C: folder pops open on desktop at startup

mjmasci · Sep 16, 2004, 05:03 AM

Every time I boot up the computer, right after my desktop appears, the C: folder (window) pops open on my desktop automatically. I can't get rid of the problem or find out whats causing it. I ran various virus and trojan programs, spybot, adaware, registry cleaners and healers..cleaned up computer, checked registry and ran system file checker; did scandisk, disk defragmenter. I checked all startup programs and nothing mentions this folder...checked in system info startup, checked msconfig, checked run and load lines in win.ini and system.ini, checked configsys and autoexec.bat files. I also checked startup folder on the Program menu...also checked Registry for all Run commands. This just started, I never had this problem before.. It is a big annoyance! I have Windows 98se, emachine566 processor, 256ram, 60gb HD, ati graphics card, jaton soundcard. The programs that I recently installed, I uninstalled to see if that was problem and it didn't help. Any help is appreciated. John

PangingJr · Sep 16, 2004, 06:07 AM

you mentioned you've checked Registry for all Run commands.

pls go to there 2 registry keys again and verify that all the values in these keys do not contain any incorrect, incomplete, or null entries
(such as ""). any faulty string in the registry. paths with spaces in them must be enclosed in quotes.

Code:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Code:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

mjmasci · Sep 16, 2004, 10:23 PM

I tried your suggestions and I couldn't see any problems like you stated. Thanks for your help anyway. John

PangingJr · Sep 16, 2004, 10:40 PM

pls show me your registry infomation of the right pane of the following keys

Code:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce

mjmasci · Sep 17, 2004, 04:01 AM

Below is a copy of these lines from my registry.. only the first one had something on the right. the others were all default. This first line showing scanreg, I removed scanreg from startup file and tried that, and that didn't solve the problem. The last two lines you requested in HKEY Current Users, I don't have those...Run Service and Run Services Once. I checked my wife's computer because I thought maybe they were missing, and her computer registry doesn't have them either.
Let me know if these seem right, and if there is anything else I can try. Thanks again for your help. John

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run]
"ScanRegistry"="c:\\windows\\scanregw.exe /autorun"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunOnce]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunServices]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunServicesOnce]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Runonce]

pr0digal jenius · Sep 17, 2004, 05:56 AM

do you have anything in your startup folders such as .bat files or .cmd files that would be bring it up, or maybe something in msconfig?

PangingJr · Sep 17, 2004, 07:13 AM

okay, those registry looks okay, don't worry about the missing ones.

now pls check the startup folder as mentioned above...

and also check the following...

the load= and the run= lines of the [windows] section in win.ini.

the [boot] section of system.ini.

the entries placed in Autoexec.bat and Config.sys.

PangingJr · Sep 17, 2004, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjmasci

Every time I boot up the computer, right after my desktop appears, the C: folder (window) pops open on my desktop automatically.

just noticed that so pls confirm what is the name of the folder that pops open at starup? is it "WINDOW" or like C:\WINDOW ?

if so, try creating a new folder in the root directory of your C drive called WINDOW, then reboot your PC and see if the folder doesn't open on your desktop?

pr0digal jenius · Sep 17, 2004, 02:58 PM

i think he means it's an explorer window in the C:\ root directory, which sounds like ti almsot has to be a cmd/bat file which si why i asked. But i'm nto a registry wizard, i suppsoe there could be a registry setting to have it open on bootup?

PangingJr · Sep 17, 2004, 03:26 PM

i thought so too at first but just noticed that and let wait for his reply..

mjmasci · Sep 17, 2004, 04:36 PM

I checked win.ini and system.ini, run= and load=, these lines were empty. no entries were changed in autoexec and configsys. I reduced the startup files to nothing, the only thing running most of the time is Explorer at startup. I've looked in startup, in msconfig, everywhere, and I can't see anything causing this. I've uninstalled recent programs I put on. I checked for .bat or .cmd files and didn't find anything. As for "Window", I just meant a window pops open, it is the C: folder (which has all folders and files from hard drive in it). Its not the C:\windows folder.

PangingJr · Sep 17, 2004, 06:11 PM

there is a known issue with win 98 and IE5, Windows Explorer may start and display the contents of the root folder or the Windows folder. and to resolve this issue, delete the "DesktopProcess" value from this registry key "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ex plorer"

if you have the value in your registry and you want to try removing it, backup the registry key first.
anyway, i suggest you backup your files when you can.

this may or may not work in your case.. If this doesn't work, keep posting, will try to figure this out.

mjmasci · Sep 17, 2004, 07:22 PM

Hallelujah! Thank you! That Solved IT! In DesktopProcess, the value was 1. I tried to delete the 1 and couldn't. I wasn't sure if I should delete the whole thing, so I changed the 1 to zero. Restarted and no C folder popping up. Works perfect! Thanks Net! and thanks prodigal jenius for your help too. I appreciate all the help and suggestions, Thanks again. john

PangingJr · Sep 17, 2004, 07:29 PM

You're welcome.

Sep 16, 2004, 05:03 AM	#1
mjmasci DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	C: folder pops open on desktop at startup Every time I boot up the computer, right after my desktop appears, the C: folder (window) pops open on my desktop automatically. I can't get rid of the problem or find out whats causing it. I ran various virus and trojan programs, spybot, adaware, registry cleaners and healers..cleaned up computer, checked registry and ran system file checker; did scandisk, disk defragmenter. I checked all startup programs and nothing mentions this folder...checked in system info startup, checked msconfig, checked run and load lines in win.ini and system.ini, checked configsys and autoexec.bat files. I also checked startup folder on the Program menu...also checked Registry for all Run commands. This just started, I never had this problem before.. It is a big annoyance! I have Windows 98se, emachine566 processor, 256ram, 60gb HD, ati graphics card, jaton soundcard. The programs that I recently installed, I uninstalled to see if that was problem and it didn't help. Any help is appreciated. John

Sep 16, 2004, 06:07 AM	#2
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	you mentioned you've checked Registry for all Run commands. pls go to there 2 registry keys again and verify that all the values in these keys do not contain any incorrect, incomplete, or null entries (such as ""). any faulty string in the registry. paths with spaces in them must be enclosed in quotes. Code: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Code: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Sep 16, 2004, 10:23 PM	Thread Starter #3
mjmasci DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	I tried your suggestions and I couldn't see any problems like you stated. Thanks for your help anyway. John

Sep 17, 2004, 04:01 AM	Thread Starter #5
mjmasci DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Below is a copy of these lines from my registry.. only the first one had something on the right. the others were all default. This first line showing scanreg, I removed scanreg from startup file and tried that, and that didn't solve the problem. The last two lines you requested in HKEY Current Users, I don't have those...Run Service and Run Services Once. I checked my wife's computer because I thought maybe they were missing, and her computer registry doesn't have them either. Let me know if these seem right, and if there is anything else I can try. Thanks again for your help. John [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run] "ScanRegistry"="c:\\windows\\scanregw.exe /autorun" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunOnce] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunServices] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunServicesOnce] [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run] [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Runonce]

Sep 17, 2004, 05:56 AM	#6
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	do you have anything in your startup folders such as .bat files or .cmd files that would be bring it up, or maybe something in msconfig?

Sep 17, 2004, 07:13 AM	#7
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	okay, those registry looks okay, don't worry about the missing ones. now pls check the startup folder as mentioned above... and also check the following... the load= and the run= lines of the [windows] section in win.ini. the [boot] section of system.ini. the entries placed in Autoexec.bat and Config.sys.

Sep 17, 2004, 02:58 PM	#9
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	i think he means it's an explorer window in the C:\ root directory, which sounds like ti almsot has to be a cmd/bat file which si why i asked. But i'm nto a registry wizard, i suppsoe there could be a registry setting to have it open on bootup?

Sep 17, 2004, 03:26 PM	#10
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	i thought so too at first but just noticed that and let wait for his reply..

Sep 17, 2004, 04:36 PM	Thread Starter #11
mjmasci DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	I checked win.ini and system.ini, run= and load=, these lines were empty. no entries were changed in autoexec and configsys. I reduced the startup files to nothing, the only thing running most of the time is Explorer at startup. I've looked in startup, in msconfig, everywhere, and I can't see anything causing this. I've uninstalled recent programs I put on. I checked for .bat or .cmd files and didn't find anything. As for "Window", I just meant a window pops open, it is the C: folder (which has all folders and files from hard drive in it). Its not the C:\windows folder.

Sep 17, 2004, 06:11 PM	#12
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	there is a known issue with win 98 and IE5, Windows Explorer may start and display the contents of the root folder or the Windows folder. and to resolve this issue, delete the "DesktopProcess" value from this registry key "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ex plorer" if you have the value in your registry and you want to try removing it, backup the registry key first. anyway, i suggest you backup your files when you can. this may or may not work in your case.. If this doesn't work, keep posting, will try to figure this out.

Sep 17, 2004, 07:22 PM	Thread Starter #13
mjmasci DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Hallelujah! Thank you! That Solved IT! In DesktopProcess, the value was 1. I tried to delete the 1 and couldn't. I wasn't sure if I should delete the whole thing, so I changed the 1 to zero. Restarted and no C folder popping up. Works perfect! Thanks Net! and thanks prodigal jenius for your help too. I appreciate all the help and suggestions, Thanks again. john

Sep 17, 2004, 07:29 PM	#14
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	You're welcome.