Windows Startup Questions/Problems (Windows ME)
 

In the last month or so, my PC has started doing some new and annoying things when starting up. I'd like some advice on how to fix them:

- After initial "Dell" screen, it goes to a DOS looking screen that makes me hit [DEL] to continue.
- No matter how I shut it down, it always goes to Scan Disk when I start it.
- Two error messages appear as it attempts to load software that I thought I successfully uninstalled through the Control Panel:
- "C:\PROGRA~\WILDTA~\APPS\CDA\CDAENG~1.DLL"
- "C:\WINDOWS\BXXSF.DLL"

The first I know is from an application I tried to uninstall (the folder it's looking for doesn't exist anymore). The second is brand new and I have no idea what it is.

Can anyone help me fix the startup routines to eliminate it from doing this stuff? Thanks in advance.

Wow, no help whatsoever? I know there is some way to crack into the Startup process in order to make the CPU load certain programs (or not). I just don't know how to do it.

I beleive it's f5 or f8 that puts it into safe mode.

you can then select to parse config.sys, autoexec.bat, and win.ini

as far as WinME, most people don't like touching that OS. I know I hate working on it, and my instant gut reaction when I see it installed on something that I have to fix is that it will eventually need to be upgraded to Win2000 to eliminate all problems and issues.

Right, well we're getting a new computer soon, and that will have XP or 2000 on it. But how do I do the parsing of those files?

once you've pressed F8 it will load a menu and ask if you want to boot in safe mode, step by step mode, and a few other options.

right....then what? Sorry, I'm dumb about these things.

hmm... after looking at what you are posting...

maybe it's just spyware removal that will help you.

One application looks like it was WildTangent, most spyware removers will remove that easily.

let's start with that since it will remove the first one easily, and the second my be removed as well.

follow directions in this thread:
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=48137

I'll look through that page. I regularly use Spybot and AdAware. I think the problem with WildTangent was that it didn't properly uninstall. The program and it's folder are gone from the hard drive, but windows still tries to start it up every time the CPU is turned on. That's what I'm trying to fix.

if that's the case, then reinstall wildtangent. (i don't remember where it comes from but it's a games utility) After reinstalling it, uninstall it again.

you could also see if Spybot detects it after the install as it should have said something to you for having it installed before.

WARNING: THIS FIX IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS!! DO NOT ATTEMPT UNLESS COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM!!

That said, most of those errors are generated by the system attempting to load the files at startup. To remove them use regedit and search for the filenames - CDAENG~1.DLL / BXXSF.DLL make sure that you omit the paths so that you find all instances and delete the keys, you'll need to run the search repeatedly for each file until it tells you "Finished Searching the Registry" to make sure that you remove them all.

For the scandisk (this one should be safe) if your system has the program SYSEDIT just use Start>Run>sysedit and remove the line containing scandisk or scandisk.exe from the autoexec.bat file.

Well, part of the problem may have been the over 12,000 items in my WINDOWS/Temp folder. Isn't there a way to have the computer automatically empty this periodically?

yes, you can use 3rd party applications to do so...

I clean mine out on a regular basis along with a few other items.

window washer or something like that I used in 98, Popupstopper in Win2000 and now I use MyIE in XP.

Ahhh yes, good old Windows ME. How bad it was.

Most people just call it a piece of trash and they've never used it - but I must say I have the right to, as I had to put up with it for three years :) WinME is odd in the way that it literally commits seppuku to itself and pretty much owns it's internals.

I remember having almost the exact same errors.

Try going into Start > Run > typein msconfig > startup tab ...

Look at the entries here and post what is checked. Most (perhaps all) can be unchecked depending on what you wish to run on startup. Helps on spyware infected computers and can speed up slow machines.

I just ripped an old win98 machine out of a dump. Ran MSCONFIG and unchecked all entries, rebooted, and it ran like a dream!

well clearing out the Temp folder solved the two loading errors (the *.DLL items). I'll try the msconfig and see what happens.

We're damn close to buying a new machine with XP on it, so hopefully this will turn into the "backup" CPU here soon

Ok, there are a TON of registry keys that load up, and I don't know what half of them are. I'll list them all, with * next to the ones I'm familiar with:

*Mozilla Quick Launch
*Weather
TaskMonitor
PCHealth
TCASUTIEXE
Speed Racer
UpdReg
*Adaptec DirectCD
BJCFD
fpgadumu
*Norton AutoProtect
TkBellExe
satmat
*System Tray
RSync
EvtHtm
cd1
Quick Time Task
devldr16.exe
ap9h4qmo
Machine Debug Manager
ScriptBlocking
LicCtrl
StillImageMonitor
SchedulingAgent
StateMgr
Resolution Assistant
PoweReg Scheduler V3

If anyone can at the least point out which may be Spyware or the like, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Before I go and point out which to uncheck, name ALL of the programs that you currently have run on startup, and point out which you want to keep.

Well, the one's with the * I know startup. Many of the others I don't even know what they are. If I knew what they were, I could tell you better.

Anyone? Sorry, I really don't know what most of that stuff is..

I don't really know what they are either, but I would just uncheck everything if it was my system. I don't like anything running unless I specifically told it to run. I turn off every part of Windows I can until something stops working. If you don't know what it is, it's probably fine to get rid of it. I can't think of any critical components that run themselves via registry Run keys.

here is some help in identifying some of the startup items

stuff i know without looking up...
TkBellExe - realplayer startup thingy (can be safely removed)
Quick Time Task - quicktime thingy to start quicktime faster (can be safely removed)
devldr16.exe - creative labs driver

Here is a site I usually check to find out what a program process is
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Taskl...s/tasklist.htm

and I also just ran across this site that looks like it will help you identify stuff
http://startup.iamnotageek.com/

The ones that i'd check out are the strange unreadable "garbage" type names because those are more suspicious then some of the other processes.

I'd also note that if you don't like msconfig, you can also use this program to find out what is in your startup.
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Easiest way to tell what those are is to run them through google.. I started to do it but ran out of time.. if it were me, I'd leave in script blocking, the creative labs driver, and the systray.. everything else would be unchecked. You'll notice a huge difference in your boot speed as well.

Thanks guys. I'll give all that a try. Your response is appreciated.

startup.iamnotageek.com is frigging amazing!

I not only got rid of 2/3 of those keys, but I'm back up to 85% resources available (for a long time I was running at just 50% at startup).

TFP Rocks!

I use http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm to check and see what type of things are running on start up. Also a lot of good information on the startup process of Windows based OS's. They have a fairly good list of applications, what they are. And do. Scroll down to Programs... Click on Full List Zip. The zip file has a lot of info in a html file. Very useful.. at least for me.

I will have to check out iamnotageek.com.

Glad you got it working...