Startup programs run twice

[Kolin Tregaskes]

Hello,

I have Outlook Reminders, Wallmaster Pro and PopTray in my Startup menu and
they twice on starting Windows.

I thought it might be done to the shortcuts appearing in All Users Start
Menu and my Start Menu, but they only appear in one.

Any ideas why this happens? It only seems to affect these.

Kol

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Kolin;
Try this:
Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK | Startup tab

Do they appear there as well?

 

[Alex Nichol]

Kolin;
Try this:
Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK | Startup tab

Do they appear there as well?

To clarify - they will appear once as Location '[common] Startup'. Do
they appear twice over, maybe as HKCU or HKLM (registry entries)?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Alex;
Thank you for pointing out the error of my ways. )
I will go forth and sin no more. Until the next time. )

Start references to Outlook Reminders, Wallmaster Pro and PopTray are appearing
in a second location. That's the only thing that makes sense to me. Unless
his machine stutters. Kolin said there were shortcuts in his Startup folder,
but not All Users Startup folder.

I would run startman.exe, StartupList.exe, HijackThis.exe or
StartupTracker3.exe to see where all the start references to these programs
are. Quicker than searching through the Registry, even using F3.

With Windows XP Home, there are 13 places that programs can start from.
There are eight in the Registry. Two in Start Menus. Two in Win.ini
(Backward compatibility with 16-bit foreground programs on Windows 95 only.
Old hardware and Trojans may load from here also.) And as a Scheduled Task set
to run at startup.
======================
I have zonealarm.exe in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
ZoneAlarm REG_SZ C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zonealarm.exe
/startup
As an experiment I checked the box; Load ZoneAlarm at startup, in the ZA
Control Center.
This produced:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\zonealarm.exe

I rebooted. ZA started once.
I removed the checkmark in ZA CC.
=========
I made a shortcut to %SystemRoot%\system32\notepad.exe. I dragged it into:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

I placed notepad.exe in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Notepad REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe

I rebooted. Notepad started twice.
I removed those references.
=======
I made two shortcuts to %SystemRoot%\system32\notepad.exe. I dragged them both
into:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

I rebooted. Notepad started twice.
=======
I moved one copy of notepad.exe from:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
to:
C:\Documents and Settings\WESLEY P. VOGEL\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

I rebooted. Notepad started twice.
=======
I deleted the shortcuts to notepad.exe.
I then thought, what about something like OE (msimn.exe)?
I made two shortcuts to msimn.exe. I placed one each in:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
and:
C:\Documents and Settings\WESLEY P. VOGEL\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

I rebooted. OE started once.
Curious, I know that you can get two instances of msimn.exe showing in
the Task Manager. I've done it, do to impatience.
=======
I opine that it depends on the program and if more than one instance can be
started.

I do not have Outlook Reminders, Wallmaster Pro or PopTray; so I can't
experiment with them.

Unless Kolin's machine stutters, there are two start references to each of
those three programs.

Maybe this experiment didn't totally follow the Scientific Method, but I was
getting tired of screwing around with it. ;o)
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Kolin;
Try this:
Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK | Startup tab

Do they appear there as well?

To clarify - they will appear once as Location '[common] Startup'. Do
they appear twice over, maybe as HKCU or HKLM (registry entries)?

 

[Alex Nichol]

I opine that it depends on the program and if more than one instance can be
started.

I do not have Outlook Reminders, Wallmaster Pro or PopTray; so I can't
experiment with them.

Unless Kolin's machine stutters, there are two start references to each of
those three programs.

Yes. Some things, like ZoneAlarm, check to see if they are already
running - more do not

 

[Henry]

Kolin;
Try this:
Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK | Startup tab

Do they appear there as well?

I have this same problem. When I start the System Configuration Utility, I find
the entries repeated in Common Startup and Startup, even though they appear only
in the All Users folder of the Start Menu

I ran StartUP Cop (PC Mag) and saw both entries there. When I deleted one set,
and pressed Apply, they were both disabled!

Any ideas?

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Henry]

Kolin;
Try this:
Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK | Startup tab

Do they appear there as well?

I have this same problem. When I start the System Configuration Utility, I find
the entries repeated in Common Startup and Startup, even though they appear only
in the All Users folder of the Start Menu

I ran StartUP Cop (PC Mag) and saw both entries there. When I deleted one set,
and pressed Apply, they were both disabled!

Any ideas?

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Henry ;
With Windows XP Home, there are 13 places that programs can start from and
they are executed in the following order:

Before Logon
1)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
2) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

After Logon
3) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\Setup
4) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
5) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
6) WIN.INI [Windows] Load
7) WIN.INI [Windows] Run
8) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
9) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
10) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
11) C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
12) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
13) As a Scheduled Task set to run at startup.
=================

StartMan Startup Manager by PCForrest
http://www.pt.lu/comnet/desc/startman.html

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Kolin;
Try this:
Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK | Startup tab

Do they appear there as well?

I have this same problem. When I start the System Configuration Utility, I
find the entries repeated in Common Startup and Startup, even though they
appear only in the All Users folder of the Start Menu

I ran StartUP Cop (PC Mag) and saw both entries there. When I deleted one
set, and pressed Apply, they were both disabled!

Any ideas?

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Henry]

With Windows XP Home, there are 13 places that programs can start from and
they are executed in the following order:

Before Logon
1)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
2) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

After Logon
3) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\Setup
4) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
5) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
6) WIN.INI [Windows] Load
7) WIN.INI [Windows] Run
8) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
9) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
10) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
11) C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
12) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
13) As a Scheduled Task set to run at startup.
=================

FWIW, I have XP Pro (I'm the only user and want all programs installed to run
for every user) - if that matters.

When I start up MSCONFIG, everything appears OK in the startup tab, but all
three programs in the Startup folder show up in Common Startup, and then again
in Startup.

When I look in the Documents and Setting folder, and its subs for All Users,
Default, Me, etc., there is no startup folder under Me, but there is under All
Users.

Given what MSCONFIG showed, I would have expected to find the same 3 entries in
two different Startup folders.

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Henry;
Hint:
Download, install and run.>>
StartMan Startup Manager by PCForrest
http://www.pt.lu/comnet/desc/startman.html

[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!]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

With Windows XP Home, there are 13 places that programs can start from and
they are executed in the following order:

Before Logon
1)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
2)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

After Logon
3)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\Setup
4) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
5) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
6) WIN.INI [Windows] Load 7) WIN.INI [Windows] Run
8) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
9) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
10) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
11) C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
12) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
13) As a Scheduled Task set to run at startup.
=================

FWIW, I have XP Pro (I'm the only user and want all programs installed to run
for every user) - if that matters.

When I start up MSCONFIG, everything appears OK in the startup tab, but all
three programs in the Startup folder show up in Common Startup, and then
again in Startup.

When I look in the Documents and Setting folder, and its subs for All Users,
Default, Me, etc., there is no startup folder under Me, but there is under
All Users.

Given what MSCONFIG showed, I would have expected to find the same 3 entries
in two different Startup folders.

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Henry]

Henry;
Hint:
Download, install and run.>>
StartMan Startup Manager by PCForrest
http://www.pt.lu/comnet/desc/startman.html

[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!]

Still no joy...

I ran this program you suggested, but when I removed the items in the startup
that were duplicated (one for all users, one for current user), both entries
disappeared! In fact, the same thing happened, regardless of how I did the
deletion - it seems to be double start or NO start!

BTW, the program didn't identify the double entry.

Any other ideas??

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Henry;
What are the programs that double start?
i.e. CompuShow 32.exe
Post back with that info.
Did you do a search to find where they, or their shortcuts are living?
Did you look in the Registry?
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Henry;
Hint:
Download, install and run.>>
StartMan Startup Manager by PCForrest
http://www.pt.lu/comnet/desc/startman.html

[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!]

Still no joy...

I ran this program you suggested, but when I removed the items in the startup
that were duplicated (one for all users, one for current user), both entries
disappeared! In fact, the same thing happened, regardless of how I did the
deletion - it seems to be double start or NO start!

BTW, the program didn't identify the double entry.

Any other ideas??

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Henry]

Henry;
What are the programs that double start?
i.e. CompuShow 32.exe
Post back with that info.
Did you do a search to find where they, or their shortcuts are living?
Did you look in the Registry?

One is OUTLOOK.EXE (Outlook 2003)... It happens for as few or as many...
everything that goes into Startup folder gets duplicated.

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Henry;
What happens when you go into Outlook or right click the Outlook tray icon and
look for preferences or something similar and disable Outlook from starting
from there?

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Henry;
What are the programs that double start?
i.e. CompuShow 32.exe
Post back with that info.
Did you do a search to find where they, or their shortcuts are living?
Did you look in the Registry?

One is OUTLOOK.EXE (Outlook 2003)... It happens for as few or as many...
everything that goes into Startup folder gets duplicated.

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Henry]

Henry;
What happens when you go into Outlook or right click the Outlook tray icon and
look for preferences or something similar and disable Outlook from starting
from there?

Clicking outlook icon in the systray has no startup option.
I copied a shortcut to it into the Startup folder.

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Henry;
I have no earthly idea what's going on.
And that's a fact.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Henry;
What happens when you go into Outlook or right click the Outlook tray icon
and look for preferences or something similar and disable Outlook from
starting from there?

Clicking outlook icon in the systray has no startup option.
I copied a shortcut to it into the Startup folder.

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Henry]

Henry;
I have no earthly idea what's going on.
And that's a fact.

Found the answer on the Dell community forum:

It turns out that I must have caused my own problem by trying to move the
Startup folder from my profile to the All Users one.

What must have caused the problem was the deletion of the Startup folder from my
own account folder. That must have changed a registry key.

Anyway, I went into the registry to the key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders\Start up

and changed the value from

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

to

%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Then I created a Startup folder in my profile, to replace the one I had deleted
- apparently you MUST have a Startup folder for all profiles.

I rebooted, and all is well!!

Thank you, Bill Gates, for your "HELP" :-(

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Henry;
Glad you got it fixed. And that you posted back.
Keep having fun.
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Henry;
I have no earthly idea what's going on.
And that's a fact.

Found the answer on the Dell community forum:

It turns out that I must have caused my own problem by trying to move the
Startup folder from my profile to the All Users one.

What must have caused the problem was the deletion of the Startup folder
from my own account folder. That must have changed a registry key.

Anyway, I went into the registry to the key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders\Start up

and changed the value from

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

to

%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Then I created a Startup folder in my profile, to replace the one I had
deleted - apparently you MUST have a Startup folder for all profiles.

I rebooted, and all is well!!

Thank you, Bill Gates, for your "HELP" :-(

Henry

Posted Using Agent 1.91
[to reply, delete the AT]

******************************