Startup programs

[Bill Ridgeway]

In 'Documents and Settings' there are folders 'Administrator', 'All Users',
'Bill' and 'Default User' all of which have a folder 'Start
Menu/Programs/Startup'. If I were to put a shortcut to a different program
in each one in what order would they start? I'm trying to resolve an issue
which may resolve around programs being started in a specific order.

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[John John (MVP)]

The programs in the All Users startup folder will be started before
those in the user's startup folder.

The ones in the Default User never start at all, the Default profile is
only used when new user profiles are created, this profile is the
template used to create new profiles.

The ones in the Administrator's startup folder will not be started
unless you log on with that account.

So, the programs in the All Users startup folder will be started first
then the ones in the Startup folder of the user who logs on will be
started. The other ones will not be started. Items in the registry Run
keys will start before those in the Startup folders.

John

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

Thanks John. I have deleted the shortcut in Startup but I'm still getting
the same problem. Autoexec.bat and config.sys are completely empty. This
points to the problem being in the Registry. I'm looking for programs which
start in the Registry. One is conflicting with another. How do I identify
programs started in the Registry please?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[JS]

Try Autoruns from the MS Windows SysInternals site:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

AutoRuns will show/list all apps/etc. that load/run when you first boot ...
(the 'Boot Execute' tab),
when you logon (the 'Logon' tab) and other programs that load
(grouped by labeled tabs) for easy viewing.

It also provides the ability to selectively allows you to stop
(use with care) any program that you don't want to load.
You can undo any changes you have made.

Note: To get additional details on an item in the list you can't
readily identify you may need to highlight the item (right click) and use
the 'Search Online' option to get the details,
especially useful for the more obscure items in the list.

There is also a change in the latest version's (v9.36) menu 'Options':
"Autoruns changes the Hide Microsoft Entries to only hide Windows entries"

 

[Harry]

In 'Documents and Settings' there are folders 'Administrator', 'All Users',
'Bill' and 'Default User' all of which have a folder 'Start
Menu/Programs/Startup'.  If I were to put a shortcut to a different program
in each one in what order would they start?  I'm trying to resolve an issue
which may resolve around programs being started in a specific order.

Start from here.
http://www.doshelp.com/HowToView/Registry_Keys.htm

Give us more specifics if you are still having problem.
Like tell us exactly what programs are running in the
wrong order, and what is your expected order.

If you ask vague questions, people could only give you
vague suggestions.

 

[John John (MVP)]

On Windows NT operating systems the config.sys file is not used at all
and except for the path statement the entries in the Autoexec.bat file
are ignored. Windows XP parses the AUTOEXEC.BAT file when it boots and
appends the path statement to the system path and ignores everything else.

John

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

In 'Documents and Settings' there are folders 'Administrator', 'All
Users',
'Bill' and 'Default User' all of which have a folder 'Start
Menu/Programs/Startup'. If I were to put a shortcut to a different program
in each one in what order would they start? I'm trying to resolve an issue
which may resolve around programs being started in a specific order.

Start from here.
http://www.doshelp.com/HowToView/Registry_Keys.htm

Give us more specifics if you are still having problem.
Like tell us exactly what programs are running in the
wrong order, and what is your expected order.

If you ask vague questions, people could only give you
vague suggestions.

Fair comment Harry.

If I boot up the computer with the modem connected the modem is, somehow,
being used from the outset. I know this because when my fax software
(Ventafax) starts (automatically on boot up) it detects it and reports an
error message "Modem occupied by another application".

If, however, I boot up the computer without the modem connected and connect
the modem after my fax software has started all is fine.

To resolve this issue I need to disconnect the modem each evening so it
starts OK the following day. If I forget I have to stop the fax software
running, disconnect the modem, start the fax software and connect the modem.

I have confirmed that the fax software is running on boot-up from either
Autoexec.bat, config.sys or (as I have now removed the shortcuts from
StartUp) from Startup. That has removed the possibility that another
instance of the fax software is running. However, when I start the fax
software manually it still reports "modem occupied by another application".
Something is 'engaging' the modem although it is not dialling out. However,
I disconnect the modem, start the fax software and then connect the modem
there is no error message and everything works OK. I'm not concerned so
much about the inconvenience of connecting / disconnecting the modem but of
the wear and tear damage this may cause.

Having (hopefully) eliminated other possible causes of conflict there
remains the Registry. I have used your link to find HKEY_LOCAL ... \Run.
The entries here are -
Igfxtray C:\Windows\System32\igfxtray.exe
SymantecPIF AlertEng c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec
Shared\PIF\{B8E1 ...}
which may, or may not be significant.

What else (and where) could cause this problem?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[Harry]

If I boot up the computer with the modem connected the modem is, somehow,
being used from the outset.  I know this because when my fax software
(Ventafax) starts (automatically on boot up) it detects it and reports an
error message "Modem occupied by another application".

If, however, I boot up the computer without the modem connected and connect
the modem after my fax software has started all is fine.

To resolve this issue I need to disconnect the modem each evening so it
starts OK the following day.  If I forget I have to stop the fax software
running, disconnect the modem, start the fax software and connect the modem.

I have confirmed that the fax software is running on boot-up from either
Autoexec.bat, config.sys or (as I have now removed the shortcuts from
StartUp) from Startup.  That has removed the possibility that another
instance of the fax software is running.  However, when I start the fax
software manually it still reports "modem occupied by another application".
Something is 'engaging' the modem although it is not dialling out.  However,
I disconnect the modem, start the fax software and then connect the modem
there is no error message and everything works OK.  I'm not concerned so
much about the inconvenience of connecting / disconnecting the modem but of
the wear and tear damage this may cause.

Having (hopefully) eliminated other possible causes of conflict there
remains the Registry.  I have used your link to find HKEY_LOCAL ... \Run.
The entries here are -
Igfxtray    C:\Windows\System32\igfxtray.exe
SymantecPIF AlertEng    c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec
Shared\PIF\{B8E1 ...}
which may, or may not be significant.

What else (and where) could cause this problem?

Bill,

Google told me that you started a thread on 2007Sep04 asking help
for the same problem. Another thread was 2009Feb09.
I am sorry that you have a problem way back to 1.5 years ago,
and you are still trouble-shooting it.

It looked like an interference problem to me; some other program(s)
is/are interfereing with your fax modem.

If I were you, I will go the following investigation.
1. back up the OS drive (C of your current PC using a backup
program. My favorite is Acronis True Image.
2. Unplug all your modem, printer, and other accessory hardware
3. Install a vanilla OS
4. Add your modem hardware and install the modem software.
At this point, hope your modem is working fine.
5. Now add other hardware / sofeware one by one, until your modem
problem shows up. And now you'll have a clue what is interfereing
with your modem.

It is not easy. But if you can wait 1.5 years, why not give it a try.

Best regards

 

[Twayne]

Bill,

Google told me that you started a thread on 2007Sep04 asking help
for the same problem. Another thread was 2009Feb09.
I am sorry that you have a problem way back to 1.5 years ago,
and you are still trouble-shooting it.

It looked like an interference problem to me; some other program(s)
is/are interfereing with your fax modem.

If I were you, I will go the following investigation.
1. back up the OS drive (C of your current PC using a backup
program. My favorite is Acronis True Image.
2. Unplug all your modem, printer, and other accessory hardware
3. Install a vanilla OS
4. Add your modem hardware and install the modem software.
At this point, hope your modem is working fine.
5. Now add other hardware / sofeware one by one, until your modem
problem shows up. And now you'll have a clue what is interfereing
with your modem.

It is not easy. But if you can wait 1.5 years, why not give it a try.

Best regards

I've been that route myself a couple of times in the long gone past<g>.
But it usually works. Well, it worked once, the other time nothing ever
showed up and the problem never returned. So I assume it was an
installation order somehow. These were win98 occurrences, but it's
pretty much the same for XP in this way anyway. IIRC my TurboCadd and
some other program weren't getting along in the case that fixed itself,
and I forget the other one; too long ago.
All I'm trying to say is, it makes sense. Rotten way to spend a
Saturday or whatever, but ... <g>. It's experience with rebuilding if
nothing else.

Cheers,

Twayne

 

[Gerry]

Bill

The suggestion by JS is by far the best way to investigate start up
items.

To identify what loads when you boot use Autoruns (freeware from
Microsoft).

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/Autoruns.mspx

With Autoruns you can uncheck an item, which disables it from
starting,or you can right click an item and then delete it. If you
uncheck youcan recheck to re-enable the item. It is a much safer
approach than editing the Registry and better than using msconfig..
Another useful feature of the programme is that you can right click an
item and select Search Online to get information about the item
selected.

What is the status of the Microsoft Fax software on your computer? Is it
installed and enabled. If it is enabled that could be the cause of your
problem.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~