Startup Item Name is Blank

[Guest]

I just ran msconfig and clicked Startup and when looking over the items
listed I came across one without a name...space is blank...as is the command
space ......followed by :
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Any idea as to what this is? This is a new computer and sadly I know enough
about computers to turn them on and off and run a few programs so any help
would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,
Joe

 

[Randy]

I just ran msconfig and clicked Startup and when looking over the
items listed I came across one without a name...space is blank...as
is the command space ......followed by :
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Any idea as to what this is? This is a new computer and sadly I know
enough about computers to turn them on and off and run a few programs
so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,
Joe

Do you have ATI Multimedia Center installed? If so, it's from that
installation and is nothing to worry about. You can go the the registry
command and delete it if you wish. Of course, any change in the registry is
done at your own risk. A backup of the registry should be done before any
change.

 

[Jimmy]

I just ran msconfig and clicked Startup and when looking over the
items listed I came across one without a name...space is blank...as is
the command space ......followed by :
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Any idea as to what this is? This is a new computer and sadly I know
enough about computers to turn them on and off and run a few programs
so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,
Joe

I think that is probably the default value for that registry key. It's
empty by default. I have two in my list: one for HKCU...RUN and one for
HKLM...RUN.

 

[Kelly]

Hi Joe,

This is not normal at all. Get more info from here: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg.

And/or following the path provided moving the glider over. Post back with
your info or any other questions. Good luck!
--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

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

 

[Jimmy]

Hi Joe,

This is not normal at all. Get more info from here:
Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg.

And/or following the path provided moving the glider over. Post back
with your info or any other questions. Good luck!

It could be something malicious but often it's the Run key's default
value set to a null string:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
@=""

That will cause a blank entry in the startup list. I'm not sure why, but
occassionaly I see systems with that instead of (Value not Set).

 

[Guest]

Hi Joe,

This is not normal at all. Get more info from here: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg.

And/or following the path provided moving the glider over. Post back with
your info or any other questions. Good luck!
--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

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

 

[Guest]

sorry about the double posting. i'm new to this forum and was quick on the
trigger :-(

Thank you Kelly, Randy, and Jimmy for your responses.
"This is not normal at all" has me a bit concerned. I guess as long as the
box is unchecked whatever this is can not be a threat to my pc's health. Is
that correct?

I followed your instructions Kelly ( I hope this is what you wanted me to
do) and here are the results:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder\C:^Documents and Settings^All Users^Start
Menu^Programs^Startup^Compaq Connections.lnk
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder\C:^Documents and Settings^All Users^Start
Menu^Programs^Startup^Logitech Desktop Messenger.lnk
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder\C:^Documents and Settings^All Users^Start
Menu^Programs^Startup^Verizon Online Support Center.lnk

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\AdaptecDirectCD
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\AGRSMMSG
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\AlcxMonitor
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\ctfmon.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\HotKeysCmds
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\hplampc
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\IgfxTray
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\iTunesHelper
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\LogitechImageStudioTray
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\LVCOMS
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\LXSUPMON
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\Motive SmartBridge
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\MSMSGS
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\NeroFilterCheck
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\NWEReboot
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\PS2
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\QuickTime Task
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\TkBellExe

Thanks again for any and all advice. It is greatly appreciated.
Joe

 

[Jimmy]

sorry about the double posting. i'm new to this forum and was quick on
the trigger :-(

Thank you Kelly, Randy, and Jimmy for your responses.
"This is not normal at all" has me a bit concerned. I guess as long as
the box is unchecked whatever this is can not be a threat to my pc's
health. Is that correct?

There's nothing harmful that I can see. The only questionable
entry is:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared
Tools\MSConfig\startupreg\AlcxMonitor

http://computercops.biz/startuplist-180.html

That's probably not related to the blank entry.

In regedit, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
\CurrentVersion\Run

Right-click on (Default) on the right and select "Delete"
Do the same for:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

See if the blank entry is still present.

 

[Jimmy]

Right-click on (Default) on the right and select "Delete"
Do the same for:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

That should be HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
\CurrentVersion\Run

 

[Guest]

I ran the script and the blank space was given a name: NWEReboot
I tried contacting my server to see if this has anything to do with my dsl
connection but was not able to get through.
Googling the above item came back with zero info as to what it is ( must be
new).
So in deciding if I should leave it alone or delete I am once again at
your mercy for advice

Thanks again....you people are Godsends!
Joe