TJM

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Dec 2, 2003
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Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

When I run msconfig and get into the startup tab, I get two blank startup
items. Is it safe to disable these?
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Hi,

Yes, and you will likely find them as blank strings under these keys in the
registry, which can also be deleted:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"TJM" <TJM@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:421F888B-68EC-49DB-83CE-20E4951B7901@microsoft.com...
> When I run msconfig and get into the startup tab, I get two blank startup
> items. Is it safe to disable these?
>
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Apparently, if there is no path, or maybe an incorrect path, in Value Data,
the item shows up blank in msconfig | Startup. Also if Default under Data
is blank (nothing there at all) instead of (value not set).

Start | Run | Type: regedit | OK |
Navigate to >>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

What do you see in the right hand pane?
Do you see an entry with blank (nothing there at all) in the Data column?

Start | Run | Type: regedit | OK |
Navigate to >>
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

What do you see in the right hand pane?
Do you see an entry with blank (nothing there at all) in the Data column?

From StartMan HELP:
[[An orphan is a startup item that has a non-existent target file.

How do they occur?

They primarily occur because you've disabled a startup and then, at a later
date, uninstalled the program that uses it. The uninstaller won't know
about the disabled startup so it gets left behind. And if the uninstaller
deletes the target file then the startup becomes an orphan. Orphans can also
occur if you rename or move the target file elsewhere. Where an orphan is
also enabled you may see missing file reports at startup. In the case of
menu startups (shortcuts), the shell will attempt to resolve the target by a
brute-force search for the file based upon the information stored in the
shortcut.

How do I avoid creating orphans when uninstalling software?

Firstly, before uninstalling any software, ensure all its startups are
enabled with StartMan. This ensures all its startups can be located. Next,
use the program's own options to disable or remove the startups - if that is
an option. Finally, uninstall the software. All things being equal, the
startups should be gone, along with the software that used them. If not...]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:421F888B-68EC-49DB-83CE-20E4951B7901@microsoft.com,
TJM <TJM@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> When I run msconfig and get into the startup tab, I get two blank
> startup items. Is it safe to disable these?