Unwanted autorun

[smcc]

I am running Windows XP Home SP3. Recently at startup and on return from
hibernation I get an autorun which directs me to install the software which
came with a WD eternal hard disk that I use for backup. I have never
installed this software as I use Norton 360 to perform the backup.
I have deleted the appropriate .exe files from the WD folder but the autorun
problem persists, despite the autorun file not being found by the Windows
search facility.
The problem annoys me as it slows down the boot process. Can anyone help?

 

[R. McCarty]

A SysInternals tool, AutoRuns can help. You can boot or wake up the
PC and use TaskMgr's Applications (Tab) to determine the name of the
autorun while it is actively running. Locate the filename in AutoRuns and
uncheck or delete the entry.

Tool info & download for AutoRuns found here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

 

[smlunatick]

I am running Windows XP Home SP3. Recently at startup and on return from
hibernation I get an autorun which directs me to install the software which
came with a WD eternal hard disk that I use for backup. I have never
installed this software as I use Norton 360 to perform the backup.
I have deleted the appropriate .exe files from the WD folder but the autorun
problem persists, despite the autorun file not being found by the Windows
search facility.
The problem annoys me as it slows down the boot process. Can anyone help?

Get the Windows Installer Clean-up tool and check / remove the WD
software installer.

 

[Twayne]

In

I am running Windows XP Home SP3. Recently at startup and on return
from hibernation I get an autorun which directs me to install the
software which came with a WD eternal hard disk that I use for
backup. I have never installed this software as I use Norton 360 to
perform the backup.
I have deleted the appropriate .exe files from the WD folder but the
autorun problem persists, despite the autorun file not being found by
the Windows search facility.
The problem annoys me as it slows down the boot process. Can anyone
help?

Sounds like you mean there were/are files pre-installed on the hard disk? If
so: You may not have installed them, but they might still have been
installed or at least placed in your registry. Have you checked Add or
Remove Files to see if there's anything there?
Use Run; sysedit and see if there are any indications of what's running
there.
Also look thru the registry, searching for the "run once" entries and
"run (anything) entries. Doing a search for run will find the run
once also so it's only one search run.
N O T E : Anything you delete from the registry, be certain to EXPORT
first, so you can easily put it back! Then all you need to do to reverse
the removal is click on the *.reg file/s you created.

Run Once should be empty. Run Once entries run once, and then get deleted,
just as it sounds.

Run* -might- contain things you DO want to start up, so be cautious about
what you delete. As long as you Export the entry first, then you can bring
it back easily. ONLY Export the parts you're messing with; NOT the entire
registry! To back up the entire Registry before you start, either create a
Restore Point, or backup the System State with ntbackup; it's a choice in
the backup list. Then if something drastic happens you can get it back in
total. Never export the entire registry with a plan to Import the whole
registry if something goes wrong; it'll give pretty disappointing results.
System State includes all the boot files, etc. that go along with the
registry and is more thorough.

I had a very similar experience with a Seagate drive; so maybe the info will
cross for you.