DonnieBoy

Hey all,

I run Windows XP Home and whenever I start up my computer a folder titled "System 32" opens up. I want to know how to get it to stop poping up at startup. I have no idea what the folder is for so I don't want to delete it.

DB

KMA-628

from google:

http://www.computing.net/windows2000...rum/57262.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6130-0....ssageID=356720

Microsoft

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DonnieBoy

Thanks for the links but all that stuff means nothing to me... i am too afraid to mess with the registry. I tried to find it according to the instructions from microsoft but i dont know which one it is...

DB

trache

Go to your Start Button, and then to the Run command.

Type in "regedit" into the Run dialog and press your Enter key. Regedit opens up.

You will see a series of folders each named HKEY_* . This is a heirarchy of data, each separated into each folder. Each folder holds different information about your Windows installation.

Travel down the heirarchy and the statusbar at the bottom of the regedit window will change. Navigate to the appropriate registry key (keys can be both "folders" and "items" inside those folders)

Generally just navigate to the registry key and you will see the value that you will have to modify in the right hand pane.

In the stated Microsoft support article in the above reply, you would navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run folder. In this folder/key, you will see entries in the rigth hand pane that you can edit. In this folders case, each of these entries are picked up by Windows and run by it each time it starts up. You will recognize a few of the entries, and some entries you may not (Don't worry about that, unless of course you think you have a virus - but thats not for this forum thread).

You can edit these if you need to, but always back up your registry before.

You can export your entire registry to a file, or you can export a certain left hand pane folder or your entire registry if you like.

To do this, go to the Registry -> Export Registry File... menu option. You will see a space to save to a certain file and below that you will see a spot that will let you specify what part of the registry to save to this file. Make sure the saved file has a ".reg" extension.

In case you're wondering, to use this new registry file if you screw up, just double-click it. Windows will prompt you if you really want to import the registry export file into your Windows registry database. Click Yes or No.

Generally the "Run" registry key is OK to play with. As far as I know if you screw it up (Just dont delete the Run folder or its "(Default)" entry), Windows will just skip over the bad entry.

Don't take my word for it though, as I'm working off the top of my head.

There are many registry editors that will have better search, backup and restore options. Windows regedit sucks, but it works in a pinch.

About being too afraid to edit the registry: Yes, computers are my career and hobby. I see a lot of people who just want the machines to work and not have to wory about the innards.

To them I say unless you learn a little bit about them, you'll be afraid of them your entire life. Make sure you keep good backups and if your Windows installation gets fucked up, you'll learn real fast about how to fix it.

If you don't feel so confident, you can always LOOK and not TOUCH. At least then you'll know what people are talking about when the topic of the Windows registry rears its ugly head.

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cowudders14

An easier option that doesn't involve touching the registry:

Download and run spybot search and destroy from http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html. It's a freeware program thaat you really should have installed anway as it keeps your system free from spyware and adware.

Providing you have the "advanced" mode selected (mode menu), you are able to get a list of all processes that run on startup and enable/disable/delete them. Disable anything that you are pretty sure shouldn't be there, then reboot. If, after many days of switching on and off you find nothing you want to use has stopped working, you can safely delete those keys that you disabled. Don't delete anything outright immediately just in case!

HTH

PS I'd still take trache's advice of look and not touch, just so you can see what the registry looks like. It can be scary at first glance but is actually laid out fairly well.

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