Mystery Start-Up Issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bob Horton
  • Start date Start date
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Bob Horton

Hi!

I have just built a new machine (Asus MB, Intel Quad Core Processor, 2 GB
800 MHz Ram, NVIDIA 8600 GT 500 MB video, 1 TB SATA HDD) with Vista Ultimate
installed. Everything went OK with the install, except for this: The MB
came with a CD containing various drivers, launched with an autorun program.
I used the disk to install the drivers. Now, every time I boot the machine
I get a dialog box asking me to insert the (ASUS Utility) disk and press
enter. I can do that and obviously the CD will launch. If I click through,
I get the opening window of the utility program, with the same dialog box
asking me to insert the disk. I can click through once more and the screen
clears. My problem is I can't find what is causing this to happen. The
program is not being launched through the start-up list that you can view
with msconfig, it is not in the start list for any user on the machine, it
is not a scheduled task, and according to a utility program that I bought,
it is not in a "run" or "run once" area in the registry. There doesn't
appear to be anything in the BIOS that would cause this. I can find no
reference to this on the ASUS site (which is horrendous, IMHO) nor through
Google searches of the web or newsgroups. I have cross-posted this to three
different Vista groups (if this violates normal etiquette here, I apologize.
Although this doesn't impact the performance of the machine, it sure is
annoying. TIA for any thoughts out there!
 
Hi Bob--

Did you ever successfully *complete the install of Vista and boot to Vista
or are you getting this dialogue box in setup? If you previously got Vista
installed and were using it as I think you are (You write: " I can click
through once more and the screen
clears") try either doing SFC, a Startup Repair from the Vista DVD, or
System restore to get rid of this dialogue box. If you're booting to Vista
once you bypass this dialogue box, then you don't need to access F8 to try
System Restore obviously.

***SFC as a Remedy***:

SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
It protects these things from changes by any source including
administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.


How to Run SFC:

Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.

***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***

How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
***can boot to Vista):

http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
it not understanding its full functionality):

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

It will automatically take you to this on your screen:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winvista/images/repair/staruprepair/Image17.gif

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.


You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:

***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx


***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx

System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449

Good luck,

CH
 
Chad Harris said:
Hi Bob--

Did you ever successfully *complete the install of Vista and boot to
Vista or are you getting this dialogue box in setup? If you previously
got Vista installed and were using it as I think you are (You write: " I
can click through once more and the screen
clears") try either doing SFC, a Startup Repair from the Vista DVD, or
System restore to get rid of this dialogue box. If you're booting to
Vista once you bypass this dialogue box, then you don't need to access F8
to try System Restore obviously.

***SFC as a Remedy***:

SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it
somewhat
and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something
different
twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries,
critical
folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP,
IE7.
It protects these things from changes by any source including
administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.


How to Run SFC:

Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes
up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no
quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt
files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.

***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***

How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by
the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
***can boot to Vista):

http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for
more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they
named
it not understanding its full functionality):

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

It will automatically take you to this on your screen:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winvista/images/repair/staruprepair/Image17.gif

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore,
(one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.


You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:

***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx


***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware
screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode
Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that
apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is
a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in
order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you
a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx

System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the
same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from
other
locations.

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449

Good luck,

CH
Click to expand...

Hi Chad,

Wow, great info, and thanks for the quick response.

I am very familiar with all of the tools you mention from my "prior life" in
the XP world. Since the Vista installation works perfectly other than this
issue, I was actually a little afraid (given the multitude of horror
stories) to use these tools to attack this issue, though I certainly will if
I have to. I was particularly loathsome to use the restore point option,
since I would have to go back all the way to the initial installation to get
past this issue (I used the ASUS disk to install my network driver
immediately upon installation, as I had no Internet access until then). I
would lose all the OS updates and the software installations that I have
done. SFC, startup repair, and repair installs would be low risk things to
do, so I can certainly give them a shot. If anyone has any ideas about
where this is launching from or why it is launching, I would still be very
interested in hearing them.

Thanks again, Chad. I will keep the groups apprised of the status.
 
Bob--

If any ASUS info from the link or anywhere helps, great--let us know.

As to deploying the tools SFC, a repair install or Startup Repair to fix
this I don't see any downside whatsoever or negative impact to your system,
and they might help.

I am quick to reach for SFC to try to fix a number of things in Windows, IE
or Win Mail and sometimes it does. It is way under used although the
population that frequents groups like this is well aware of it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

CH
 
User said:
Bob,

Perhaps this link my get you some help.
http://vip.asus.com/eservice/techserv.aspx

All the best,
George
Click to expand...

Hi George,

I've been building ASUS machines for a long time; I really like their
overall design and have gotten comfortable with all their MB utilities.
Having said that, my experience with their tech support has been horrid.
One day at work I put a call into tech support and when I was put on hold, I
put the phone on "speakerphone". I left the line on hold for over 2 hours
(doing other stuff) before I finally hung up. Any emails I've sent them
have either been ignored or come back with a canned response that points you
towards common sense things like "do you have the latest utility?" or "have
you flashed the BIOS?". Never have they responded directly to a problem
like this. OTOH, on the rare occasion when I've had a board die, they have
been pretty responsive in issuing an MRA and turning the new board around.
I guess this is a long way of saying that I haven't sent them an inquiry on
this as I am virtually certain that I would be wasting my time.

Chad, I've been away from the system the last two days. I will be back at
it tonight or tomorrow and will let you know if I have any luck.

Thanks again everyone, and I am still open to any other ideas as well :).
 
Hi Bob,

I've dealt with ASUS myself and have to agree with you, their support lacks
a lot. Are the drivers on that disk Certified by MS? also have you checked
Device Manager for any Devices that may not be working properly?

Just trying to think of some things that may be causing this.I've seen this
happen with MS Critical Updates where a dll file was locked by System File
Protection. Does the Disk install everything with one click or can you
install each Driver separately? If it allows separately, then I try
reinstalling each one that way and see what happens.

All the best,
George
 
Hi Bob,

It is quite possible that the batch file that is run automatically from your
motherboard driver CD fails to clean up properly after it has finished.
Unfortunately, the name of an application can sometimes have no resemblance
to the name of the process it refers to, so finding it can at times be
tricky. When you next start your computer, bring up the Task Manager using
Ctrl, Shift and Esc. In the applications tab, you should find this
application listed. Right click on it and select 'Go To Process' in the menu
that appears. Make a note of the name that is highlighted. Close the Task
Manager. Next, open the registry editor from the Programs Menu (type regedit
into the search box). Open the keys
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce. Make
sure that you make a backup of each of these keys by selecting 'File' and
then 'Export' in the sub menu that appears. Give the files a suitable name.
If you make a mistake in the next part, you can then reverse the process by
merging these files into the registry by clicking on them. In the data that
appears, look for the name that you noted earlier. When you see it, right
click on it and select 'Delete'. Close the registry editor. When you restart
your machine, the application should no longer automatically launch.
Dwarf
 
Dwarf said:
Hi Bob,

It is quite possible that the batch file that is run automatically from
your
motherboard driver CD fails to clean up properly after it has finished.
Unfortunately, the name of an application can sometimes have no
resemblance
to the name of the process it refers to, so finding it can at times be
tricky. When you next start your computer, bring up the Task Manager using
Ctrl, Shift and Esc. In the applications tab, you should find this
application listed. Right click on it and select 'Go To Process' in the
menu
that appears. Make a note of the name that is highlighted. Close the Task
Manager. Next, open the registry editor from the Programs Menu (type
regedit
into the search box). Open the keys
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce. Make
sure that you make a backup of each of these keys by selecting 'File' and
then 'Export' in the sub menu that appears. Give the files a suitable
name.
If you make a mistake in the next part, you can then reverse the process
by
merging these files into the registry by clicking on them. In the data
that
appears, look for the name that you noted earlier. When you see it, right
click on it and select 'Delete'. Close the registry editor. When you
restart
your machine, the application should no longer automatically launch.
Dwarf
Click to expand...

Hi Dwarf et. al.,

Sorry to be so long in responding but I got drug off to a trade show for a
week and they had no newsgroup support at my hotel (jerks! :) ). Anyway, I
was able to get a good guess at the file name that was being launched from
closely examining its splash screen. Needless to say, it bore no
resemblance to anything in the start-up groups. I saved a copy of the
registry, then searched for the file name in the directory. Sure enough, it
was in a scheduled task key, even though the system didn't report anything
being scheduled. I erased the key and all was good.

Thanks a bunch to all who provided support. Now, I'm off to try to figure
out why Media Center won't launch (it started to the first time, then the
screen seemed to go to 640x480 for a couple of seconds, then the program
started returning error codes in the log that lead to dead-ins at MS. It
stops when trying to load the EPG, or at least it would appear that way.
Jeez!

Bob Horton
 
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