Stop a folder opening on starting

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  • Start date Start date
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Guest

Whenever I start a session on Windows XP the same folder always opens, this
happens every time that I start-up. How can I stop this folder appearing on
the desktop without it being requested?

I have never requested that this folder opens on start-up and it is
beginning to annoy me!!!!
 
It depends on what the folder's name is.

Windows XP has a bug where if you have two pathnames with the same beginning
path:

C:\Program Files\Desk Top Applications\name.exe
C:\Program Files\Desk Top Files\name.exe

and one of those applications is a startup application in the registry
under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

AND the pathname is a longpathname (pathnames with spaces in them), Windows
seems to open whatever pathname is first on the filesystem (not what appears
alphabetically in Windows Explorer).

It will open UP TO the folder name that is a duplicate as a shortname.

The way to determine this is to see what Folder IS opened when the system
starts up.

IF THIS IS NOT THE CASE:

Check to see if you have Remember Windows Opened (or something like that)
under Control Panel | Folder Options. If you had a folder opened when you
shutdown Windows, that Windows Explorer window will re-open on each reboot
(until that option is turned off).
 
Phil Bristol said:
Whenever I start a session on Windows XP the same folder always opens, this
happens every time that I start-up. How can I stop this folder appearing on
the desktop without it being requested?

I have never requested that this folder opens on start-up and it is
beginning to annoy me!!!!
Click to expand...

What folder? There are some answers but which ones are useful depends on
what folder is appearing.
 
Phil said:
Sharon,

The folder that always opens is the 'System 32' folder.

Thanks,
Click to expand...


This can be caused by a blank entry, such as can be left behind by
an incomplete program removal, in the
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and/or
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys. It can also
be caused by an entry in these same keys that starts with a " / ."

System32 Folder Opens When Logging on to Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;170086

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
Make sure you gave us the correct name:

System 32 or is it

System32

Are you actually put in the C:\Windows\System32 folder? What is the FULL
pathname to what you gave?
If the full name is not showing in the Title Header of the Window, try View
Menu | Toolbars | Address Bar (as long as you have Show Full Pathname
checked in Tools | Options | View of the Windows Explorer window.

You should be able to see if the folder has many entries, as well, to
determine if you are in C:\Windows\System32.

Bruce Chambers said:
This can be caused by a blank entry, such as can be left behind by
an incomplete program removal, in the
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and/or
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys. It can also
be caused by an entry in these same keys that starts with a " / ."

System32 Folder Opens When Logging on to Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;170086

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand
Click to expand...
Russell
 
Phil Bristol said:
Sharon,

The folder that always opens is the 'System 32' folder.
Click to expand...

See Bruce's reply. He refers to the same article I would have told you
about. Hope it helps!
 
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