Deleting MSConfig from Auto Run

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Even though I have not made any changes to the System Configuration Utility,
whenever I boot up my computer (Vista 32-bit) it runs saying that changes
have been made to the way the computer starts up. Even when I check the box
to not show this message again and to not start the System Configuration
Utility, it continues to do so regardless. I checked into the registry key
(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run) and
noticed it there (misconfig.exe /auto). Can I delete this without causing
problems to the system? I don't see a need to have it autorun with Vista;
however, I do know that messing with registry keys can cause major problems.
Yet, I can't seem to figure out what is causing this and I simply cannot take
it anymore. All help is greatly appreciated. Thanx,
 
Hello, Shawn:

Thanx for your reply. The problem with this, however, is that I do not want
all of these services to boot up with Vista. I don't want to slow down my pc
and it takes too much time to go back and disable those services again. I
guess my question is how did this happen? I can't figure out how this came
about all of a sudden as I did nothing new to provoke this. When I first
installed Vista on my computer (newly built), I did not have this problem.
On a few occasions I had to stop Windows Media Player from starting up with
the computer, and after that the System Configuration Utility started to do
so as well. I've done everything I can to stop this to no avail. I want to
stop it from auto running all together and I can't seem to find a way to do
that. Microsoft hasn't even tried to help me.
 
Microsoft System Configuration Utility (MSConfig.exe) won't show itself as a
startup entry on its Startup tab, even though the entry is in the registry
key you noted. However, Windows Defender will show the entry, using Tools >
Software Explorer > Category (Startup Programs). You can select "Microsoft
System Configuration Utility", and then click the Remove button. This will
essentially delete the key in the registry. (It will be re-created the next
time you make a change in MSConfig, but hopefully checking "Don't show this
message or start System Configuration when Windows starts" at next bootup
will work properly. I would not check "Don't show this message again" after
applying a change in MSConfig.
 
Hello Dean.

Your information was very helpful. In using Windows Defender (I originally
had it turned off), I found out that when I remove or even disable the System
Configuration Utility, nerocheck.exe sets it to run again. When I remove or
disable nerocheck.exe, System Configuration Utility sets it to run again --
so these two are working in conjunction with each other. I do not have Nero
installed on my pc so I can't figure out why these two keep re-installing
themselves in the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run. Any ideas
 
Well, nerocheck.exe is apparently alive and kicking in some respect. It
seems to be a part of Nero CD writing software of some sort. Did you
uninstall the Nero program using Control Panel\Programs and Features? See
if this tool is appropriate to remove it entirely (General CleanTool):

http://www.nero.com/nero6/enu/FAQs_Products_NeroBurningROM_Tools-Utilities.html#top

If that doesn't work, and you are sure that you've uninstalled the Nero
program using Control Panel\Programs and Features, find the File Path for
nerocheck.exe, using either MSConfig or Defender. Right-click on your
Taskbar and open Task Manager. On the Processes tab of Task Manager, end
the process nerocheck.exe, if it's running. Then go to the location on your
computer for the file, right-click it and choose Rename. Rename it to
nerocheck.exe.old. Now Delete the entries for MSConfig and Nerocheck.exe in
Defender under Startup Programs.
 
It appears that I am SOL. None of these procedures work, not even Nero's
Clean Tool. I am absolutely positive I uninstalled it using Control
Panel/Programs and Features. I've done everything possible, yet both
nerocheck.exe and msconfig.exe keep reinserting themselves in Windows
Defender and in the Registry. When I delete one or the other in Windows
Defender, the other will activate it all over again (giving it permission
that I clearly disabled/removed). Renaming the file does nothing. When I go
back to the file, it's nerocheck.exe or msconfig.exe /auto all over again. I
called Nero and they were stumped for an answer. They told me that although
Nero 7 is compatible with Vista, it is not compatible with my Version of
Vista. Huh? They could not tell me how to completely get this off of my
system. I have gone to C:\Windows\System 32 (where I was told to go),
however, I can't locate either file under this path. I can only locate them
under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run. And
lastly, I logged on as an administrator assuming this may help, obviously.
Nope, nada. Registry Mechanic claimed to have deleted it. It came back.
Nero assumes it is here to stay!
 
When you say "Renaming the file does nothing" what file are you renaming?
Where is the file? I was referring to a file you can locate using Windows
Explorer. (The registry will show the path to the file, but don't rename it
in the registry.) When using Defender to Remove the entries, right-click on
Defender and choose "Run as Administrator".

I would do this. Download Autoruns from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/Autoruns.mspx

Right-click the .zip file, choose Properties, and "Unblock" the file. Then
extract it. Open autoruns.exe, by running it as administrator. It will
show every possibility in the Registry for a file to run at Startup. Do a
Search for nerocheck.exe (click on the Binoculars icon in the toolbar of
Autoruns). Uncheck any entry for nerocheck.exe. Are there any other Nero
entries? (To be sure it's from Nero, right-click the entry and choose
Properties, and look at the Details tab). Uncheck those, as well.
 
I used Windows Explorer to find both the NeroCheck.exe file and the
MSConfig.exe file. I could not find either file under the path
C:\Windows\System 32. This is the path that the registry showed. Since I
could not rename them there, I renamed them in the registry. I also deleted
them. However, both files keep reinserting themselves.

The only place I could locate them were in the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run.
Could not locate them anywhere else. I turned on Windows Defender and
looked under Startup Programs and found that the System Configuration Utility
and the NeroFilterCheck files were indeed in the list. When I disabled the
SCU, it disabled yet it reinserted itself and gave it permission to startup.
I disabled NeroFilterCheck and it reinserted itself and reinserted the System
Configuration Utility. It doesn't matter which of the two I disable/remove,
one will reset the other so that both will startup with the computer.

Downloaded Autoruns. Found only one instance of Nerocheck.exe.
NeroFilterCheck File not found: C:\Windows\system32\NeroCheck.exe

I unchecked it. I also unchecked msconfig.exe. Even though I have unchecked
the box to disable NeroCheck.exe, it KEEPS REINSERTING ITSELF. That is why I
said it is here to stay. Nothing will stop it from auto starting. NOTHING!!!
 
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