"Blank" MSCONFIG/START-UP Program

[Guest]

When I open Start-up in MSCONFIG I see a "checked box" but there is NO name
for the program under "Start-up Item" or "Command" column. The "Location"
for this "blank" program is SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windos\CurrentVersion\Run

I have scanned my entire system for viruses, hijackers, adware and spyware
and found NONE of these.

What is this "blank" program? How do I get rid of it? I have already
un-checked the box so it won't run at start-up but I want to get rid of it if
I don't need it.

Thanks

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Dummie,

Open Regedit.exe and navigate to:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder]

Backup the keys / Locate the blank entry and delete it from there.

 

[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...]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Just becouse it's blank doesn't make it a junk file, it can be useful.

http://www.sysinternals.com, get Autoruns (freeware that get's you a better
discription than msconfig autostart box

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...]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

When I open Start-up in MSCONFIG I see a "checked box" but there is
NO name for the program under "Start-up Item" or "Command" column.
The "Location" for this "blank" program is
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windos\CurrentVersion\Run

I have scanned my entire system for viruses, hijackers, adware and
spyware and found NONE of these.

What is this "blank" program? How do I get rid of it? I have already
un-checked the box so it won't run at start-up but I want to get rid
of it if I don't need it.

Thanks