Msconfig - cleanup obsolete entries

[Steve]

To All:

In Msconfig, I have obsolete entries for software that is no longer on
my PC. I am running WinXP SP2. I could not find some in the Registry.

How do I cleanup/remove these entries?


Thanks,

Steve

 

[Ted Zieglar]

If you are certain that you don't need the entries and you are certain that
the corresponding programs have been correctly and completely uninstalled,
you will need to manually remove the items from the Run keys of the
registry.

"A Definition of the Run Keys in the Windows XP Registry"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314866

Editing the registry is risky business, and there is no 'undo' function.
Always create a restore point before attempting to edit the registry. And
don't do anything that you're not completely sure about.

Ted Zieglar

 

[Eric McG]

Here's a freeware utility that you may want to consider using in addition to
msconfig. It, unlike msconfig, can also delete those orphaned or malware type
entries.

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

 

[Steve]

Here's a freeware utility that you may want to consider using in addition to
msconfig. It, unlike msconfig, can also delete those orphaned or malware type
entries.

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Eric:

Thank you for the RE. I am familiar with Mike Lin's product. I prefer

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/autoruns.shtml

Which does the same and more.

Steve

 

[Steve]

If you are certain that you don't need the entries and you are certain
that the corresponding programs have been correctly and completely
uninstalled, you will need to manually remove the items from the Run
keys of the registry.

"A Definition of the Run Keys in the Windows XP Registry"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314866

Editing the registry is risky business, and there is no 'undo' function.
Always create a restore point before attempting to edit the registry.
And don't do anything that you're not completely sure about.

Ted Zieglar

Ted:

Thanks for the Re. I've got it under control.

Steve

 

[Kelly]

Hi Steve,

Added info:

Clear Disabled Items from Msconfig Startup (Line 148)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Or...remove the runkeys from here: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Troubleshooting, Removing and/or Cleaning Add or Remove Programs
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#addremove

Troubleshooting the Notification Area
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_n.htm#na

--
Happy Holidays,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Steve H]

Hi Steve,

Added info:

Clear Disabled Items from Msconfig Startup (Line 148)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Or...remove the runkeys from here: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Troubleshooting, Removing and/or Cleaning Add or Remove Programs
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#addremove

Troubleshooting the Notification Area
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_n.htm#na

Kelly:

Thanks for the Re. I got the problem under control.

Steve

 

[Kelly]

Most welcome. Just a script to keep in mind. )

--
Happy Holidays,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

I never found the cleanup you're talking about at that website but did find
this:

"A very big restore point will have been made. Once a new regular size one
has been made in the ordinary way, clean up by going to
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup
and in 'More Options' click the bottom button to remove all but the most
recent restore point."

I have WXP-Home/SP2 and tried to follow this advice from that website.
However there are no "More Options" when I click on "Disk-Cleanup." The
only option is C:. How and where is this "More Options" turned on or
made to appear as an option?

FS~

 

[Rock]

I never found the cleanup you're talking about at that website but did
find this:

"A very big restore point will have been made. Once a new regular size
one has been made in the ordinary way, clean up by going to
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup
and in 'More Options' click the bottom button to remove all but the most
recent restore point."

I have WXP-Home/SP2 and tried to follow this advice from that website.
However there are no "More Options" when I click on "Disk-Cleanup."
The only option is C:. How and where is this "More Options" turned
on or made to appear as an option?

FS~

Click ok in that window. It does a scan then comes up with another
dialog window that has two tabs, one of which is "More Options". You
might want to investigate possibilities - it's the best way to learn.

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

===================>
Click ok in that window. It does a scan then comes up with another dialog
window that has two tabs, one of which is "More Options". You might want
to investigate possibilities - it's the best way to learn.

OK found it and also came across the well know Add/Remove all programs.
However,... when I removed the old Adobe 5 it seaid some components must be
removed by hand. I couldn't FIND them anywhere to remove. Also I tried to
UNINSTALL severl games that came on the PC and they will not uninstall from
Add/Remove all Programs. When I click on them it says to remove them *from*
Add/Remove all Programs - *I'm doing it from there!!!!!* How then are these
unwanted programs removed?

FS~

 

[Sandman]

If I understand you correctly, you can go to the link I have included and
download a small VBS file that will allow you to delete from msconfig, those
items you do not want to appear... Be careful and read it before you do
anything...
It is really simple nevertheless....
As for removing Programs you seem unable to delete, go into SAFE mode and do
it from there...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/msconfigdisabled.vbs line 148...

 

[Rock]

OK found it and also came across the well know Add/Remove all programs.
However,... when I removed the old Adobe 5 it seaid some components must
be removed by hand. I couldn't FIND them anywhere to remove. Also I
tried to UNINSTALL severl games that came on the PC and they will not
uninstall from Add/Remove all Programs. When I click on them it says to
remove them *from* Add/Remove all Programs - *I'm doing it from
there!!!!!* How then are these unwanted programs removed?

FS~

If a program won't uninstall one option is to reinstall it, in the hope
that some file was missing and the reinstall returns that file, then
uninstall it. If that doesn't work look in the program's folder entry
in All Programs from the Start Menu and see if there is an uninstall
option. If so take that. Next option is contact the tech support for
the program to see what they say. Lastly is the brute force uninstall
method. Search the drive for the folder where it is installed. Note
all program files and the dates of installation. Search the drive for
any copies of those same files and for any files installed on the same
date. Investigate their origins by looking at the properties to see if
they may be part of the same install. Search the registry for all
references to those files, and for references to the program name,
install directory, vendor name and anything else you can think of to
identify registry entries associated with that program. Delete what you
think is safe to delete - files, foldes and registry entries. Make sure
you have a backup of the registry using ERUNT, and a backup of your
system. There is nothing more specific I can give you. If you don't
feel comfortable doing all this take it to a competent computer tech.

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

If I understand you correctly, you can go to the link I have included and
download a small VBS file that will allow you to delete from msconfig,
those
items you do not want to appear...

===================
No, that's not the problem. When I go to Add/Remove Programs, some
programs, instead of removing or uninstalling when selected to UNINSTALL do
not uninstall - a small window pops and says to USE Add/Remove programs -
but I'm already *IN* Add/Remove programs!!!! Why do I get the window
telling me to go where I already am and do what I am already doing? The
programs do not have their own uninstall feature, so I cannot uninstall them
without Add/Remove Programs - but A/RP gives me that box. How are they
uninstalled/deleted/removed from my PC since Add/RemovePrograms doesn't work
to uninstall them?

FS~

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

================================================
If a program won't uninstall one option is to reinstall it, in the hope
that some file was missing and the reinstall returns that file, then
uninstall it.

If that doesn't work look in the program's folder entry

in All Programs from the Start Menu and see if there is an uninstall
option. If so take that.

Next option is contact the tech support for

the program to see what they say

Lastly is the brute force uninstall

method. Search the drive for the folder where it is installed. Note all
program files and the dates of installation. Search the drive for any
copies of those same files and for any files installed on the same date.
Investigate their origins by looking at the properties to see if they may
be part of the same install. Search the registry for all
references to those files, and for references to the program name, install
directory, vendor name and anything else you can think of to identify
registry entries associated with that program. Delete what you think is
safe to delete - files, foldes and registry entries.

## OK. I searched everywhere and they are GONE! But they're still showing
up in the Add/Remove Programs window for some reason.

Make sure

you have a backup of the registry using ERUNT,

## ERUNT? See, another person here suggested I buy a book - I have a book
and there's no mention of ERUNT.

and a backup of your

system.

## My book just covers system tray & system restore. I'll Google "system
backup."

There is nothing more specific I can give you. If you don't

feel comfortable doing all this take it to a competent computer tech.

## I wish I could afford what they charge here. :-(

FS~

 

[Kelly]

Bad programming. Which apps are they? In the meantime:

Troubleshooting, Removing and/or Cleaning Add or Remove Programs
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#addremove

--
Happy Holidays,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

Bad programming. Which apps are they? In the meantime:

## Blackhawk Striker 86.70 MB
Dark Orbit 11.63 MB
Disney Stitch Pinball 86.70 MB
Gem Master 2.15 MB

I can't find them anywhere on my PC but they're still showing in the
Add/Remove Programs window.

Troubleshooting, Removing and/or Cleaning Add or Remove Programs
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#addremove

## I'm going to check out this site. Thanks!

FS~

 

[Rock]

~ FreeSpirit ~ wrote:

## ERUNT? See, another person here suggested I buy a book - I have a
book and there's no mention of ERUNT.

and a backup of your



## My book just covers system tray & system restore. I'll Google
"system backup."

You probably won't find ERUNT in a book. Here is a link to it:
http://home.t-online.de/home/lars.hederer/erunt/

For backup there are several options. One type is an imaging program.
It makes a complete image of the hard drive. This can be saved on an
external hard drive or burned to DVD. Backups should be made to an
external device. Rather than to another internal hard drive. A system
event could damage both drives making the backup useless. Restores are
done of the whole drive image or individual folders/files. This is a
good way to backup the system because it makes it easy to restore the
whole system in case of a major calamity. Examples of this type are
Symantec Ghost, Acronis True Image and BootItNG.

The other type is a traditional backup program that will backup files
and folders. There are numerous good ones. Stompsoft's Backup MyPC is
excellent though pricey.

You should always have a current backup. It's not a matter of if but
when data loss occurs. Don't put yourself in the position of posting
here saying help help the system crashed and I lost everything.

 

[Kelly]

Thanks for the feedback....follow my list of procedures and good luck!

--
Happy Holidays,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

Bad programming. Which apps are they? In the meantime:

Troubleshooting, Removing and/or Cleaning Add or Remove Programs
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#addremove

====================================
This is from the above website. Please note the information from this site
doesn't seem to apply to my version of WXP-HomeSp2. The programs I want to
remove from Add/Remove Programs do not show up in the Registry although they
show up in the Add/Remove Programs window. There are no keys or subkeys for
the programs/games I listed in my other post.

Msconfig also has programs listed I got rid of ages ago.

FS~

==== Cut & Paste from the site:

Add and Remove -Removing Invalid Entries in the Add/Remove Programs Tool
Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Each program listed in Add/Remove Programs has a subkey listed here. Locate
the correct subkey for the program in question and right click it, then
select Delete. You may want to choose Export, first, to export the key to a
REG file. The REG file can be re-imported if you find you made a mistake.

You may have to contact the manufacturer of the program that you want to
remove if you need to clean up the disk and registry entries. The procedure
described in this section does not remove all the files and registry entries
used by the program; it removes only the reference in the Add/Remove
Programs tool.

Note: Other checkpoints to consider when trying to remove a