My Documents auto open at logon

[Guest]

Recently, reinstalled WinXP-SP2. Trying to stop My Docs from auto open at
logon (for all users). Followed MS Article 899865 to check values at subkeys
"Userinit" (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon) and "PersistBrowsers"
(HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Explorer\Advanced) as outlined. Values are correct, except I see second
"exe" at "Userinit", which is an Authentium "exe" (security software).
Message in properties of Authentium "exe" state that deletion will cause
computer to stop functioning. Is fact that second "exe" exists at this
"Userinit" causing My Docs to auto open? If so, how can I change this? What
options are there?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

A google search for Authentium.exe brings up nothing. Which usually
indicates some sort of malware. and malware likes to put start up items in
Userinit.

Authentium is the leading developer of security software-as-a-service (SAAS)
technologies and systems.
http://www.authentium.com/

A search at Authentium's web site for Authentium.exe also brings up nothing.

Where is this Authentium.exe file located on your machine?

Automated edit here...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Read the instructions at the top.
255. Right hand side
My Documents Folder Opens Upon Boot (for C:\)

userinit.reg is the file that you want.

userinit.reg corrects the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\
CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\PersistBrowser
registry entries.

The "My Documents" folder automatically opens every time that you log on to
a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899865

My Documents open at startup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555294

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Malke]

A google search for Authentium.exe brings up nothing. Which usually
indicates some sort of malware. and malware likes to put start up items in
Userinit.

Authentium is the leading developer of security software-as-a-service (SAAS)
technologies and systems.
http://www.authentium.com/

A search at Authentium's web site for Authentium.exe also brings up nothing.

Where is this Authentium.exe file located on your machine?

Automated edit here...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Read the instructions at the top.
255. Right hand side
My Documents Folder Opens Upon Boot (for C:\)

userinit.reg is the file that you want.

userinit.reg corrects the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\
CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\PersistBrowser
registry entries.

The "My Documents" folder automatically opens every time that you log on to
a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899865

My Documents open at startup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555294

The Authentium is antivirus software bundled by some ISP's. Not
particularly recommended.


Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Wes.
I was sufficiently encouraged by your message to check the links and then
modify Userinit string and remove second exe:
<C:\WINDOWS\System32\AUserInit.exe>. This has stopped My Documents auto open
at logon.
So far I detect no problems with security software functioning. I will add,
however, that running anti-spyware and anti-virus scans prior to making
registry edit did not find malware. Is it that the security software isn't
designed to detect malware (so different from usual spyware and viruses) or
they haven't updated their definitions (I would think this not probable.)?
Thanks, again.
sbneanderthal

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Thanks, Malke.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Wesley Vogel]

This has stopped My Documents auto open at logon.

Glad to hear that.

So far I detect no problems with security software functioning.

What security software, does it have a name?

Using any AntiVirus or anti-spyware applications without updating them is
like going hunting with an unloaded rifle. The rifle *could* be used to
club the game over the head, but that is not a very efficient use of the
tool.

I have no idea what this security software of yours is, so I have no idea
what it can or cannot do or what it is supposed to do.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Wes & Malke,
Using "Cox Security Suite" (provided as part of Cox internet service)
developed by Authentium, Inc. (I'm not sure what version. I think an ESP.)
I did have problems at several points with updating the definition files
(virus & spyware) for Security Suite, so tried numerous fixes & downloads
(past 6 months) and had to reinstall Security Suite, at least once. I can
easily imagine downloading some garbage at some point, maybe prior to that
problem appearing. Otherwise, the program has been on on auto update.
I may have to chalk it up as having gotten sloppy somewhere along the way.
sbneanderthal

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Most all ISPs offer some sort of free "security" software. Comcast offers
McAfee VirusScan, Personal Firewall Plus and Privacy Service. I would not
use McAfee if they paid *ME*. They do this supposedly to help their
customers, but it also helps them to try to keep their customer's machines
from becoming virus spamming servers. ;-)

Cox Security Suite looks like the POS that Malke indicated that it is.

Cox Security Suite has Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Firewall, Parental-Control,
Pop-up Blocker, Spam Blocker and Anti-Phishing (Beta)
http://www.cox.com/hr/highspeedinternet/safeisbeautiful/default.asp

Here's a review by a Cox subscriber...
http://www.tlcug-ark.org/reviews/coxsecsuite.html

It is better than nothing. You have to use your own judgement and look
around at newsgroup posts or do Google searches and/or Google Group searches
and research what people have to say baout whtever product.

Personnally, I use all the free stuff:
AVG Free AV, Zone Labs ZoneAlarm firewall, Ad-Aware SE Personal, HijackThis,
Spybot - S & D and SpywareBlaster. My ISP, Comcast, has a pretty good
antispam setup and I use message rules in Outlook Express, so I get very
little spam.

Get Your AVG 7 for free!
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

ZoneAlarm FREE Download
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

1) SpywareBlaster
[[SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from
ever being installed.
The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And
SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.]]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware, Hijackers, and
Malware
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial49.html

2) Spybot S & D (More for the advanced user)
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

3) HijackThis (More for the advanced user)
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

4) Ad-aware SE Personal
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In