Registry entry

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vince
  • Start date Start date
V

Vince

Hello:

When I run ms config I find an entry that does not make since. The machine
has not been on the internet yet so spyware is not to blame. I purchased a
new machine and am not sure if the key was there before I removed any of the
third party software or was created when removed. Anyway the key is strange.

When you run msconfig and look at the startup list there is an item that is
simply listed under startup item as (discription: images of open squares)
there are 6 of those squares under the startup item.. There are also the
same 6 squares listed under the command line. Under the location line it
points to a run folder I believe in the
HKL\Softwar\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, If you navigate to the
listed registry folder there is nothing to correspond the the startup item
and since the startup item does not actually have a command line it appears
to be a null entry.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
 
It might be a startup orphan.

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?

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...]]
 
Not sure where you or Wes got your reg route from but once you have unchecked an item in the msconfig\startup you then have to navigate this route in regedt32 to remove it.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\StartupFolder or StartupReg and then click on StartupFolder or StartupReg to open the keys under them and then right click on the entry you unchecked in msconfig\startup and then click delete. Have fun. }:~)
 
Ok here is the deal. I think this is an orphan entry, however I did not
disable anything in the registry before uninstalling the progrms that came
with the machine. I did go to the store today and looked at thier machine
and the entry was not there. I assume it got left from a the program called
the big fix or from norton when removed.

Anyway I will take screen shots and place them on the net with a link so
maybe you can verify for me if it is a true orphan. I will screen shot the
msconfig page and the entry in the registry that it points to. The other
items appear in the registry just not that one.

Should re post Tue afternoon.

Vince
 
I did go to the store today and looked at thier machine
and the entry was not there.
Click to expand...

Honestly, did you expect it be? It this a clone of your system?

Either way, the cleaners mentioned here will remove it. I have seen this
before:
Cleaning Up XP: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_c.htm#cleanup

How to cleanup msconfig:

Go to Start/Run and type in: msconfig. Go to the Startup Tab and uncheck
accordingly. Then run this script to remove the disabled items from the
registry.

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
 
Vince,

I just now noticed your post.

acts like an orphan. However, in msconfig there three items from
HKLM.

In....
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
You only have two. VetTray.exe & shwiconem.exe

(Default) REG_SZ (value not set) doesn't count.

Download, install and run StartMan.

A. It will find and help you delete orphans.
B. You can disable startups with it and not have to worry about something
being left behind in msconfig.
C. StartMan stores disabled items in different locations in the registry.
D. You can use StartMan to locate the registry key where something starts
from and then locate and delete the entry from that key.
E. StartMan is a Startup Manager, msconfig is not. Msconfig is supposed to
be used for trouble shooting not daily disabling of startups.

StartMan is a GOOD Utility, I use it all the time, especially after
installing software. Everything you install wants to run at startup.
StartMan shows where something starts from. Check out the Help in StartMan
also!

[[StartMan is an extended 'msconfig' Startup Manager, designed to take
control of all those pesky programs and background services that load and
run at logon - most of which you probably don't need. As well as providing
the usual trouble-shooting options to enable or disable startups, StartMan
also permits the removal of startups.

Duplicate Detection and Removal, a unique feature of StartMan, can be
configured to remove all duplicates automatically, with or without
prompting.

Orphan Detection and Removal. As above, for orphaned startups.
Executable Detection and Removal. As above, for executables.
Includes a full range of sorting options to make it easier to locate a
specific startup - by name, by filename - even by command line parameter!]]

StartMan v1.3.96
http://www.pt.lu/comnet/desc/startman.html

Click on the Blue: StartMan v1.3.96 at the top.
If you find that is an orphan, post back with what it was.
==============

If you want to stop Money Express from running:

Open MS Money
On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the Bills and Deposits tab.
Clear the Use Money Express check box, and then click OK.
Quit Money

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
MoneyAgent REG_SZ "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyexpr.exe"

Or use StartMan to kill the piece of crap.
 
Thanks for getting back to me Wesley, since you did not say it was anything
bad (spyware) I will keep it in mind and get the Start Man program you
suggested for more research.

First I have to fix our surveillance camera system it got hit by lightning
at the same time the old computer was destroyed.

I have however since been to the store and found that a brand new machine
like the one I purchased does not have that entry. I did remove some
programs originally included namely AOL, Compuserve, Norton AV, Learn2, and
The Big Fix. I believe The Big Fix may have been the problem because that
program has an entry listed under Start\AllPrograms\Startup. That is
probably what caused the entry not to be removed and altered.

Also thanks for the info on turning of the Money Express. I was going to
research that when I had time too but you saved me that trouble.

Not sure how long it will take to get back to this but if I do get a
definitive answer about what it is I will repost to let you know.

Vince
Wesley Vogel said:
Vince,

I just now noticed your post.

acts like an orphan. However, in msconfig there three items from
HKLM.

In....
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
You only have two. VetTray.exe & shwiconem.exe

(Default) REG_SZ (value not set) doesn't count.

Download, install and run StartMan.

A. It will find and help you delete orphans.
B. You can disable startups with it and not have to worry about something
being left behind in msconfig.
C. StartMan stores disabled items in different locations in the registry.
D. You can use StartMan to locate the registry key where something starts
from and then locate and delete the entry from that key.
E. StartMan is a Startup Manager, msconfig is not. Msconfig is supposed to
be used for trouble shooting not daily disabling of startups.

StartMan is a GOOD Utility, I use it all the time, especially after
installing software. Everything you install wants to run at startup.
StartMan shows where something starts from. Check out the Help in StartMan
also!

[[StartMan is an extended 'msconfig' Startup Manager, designed to take
control of all those pesky programs and background services that load and
run at logon - most of which you probably don't need. As well as providing
the usual trouble-shooting options to enable or disable startups, StartMan
also permits the removal of startups.

Duplicate Detection and Removal, a unique feature of StartMan, can be
configured to remove all duplicates automatically, with or without
prompting.

Orphan Detection and Removal. As above, for orphaned startups.
Executable Detection and Removal. As above, for executables.
Includes a full range of sorting options to make it easier to locate a
specific startup - by name, by filename - even by command line parameter!]]

StartMan v1.3.96
http://www.pt.lu/comnet/desc/startman.html

Click on the Blue: StartMan v1.3.96 at the top.
If you find that is an orphan, post back with what it was.
==============

If you want to stop Money Express from running:

Open MS Money
On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the Bills and Deposits tab.
Clear the Use Money Express check box, and then click OK.
Quit Money

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
MoneyAgent REG_SZ "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyexpr.exe"

Or use StartMan to kill the piece of crap.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In
Vince said:
Ok here is my screen shots.
On the msconfig it is the top item in question. I know what the
others are. On the registry you will see navigating to the listed
folder that there is nothing there for the item in msconfig just for
the next two in line in msconfig that go to the same place. So is
this a orpahn entry in msconfig startup?

http://www.quailrunrv.com/newsgroup/mscfgstart.GIF
http://www.quailrunrv.com/newsgroup/regedit.GIF

Thanks
Vince
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Vince,

Keep having fun!! ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In
Vince said:
Thanks for getting back to me Wesley, since you did not say it was
anything bad (spyware) I will keep it in mind and get the Start Man
program you suggested for more research.

First I have to fix our surveillance camera system it got hit by
lightning at the same time the old computer was destroyed.

I have however since been to the store and found that a brand new
machine like the one I purchased does not have that entry. I did
remove some programs originally included namely AOL, Compuserve,
Norton AV, Learn2, and The Big Fix. I believe The Big Fix may have
been the problem because that program has an entry listed under
Start\AllPrograms\Startup. That is probably what caused the entry not
to be removed and altered.

Also thanks for the info on turning of the Money Express. I was going
to research that when I had time too but you saved me that trouble.

Not sure how long it will take to get back to this but if I do get a
definitive answer about what it is I will repost to let you know.

Vince
Wesley Vogel said:
Vince,

I just now noticed your post.

acts like an orphan. However, in msconfig there three items
from HKLM.

In....
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
You only have two. VetTray.exe & shwiconem.exe

(Default) REG_SZ (value not set) doesn't count.

Download, install and run StartMan.

A. It will find and help you delete orphans.
B. You can disable startups with it and not have to worry about
something being left behind in msconfig.
C. StartMan stores disabled items in different locations in the
registry. D. You can use StartMan to locate the registry key where
something starts from and then locate and delete the entry from that
key.
E. StartMan is a Startup Manager, msconfig is not. Msconfig is
supposed to be used for trouble shooting not daily disabling of
startups.

StartMan is a GOOD Utility, I use it all the time, especially after
installing software. Everything you install wants to run at startup.
StartMan shows where something starts from. Check out the Help in
StartMan also!

[[StartMan is an extended 'msconfig' Startup Manager, designed to
take control of all those pesky programs and background services
that load and run at logon - most of which you probably don't need.
As well as providing the usual trouble-shooting options to enable or
disable startups, StartMan also permits the removal of startups.

Duplicate Detection and Removal, a unique feature of StartMan, can be
configured to remove all duplicates automatically, with or without
prompting.

Orphan Detection and Removal. As above, for orphaned startups.
Executable Detection and Removal. As above, for executables.
Includes a full range of sorting options to make it easier to locate
a specific startup - by name, by filename - even by command line
parameter!]]

StartMan v1.3.96
http://www.pt.lu/comnet/desc/startman.html

Click on the Blue: StartMan v1.3.96 at the top.
If you find that is an orphan, post back with what it was.
==============

If you want to stop Money Express from running:

Open MS Money
On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the Bills and Deposits tab.
Clear the Use Money Express check box, and then click OK.
Quit Money

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
MoneyAgent REG_SZ "C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Money\System\mnyexpr.exe"

Or use StartMan to kill the piece of crap.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In
Vince said:
Ok here is my screen shots.
On the msconfig it is the top item in question. I know what the
others are. On the registry you will see navigating to the listed
folder that there is nothing there for the item in msconfig just for
the next two in line in msconfig that go to the same place. So is
this a orpahn entry in msconfig startup?

http://www.quailrunrv.com/newsgroup/mscfgstart.GIF
http://www.quailrunrv.com/newsgroup/regedit.GIF

Thanks
Vince
Hello:

When I run ms config I find an entry that does not make since. The
machine has not been on the internet yet so spyware is not to
blame. I purchased a new machine and am not sure if the key was
there before I removed any of the third party software or was
created when removed. Anyway the key is strange.

When you run msconfig and look at the startup list there is an item
that is simply listed under startup item as (discription: images of
open squares) there are 6 of those squares under the startup item..
There are also the same 6 squares listed under the command line.
Under the location line it points to a run folder I believe in the
HKL\Softwar\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, If you navigate
to the listed registry folder there is nothing to correspond the
the startup item and since the startup item does not actually have
a command line it appears to be a null entry.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 

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