Where is the startup folder in WXP?

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

Quite a few of them will appear in the system tray.. disable those first
and see what is left.. your antivirus program will have anything up to
five entries shown in msconfig.. HP printer installations put two in
there.. look at the locations and see what some of them do..

===========================
It's the ones I don't know about that I can't find in WE to disable or how
to disable from them from there if I can find them. How do I disable it in
windowsExp if I don't know where it is, or what it does? Do you guys do a
net search on all the "unknowns" in msconfig? The Startup folder in WE is
empty as I said before - so where are they all hiding, those that show up in
msconfig, on C: drive?

FS~

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

C:\Documents and Settings\<your user account>\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

=====================
The STARTUP folder is empty. How do you disable them there, when they are
NOT THERE????

FS~

 

[Harry Ohrn]

=====================
The STARTUP folder is empty. How do you disable them there, when they are
NOT THERE????

FS~

What are you yelling at me for? You asked where the Startup folder is
located and I informed you. If it is empty it's empty. I've tried to follow
the thread and I can't tell what you really want to do other than locate
where items that run as services are located. Once you find them what do you
hope to do?

 

[Mike Hall]

If you go into MSCONFIG, look at the COMMAND column.. this tells you where
the programs are located and will give a reasonable idea of what they do..

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

If you go into MSCONFIG, look at the COMMAND column.. this tells you where
the programs are located and will give a reasonable idea of what they do..

=============================
Not on my WXP-PC. All it says is they're in WINDOWS/current version. There
is no "current version" under windows. Also, that's no help since there are
loads of things in Windows, but no programs that I can see. And there is
nothing in the START-UP folder.

I just looked again. There are no PROGRAMS under Windows in WE.

I would think programs would be under "programs"... not under Windows where
msconfig says they are.

FS~

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

What are you yelling at me for? You asked where the Startup folder is
located and I informed you. If it is empty it's empty. I've tried to
follow the thread and I can't tell what you really want to do other than
locate where items that run as services are located. Once you find them
what do you hope to do?

============================
I was told on one of these MS NGs not to use msconfig to stop programs from
starting on bootup. Since I can't find them anywhere else (Startup folder
is empty) to disable them, I asked where they would be found and how to
disable them from there.

FS~

 

[Harry Ohrn]

============================
I was told on one of these MS NGs not to use msconfig to stop programs
from starting on bootup. Since I can't find them anywhere else (Startup
folder is empty) to disable them, I asked where they would be found and
how to disable them from there.

FS~

Ok. Check here http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php

 

[Sharon F]

Not on my WXP-PC. All it says is they're in WINDOWS/current version. There
is no "current version" under windows. Also, that's no help since there are
loads of things in Windows, but no programs that I can see. And there is
nothing in the START-UP folder.

I just looked again. There are no PROGRAMS under Windows in WE.

I would think programs would be under "programs"... not under Windows where
msconfig says they are.

MSCONFIG shows you a registry path. It starts with letters such as HKLM
(HKEY_Local Machine) or HKCU (HKey Current User). Unfortunately, MSCONFIG
is not a resizable window and tends to truncate these paths. You'll see
"..." at the end. That's an indicator that there is more than what is
visible.

If you use Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System
Information, there is a section in this tool titled Software Environment.
Click next to those words to expand that section. Click on "Startup
Programs" and wait a few seconds as the list builds. When that's done,
you'll see a list in the right hand pane of this program that has better
descriptions of your startup programs. Plus the paths are more likely to be
displayed in full. If they are not, at least this window is resizable.

Paths you are likely to find will be:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

When I disable startup programs, I start with the application itself: Open
the program and go through its menus looking for the preference and option
settings that control the startup behavior.

If those menus are not to be found, I would have to find a different way to
disable the program. If there is no shortcut in the startup folder, than it
is likely there is a RUN key in the registry that starts the program.

When it gets down to this point, I usually uncheck the box in MSCONFIG
instead of editing the registry. Reason: I may change my mind down the road
and decide that I actually want that program to run at startup. It's easy
and convenient to add a check to a box in MSCONFIG.

There are times when a program is uninstalled but it fails to clean up a
RUN key in the registry. Or there may be a program that does a check at
startup and re-enters itself in MSCONFIG after it's been disabled. Or an
item that I don't use or want that loads as a service. In these cases, I
prune the registry.

NOTE: Rude programs that re-enter themselves in startup after I've gone to
great lengths to disable them, don't stay installed on my system for long.

 

[Mike Hall]

There are THREE columns visible under the STARTUP tab when you open
MSCONFIG.. STARTUP ITEM - COMMAND - LOCATION..

The COMMAND column tells you what is running.. for instance, I have one for
MBM5 as follows

"C:/program files/Motherboard Monitor 5/mbm5.exe"

I have others for the HP printer monitor, McAfee, Logitech keyboard
functions, Nero INCD, Stickies..

So, if I want to stop any of these from running at startup, I go to the
individual program and look for the setting that stops it.. how difficult is
that?.. forget the location in Registry..

And if you can't see the full command path, make the column wider as you
would do in any other Windows program..

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

I just run it and it shows what is set to start from the various
registry locations in tabs along the top.

Did you d/l startup.exe?

=========================
I already have this program. You can't import anything from it to a
start-up folder. All it shows is what's running, and works like msconfig.
Why not just use msconfig instead of having yet another program on a PC? .

FS~

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

=====================
MSCONFIG shows you a registry path. It starts with letters such as HKLM
(HKEY_Local Machine) or HKCU (HKey Current User). Unfortunately, MSCONFIG
is not a resizable window and tends to truncate these paths. You'll see
"..." at the end. That's an indicator that there is more than what is
visible.

If you use Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System
Information, there is a section in this tool titled Software Environment.

** There is *NO* "software Enviornment" under Tools there. I have WXP-home
w/SP2 installed.

Click next to those words to expand that section. Click on "Startup
Programs" and wait a few seconds as the list builds.

** There is nothing called "software environment" under anything on that
window. There's File, edit, view, tools, help - none have that choice under
them.

When that's done,

you'll see a list in the right hand pane of this program that has better
descriptions of your startup programs. Plus the paths are more likely to
be
displayed in full. If they are not, at least this window is resizable.

Paths you are likely to find will be:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

** First I must somehow get the MISSING "software environment" you mention
to appear under TOOLS. How is THAT done?

When I disable startup programs, I start with the application itself: Open
the program and go through its menus looking for the preference and option
settings that control the startup behavior.

** I tried that. I can't find most of them on my PC.

If those menus are not to be found, I would have to find a different way
to
disable the program. If there is no shortcut in the startup folder, than
it
is likely there is a RUN key in the registry that starts the program.

** I'm sure there is - how do I disable them from there?

When it gets down to this point, I usually uncheck the box in MSCONFIG
instead of editing the registry. Reason: I may change my mind down the
road
and decide that I actually want that program to run at startup. It's easy
and convenient to add a check to a box in MSCONFIG.

** That's why we've been using msconfig. But another person here said to
remove them from the startup folder. Seems not all WXP OS's have a startup
folder (or a "software enviornment" under Tools where you said it should
be.)

There are times when a program is uninstalled but it fails to clean up a
RUN key in the registry. Or there may be a program that does a check at
startup and re-enters itself in MSCONFIG after it's been disabled.

** YES!!! I've got that problem with Quicktime. I can't disable the
s.o.b.! And it's in there TWICE no less.

Or an

item that I don't use or want that loads as a service. In these cases, I
prune the registry.

** I know how to export the registry, but not how to export it back in case
something goes wrong.

NOTE: Rude programs that re-enter themselves in startup after I've gone to
great lengths to disable them, don't stay installed on my system for long.

** I think QuickTime is about to hit the bit-bucket soon.....

FS~

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

MSCONFIG shows you a registry path. It starts with letters such as HKLM
(HKEY_Local Machine) or HKCU (HKey Current User). Unfortunately, MSCONFIG
is not a resizable window and tends to truncate these paths. You'll see
"..." at the end. That's an indicator that there is more than what is
visible.

If you use Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System
Information, there is a section in this tool titled Software Environment.

--------------------------------------
Whoopes, you forgot it's under "System summery," there- then Software
Environment! Geeze I thought I wasn't going to find that either! However
there is no PATH shown there. Perhaps you are talking about WXP-Pro
version???

FS~

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

There are THREE columns visible under the STARTUP tab when you open
MSCONFIG.. STARTUP ITEM - COMMAND - LOCATION..

The COMMAND column tells you what is running.. for instance, I have one
for MBM5 as follows

"C:/program files/Motherboard Monitor 5/mbm5.exe"

I have others for the HP printer monitor, McAfee, Logitech keyboard
functions, Nero INCD, Stickies..

** Yes, I'm familiar with msconfig. There must be 50 things listed there,
most of which I have no idea what they are.

So, if I want to stop any of these from running at startup, I go to the
individual program and look for the setting that stops it.. how difficult
is that?.. forget the location in Registry..

** Not difficult if you can FIND the programs. For instance where do I find
"dump prep 0 -K' and how would I disable it? Find and AgentRansack don't
find many things on WXP, like FFF did on W98SE. Also I cannot find
System2.exe or Allchars.exe etc. You can't try and disable them when you
can't find them and don't know what they are. So I have them disabled in
msconfig since there is no StartUp folder on my PC.

And if you can't see the full command path, make the column wider as you
would do in any other Windows program..

** I'm aware of that. But even when we follow the path the "program" isn't
necessarily THERE. Many can't be disabled from finding them and looking at
their properties window.

FS~

 

[~ FreeSpirit ~]

Ok. Check here http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php

=================
Thanks, but there is *nothing* in the Start-Up folder on my version of
WXP-Home/SP2 and so no other way to disable those programs that neither
AgentRansack or FIND can find - that show up in msconfig. So this site
isn't much help. Since I have a non-functioning START-UP folder, where do I
go next? Foe example, how does one disable nwiz.exe/install when it can't
even be located? Or where and how does one disable ps2 outside of the
msconfig window?

From that site:

2) Windows StartUp folder - Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
If you click on Start -> Programs -> StartUp (Win9x/Me/NT/2K) or Start ->
All Programs -> StartUp (WinXP) you may find programs loading from here via
shortcuts. If this is the case, you have two options :-

a.. Delete the shortcut from the StartUp directory (based on your OS):

a.. Win9x/98/Me - C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

b.. WinNT/2K - C:\Winnt\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

c.. WinXP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup

b.. Create a temporary directory for your OS called "Disabled StartUp
Programs" and move the shortcuts there. If a program doesn't work as
expected you can always move the relevant shortcut back again

a.. Win9x/98/Me - C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

b.. WinNT/2K - C:\Winnt\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

c.. WinXP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

c.. Those programs in the "above" Programs can't be disabled from there.

FS~

 

[Tom]

=================
Thanks, but there is *nothing* in the Start-Up folder on my version of
WXP-Home/SP2 and so no other way to disable those programs that neither
AgentRansack or FIND can find - that show up in msconfig. So this site
isn't much help. Since I have a non-functioning START-UP folder, where do I
go next? Foe example, how does one disable nwiz.exe/install when it can't
even be located? Or where and how does one disable ps2 outside of the
msconfig window?

From that site:

2) Windows StartUp folder - Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
If you click on Start -> Programs -> StartUp (Win9x/Me/NT/2K) or Start ->
All Programs -> StartUp (WinXP) you may find programs loading from here via
shortcuts. If this is the case, you have two options :-

a.. Delete the shortcut from the StartUp directory (based on your OS):

a.. Win9x/98/Me - C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

b.. WinNT/2K - C:\Winnt\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

c.. WinXP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup

b.. Create a temporary directory for your OS called "Disabled StartUp
Programs" and move the shortcuts there. If a program doesn't work as
expected you can always move the relevant shortcut back again

a.. Win9x/98/Me - C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

b.. WinNT/2K - C:\Winnt\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

c.. WinXP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

c.. Those programs in the "above" Programs can't be disabled from there.

FS~

I'd say give up, after reading Sharon's easy direction (in another thread) to Software Enviroment in System Info, and your follow to its non-existence, I'd say you should just give it up and go. You're way too petulant to be helped.

 

[Sharon F]

** There is *NO* "software Enviornment" under Tools there. I have WXP-home
w/SP2 installed.

You skipped a step in the directions. Open System Information first. Then
look for Software Environment....

 

[Sharon F]

Whoopes, you forgot it's under "System summery," there- then Software
Environment! Geeze I thought I wasn't going to find that either! However
there is no PATH shown there. Perhaps you are talking about WXP-Pro
version???

In that list of startup programs, you should see at least 4 columns:
Program, Command, User Name, Location. Location tells where the startup
command is located at.

 

[Sharon F]

** That's why we've been using msconfig. But another person here said to
remove them from the startup folder. Seems not all WXP OS's have a startup
folder (or a "software enviornment" under Tools where you said it should
be.)

Correct. Not all programs have a shortcut in the startup folder. There are
other methods of starting a program at boot time. That's why you're finding
so many different descriptions of where to look for startup commands so
that they can be deleted.

 

[Sharon F]

c.. Those programs in the "above" Programs can't be disabled from there.

Go back to the page that Frank gave you an URL to and read all of that
first page. It discusses all of the different "attack points" that need to
be addressed when managing startup programs (including but not limited to
the startup folder).

 

[Jeff Gaines]

show >> > you what is starting from where and saves the pain of
playing with >> > the registry.
=========================
I already have this program. You can't import anything from it to a
start-up folder. All it shows is what's running, and works like
msconfig. Why not just use msconfig instead of having yet another
program on a PC? .

FS~

It's a matter of choice, that's why it's called a 'personal' computer.

I have been using Mike Lin's app for years, since W98 days, I prefer it
to msconfig.