Need technical help - Unwanted programs at PC startup

Me | 122404 | Me

[Bernard]

I have been wrestling with unwanted programs, usually coming in through Internet Explorer. I have switched to FireFox, so that got much easier.

However, every time I start the PC, it launches My Documents. How do I get rid of this? Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. And Merry Christmas.

[RWR8189]

Try going to "Run" from the Start Menu, type in "msconfig" and you can configure your startup items from there.

[hobson]

My Documents is not a program, it's a folder. Why do you want to get rid of it?

[Bernard]

I don't want it opening when I start the machine.

[goldstategop]

Go to the Start Menu folder and if its there, delete it. Next time it won't open at startup.

[Technical Editor]

This is for Windows XP Home Edition:
1. In Windows Explorer, on your C drive, look for a folder called "Start Menu."

2. Open it, and you should find a folder called "Programs."

3. Open that folder, and you should find a folder called "Startup."

4. Open that, and delete the shortcut.

[GummyIII]

I had this problem on a machine, and found this which worked:

My Documents Folder Opens

This is most likely caused by incorrect Userinit value (duplicated). On a computer after installing SP2, the userinit value was duplicated
(appending to the existing data)

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system 32\userinit.exe,


Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Look in the right pane for a value called Userinit. Its value should read:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

Including the trailing comma. If it reads anything else, double click
the Userinit value and change it. This assumes that XP is installed on
C:\Windows. If not, adjust the command line accordingly.

[GummyIII]

BTW, a virus and some spyware can cause this problem, also. Boot into safe mode to scan for those. Make sure your antivirus is updated and you are using a good spy sweeper. I like Spy Sweeper, but use spybot, too.

[BJungNan]

Here is a pretty good page with step by step instructions to remove programs that start when you start up your computer.

NETcessities

-----------

Here's your fix
So Your Computer is Running Slow

When you first bought your computer, it zinged. It was faster than the computer you replaced. It was "upgraded"! But lately something happened. It slowed to a crawl, taking forever to boot up and net surfing - especially for you dial-up users - became excruciatingly, impossibly slow. It is possible to recapture that lost speed.

What happened? There are a few culprits. We personally hate long winded explanations, so we will keep this short. Or, you can forget the explanations and just skip to the fixes. For those of you still with us, here are the three most common reasons your computer has slowed down. Two deal with slow internet browsing and one is what is causing your computer to take so long to boot up is causing your computer to run slow.

1). You have not cleared out your temporary internet files.
2). You are loaded up with programs in your start menu. (then mean your start up menu)
3). You are loaded up with spyware and need to clean it out.

Okay, follow us here and we will take you to the steps and the explanations. Those other guys that jumped ahead are at the same page. But you now know where you are headed.

[backhoe]

Help for viruses and malware:

 

 Ad-Aware ... Spybot ... Peper Uninstaller ... HijackThis... CWShredder ... Spyware Blaster ... IE Spyad ... Free online Virus scan ... AVG AntiVirus ... LSPfix ... How to Show Hidden Files ... How to boot into Safe Mode ... How did I get infected in the first place?

---

Things you need--(all FREE)
Anti-Virus
AVG Anti-Virus version 7 (free) release available...

 Avast
Firewall
Kerio(Direct Download) Zone Alarm

 If are using zone alarm it may slow your PC. Try Outpost Firewall http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost or Sygate Firewall http://www.sygate.com/ both have FREE and Pro versions and are heads above ZA.
Misc.
IE Spyads SpywareBlaster Spyware Guard
Windows Update- you must keep updated, it is the start of a secure system-
get all CRITICAL Updates

Things you want(Still Free)
 

  I use Firefox PR1 and IMHO, beats the sox off MS Explorer. Life is good with tabs. Click the link and give it a try.

Ad-Aware
Spybot S&D

SpywareBlaster
MS MVP Hosts file

Mike Lin's Homepage and get the Startup Control Panel and Startup Monitor tools.

 

The best forum for malware removal:

-SWI Forums-

---

Join SWI forums, read their FAQ, and post your HJT log there-- they are the best.

[BJungNan]

The new Adawre SE picks up a bunch of stuff the old Adawre does not. Be sure to get it. I just did. Found a bunch of spyware the old version did not.

You can not just update the old version. Best to get the new version. It will do the uninstall for you. Her is the C/NET page with the download link

http://www.download.com/3001-8022_4-10319876.html

[BJungNan]

Or this one works also if you want to read about it first.

http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button

[Bernard]

Thanks for all your help. I'll get back on it in the morning.

[Wiz]

If you want to alter your settings of start up programs, try Startup Inspector for Windows.

[capt. norm]

Another useful download is RemoveOnBoot

It is for deleting files that Windows refuses to allow you to delete while running. I've had to use it to get rid of some persistent spy-ware.

RemoveOnBoot is a shell extension and once installed it puts a new option in the menu that opens when you right-click on the file's icon. If you click on it, it sets the file up for deletion during the next reboot before Windows can lock it.

[papertyger]

Very Simple.

Open IE and point it to www.apple.com, then buy one.

[running for cover :o> ]

[brewer1516]

Here's one PC user that agrees with you. I won't get into the horrid details of PC ownership (those are well documented) but suffice it to say that I spend entirely too much time dealing with maintanence and security issues.

I will grant that part of my problem stems from my relative ignorance of my operating system. I'm working on that. But furthering my knowledge on the OS will not resolve the issues, only deepen my understanding of their stupidity.

I used to work on Macs and had a Mac at home. But I've entered the corporate world and now work on PCs. That was about the time my old Mac died and we decided to get a PC.

Don't waste your time telling me about all of the great software I would be missing if I only had a Mac. I had more than enough software on my old Mac.

[backhoe]

Another useful download is RemoveOnBoot

Thanks for the info, & Merry Christmas.

[Bernard]

And the winner is...

Startup Inspector from Windowsstartup.com

Thanks, Wiz.

Now I have to run it through all the other PC's here. It's amazing how much junk can collect on the start-up process.

[BJungNan]

Interesting. I have a try of this one: Windowsstartup.com