System Configuration Utility

[Guest]

I have two new items that appear to be running under my start-up tab.

Under startup item and command the name's appear on as 5 squares ????

The location for one is:

hkcu\software\microsoft\windows nt\current version\windows:run

and

hkcu\software\microsoft\windows nt\current version\windows:load

Does anyone know what this is or how to get rid of it ?????

Thanks in advance,
Bob

 

[Guest]

If you suspect they are virus or spyware, you should let the antiviruls run
first and before anything else. Also, you should run a registry cleaner to
see if these keys can be searched for and destroyed........ If they do not
help then --- First, be sure they are deactivated then go into the registry
and delete them. To deactive go to task manager and end the processes. Then
be sure to go into run>msconfig>startup and ensure that they are disabled.
Next, as a safe gaurd create a restore point of this configuration because
you will modify your registry next. If the registry gets messed up, you will
be able to restore. Next open the registry, run ? regedt or regedt32 , look
for the key and then find the value. hkcu is the acronyms....... It looks
like the keys are a run and load and are likely that you will not have any
trouble by removing them. ................... Keep in mind that it may be
better to uninstall the programs that created these keys first and if
possible. If you don't know which programs created these entries you can
download some freewares like ProcessLibrary.com Quick Access When launched,
the task manager will have blue buttons next to the processes. By clicking
on the ones you suspect are "evil", the library may tell you which program
they originated from and then you will be able to unistall or delete the
program files. There are other freewares that are more elaborate and can
tell you which program files the processes originated from.. ...........

 

[Guest]

I do not suspect a virus but it is a strange thing. I ran my norton
antivirus and AVG and neither detected a virus. I also ran CCleaner (reg
cleaner) , ad-aware SE, Spybot, and SpySubtract. Nothing was found out of
the ordinary. I am not even sure what Windows NT is. I am using Windows XP.
I am not very smart when it comes to this but I am not sure what you mean by
go to task manager and end the processes. I did run msconfig and disable the
two items. I then created a restore point. I then ran a regedt32 but did
not know what I was looking at. So that is where I am at at this point. Some
additional info. When I re-boot my computer, an error message says it can
not find theses files and I must hit OK to continue. The error shows the
file name as four squares (I can not find a key to match on my keyboard).
Thanks in advance.

 

[Ron Martell]

I am not even sure what Windows NT is. I am using Windows XP.

The NT stands for "New Technology". The first version of Windows NT
was version 3.1 released in 1993. It was targeted primarily at
business users who required a more robust and secure version of
Windows for network use.

The "Windows NT" name was dropped after Windows NT 4.0 was released in
1996. The next version was named Windows 2000 instead of Windows NT
5.0 although it still retained that designation internally.

Windows XP is the successor to Windows 2000 and it could therefore be
described as "Windows NT 5.1" or "Windows 2000 Second Edition". Again
some internal references within Windows XP still retain the Windows NT
nomenclature so you will occasionally encounter references to it.
Unless you have reasons to suspect otherwise you can consider that any
references to Windows NT that you see in Windows XP are in fact
references to Windows XP.

Hope this explains the situation.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."