When my computer starts up it shows Windows Explorer as the final view on
screen. It selects the Windows System32 folder for some reason. Can anyone
help me eliminate this so that it just shows the desktop icons only. Using
Windows XP
Many thanks
A few reasons could explain why explorer opens at startup:
1) You have a shortcut in one of the ..\Documents and Settings\<user>\Start
Menu\Startup\ folders. Delete shortcut or direct it to a valid object to
resolve. The shortcut could be for Explorer or for a startup script.
2) You have Folder Options> View set to "restore previous folder windows at
logon." Remove check next to setting to eliminate behavior.
3) Most common explanation for the behavior that you describe: you have a
command line in a registry key that is calling for something to run at
startup. The command line could be faulty - missing quotes around paths
containing long file names or incorrect syntax. Or the call is a leftover
from an uninstalled program - the target file no longer exists.
Windows follows the path as far as it can. When it cannot find the file, it
stops - opening Explorer with the focus on the last part of the path that
it was able to follow.
Find the incorrect/invalid entry. Correct or delete the problem key to
eliminate Explorer opening at startup. Example of fixing missing quote
marks:
"C:\windows\system32\somefilename.exe
add a closing quote mark to change this to
"C:\windows\system32\somefilename.exe"
References:
"System32 Folder Opens When Logging on to Windows XP, Windows 2000, or
Windows NT 4.0"
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=170086
"A definition of the Run keys in the Windows XP registry"
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314866
NOTE: You can use the System Configuration Tool (Start> Run> msconfig) to
uncover the registry path you need to check or you can open regedit and
search the various keys in the registry that load startup items for the
incorrect entry.
