The message...
[[You have used the System Configuration Utility to change the way Windows
starts. The System Configuration Utility is currently in Diagnostic or
Selective Startup mode, causing this message to be displayed and the utility
to run every time Windows starts. Choose the Normal Startup mode on the
General tab to start Windows normally]]
and msconfig starts from...
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Value Name: MSConfig
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
This happens if you are in Selective Startup.
-----
Msconfig Stuck in Selective Startup
Msconfig.exe is the System Configuration Utility.
The Normal startup option reverts to Selective startup if you select any of
the options selected under other tabs in Msconfig.
Open msconfig...
Start | Run | Type: msconfig | Click OK
Click the System.ini tab.
If the Enable All button is available (not grayed out) click on it, that
means that you have something Disabled.
If you have to click the Enable All button then click on the Apply button
also.
Click the Win.ini tab.
If the Enable All button is available (not grayed out) click on it, that
means that you have something Disabled.
If you have to click the Enable All button then click on the Apply button
also.
Click the Boot.ini tab.
If /SAFEBOOT is checked, uncheck it.
The /SAFEBOOT switch causes Windows to start in Safe Mode.
If you had to do that then click on the Apply button also.
Click the Services tab.
If the Enable All button is available (not grayed out) click on it, that
means that you have something Disabled.
If you have to click the Enable All button then click on the Apply button
also.
Click the Startup tab.
If the Enable All button is available (not grayed out) click on it, that
means that you have something Disabled.
If you have to click the Enable All button then click on the Apply button
also.
Click on the General tab and select Normal Startup, if it's not already
selected.
Click on the Apply button.
And reboot.
The System Configuration Utility starts when you start your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312393
with nothing entered under "Startup Item" or "Command"; just the
location. e.g. "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run".
These are known as a startup orphans.
A startup orphan is a startup item that has a non-existent target file.
A target is the file which a startup will run when invoked.
If there is no 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 | Click 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?
From StartMan HELP:
<quote>
An orphan is a startup item that has a non-existent target file.
A target is the file which a startup will run when invoked.
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...
<quote>
------
Msconfig.exe can handle startups from these locations...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Load and Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
%allusersprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
%userprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
msconfig Startup Item, Command & Location
In the System Configuration Utility (msconfig.exe), items in the column
Startup Item get their names from:
1. The name of the shortcut in
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
or %allusersprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
2. The name of the shortcut in
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
or %userprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
3. From the Value Name under the Name column in the registry under
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
and other various startup locations in the registry.
In msconfig, items in the column Command get their names from:
1. The path to the startup item in
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
or %allusersprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
2. The path to the startup item in
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
or %userprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
3. The path to the startup item in the Data column in the registry under
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
and other various startup locations in the registry.
In msconfig, Common Startup listed in the Location column, refers to
%allusersprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
In msconfig, Startup listed in the Location column, refers to
%userprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
As far as I know anything else listed under the Location column refers to
whatever startup registry key...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Load and Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
For any logged on user, Start button\All Programs\Startup contains whatever
is in both
%userprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
and
%allusersprofile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
-----
%userprofile% is an environment variable that is the path to the user's home
folder.
Typing or pasting %userprofile% into the Start | Run box opens to the
Documents and Settings folder on whatever drive it is located on for the
logged in user.
I.e. C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
%allusersprofile% is an environment variable that is the path to the All
Users folder.
Typing or pasting %allusersprofile% into the Start | Run box opens to the
Documents and Settings\All Users folder on whatever drive it is located on.
I.e. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In
rooster said:
Its probably nothing. On the last couple of restarts I have been seeing
an alert window saying:
"System Config. Utility in Diagnostic or Selective Startup Mode
....[causing] the utility to run every time Windows Starts]
Choose the normal startup in the General Tab to start Windows normally
and Undo the Changes using the System Config Untilty."
I didn't change the setting. I had to do some research just to learn how
to find the thing.
While looking at the menu under the "Startup" tab (and please bear in
mind I have little understanding of this stuff) I see 2 checked lines
with nothing entered under "Startup Item" or "Command"; just the
location. e.g. "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run".
Is there a problem here, or should I just check the "Don't show me
again" checkbox the next time the alert appears; or what?
