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run".

Any ideas what these could be? Are they safe to disable?

Ad-Aware 1.5 SE finds no problems on my system, as does SpyBot 1.3.
Both these programs have the latest updates and definitions
installed. I have no Viruses.

Thanks!

If you uncheck the entries in msconfig & restart, do you have any problems?
If not, leave them unchecked. Also - what AV software do you have - recent
version, kept updated?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Apparently, if there is no path, or maybe an incorrect path, in Value Data,
the item shows up blank in msconfig | Startup. Also if Default under Data
is blank (nothing there at all) instead of (value not set).

Start | Run | Type: regedit | OK |
Navigate to >>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

What do you see in the right hand pane?
Do you see an entry with blank (nothing there at all) in the Data column?

Start | Run | Type: regedit | OK |
Navigate to >>
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

What do you see in the right hand pane?
Do you see an entry with blank (nothing there at all) in the Data column?

From StartMan HELP:
[[An orphan is a startup item that has a non-existent target file.

How do they occur?

They primarily occur because you've disabled a startup and then, at a later
date, uninstalled the program that uses it. The uninstaller won't know
about the disabled startup so it gets left behind. And if the uninstaller
deletes the target file then the startup becomes an orphan. Orphans can also
occur if you rename or move the target file elsewhere. Where an orphan is
also enabled you may see missing file reports at startup. In the case of
menu startups (shortcuts), the shell will attempt to resolve the target by a
brute-force search for the file based upon the information stored in the
shortcut.

How do I avoid creating orphans when uninstalling software?

Firstly, before uninstalling any software, ensure all its startups are
enabled with StartMan. This ensures all its startups can be located. Next,
use the program's own options to disable or remove the startups - if that is
an option. Finally, uninstall the software. All things being equal, the
startups should be gone, along with the software that used them. If not...]]

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have just noticed that I have 3 entries in Startup that have no names,
just a blank where there should be one. One of these entries is located in
"HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run", whilst the other to
are in "HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run".

Any ideas what these could be? Are they safe to disable?

Probably: the best clue is in the command column, which shows what is
actually going to be run. May need to drag the divider across to see
the full thing