Where are the automatically started programs

Z

zipswich

New Member
IE and Firefox are automatically started when my Vista Home Premium is started. I checked the Startup folder for both all users and for the current user (admin) and could not find them. I am wondering if anyone could tell me what other places I should look for them.

Thanks in advance!
 

My Computer

System One

Welcome

Type services, in search
Type msconfig (startup), in search. This is the important one.
Type Default in search. It is listed there. It starts when you want to go on line.

If it shows only in Default, it means it is not a startup item, you must activate.

When you go online, only one browser is available as default.

You can turn it off by typing in search, turn windows features on and off. Then going to the approriate window.
 

My Computer

System One

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    Dell XPS420
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Richard, Shawn,

Thank you so much for the tips. I checked both Startup folders and could not find either IE or Firefox.

I used msconfig to open System Configuration and checked the Startup tab and could not find them there.

Services do not include either IE or Firefox. They start whenever the machine is restarted.
 

My Computer

System One

I do not know what you mean, they are started when the computer starts. I boot my computer, I check my files, I look at my pictures, etc. I am not using IE.

I decide to go online, (my default is IE), I click on the IE icon, and now IE is turned on.

They are ready to be used as soon as you click on the appropriate icon. They become available as soon as you boot.

MSCONFIG, lists the programs that are started at boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Hi Richard,
Here is what happens. I click Restart or just push a the power button to start the computer, then without touching the keyboard or mouse, IE and Firefox will show up automatically.
 

My Computer

System One

Go to search, type default. On the default screen make sure that only the browser that you want is listed as default. How can both show up? Can you give a screen shot?

Report back with your findings.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I just get sloppy sometimes, default programs
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I went to Set your default programs and found both IE and FF there.
FF: This program has 0 out of 9 defaults.
IE: This program has all its defaults.
 

My Computer

System One

That means the IE is your default brower. When you want to go on line you will do so with IE, unless you specifically click on the FF icon.

Can you take a screen shot showing the two browsers when you boot?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
So, the two programs show their homepage. It is just like a regular website. Only one shows at a time, you must exit one to see the other?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
This may not be the problem, but even with a small possiblity, it should be checked It is important.

Run an antivirus scan and download and run this:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware : Malwarebytes

That will take a while. Do not worry. I will stay with you until I am out of ideas. If you post an hour or so from now, and I do not answer, I will as soon as I am online, again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
They show up simultanously without closing any existing any program.

I went to extreme by going to System Configuration via msconfig and disabled all startup programs (i.e. click "Disable all" to uncheck all programs), but the two browsers still show up after rebooting.

It is very strange that GoogleToolbarNotifier shows still enabled when I go to System Configuration after reboot. Just to make sure that I did not make any mistake, I tried to disable it againa and restarted the machine, but it still shows enabled.
 

My Computer

System One

richc46 said:
This may not be the problem, but even with a small possiblity, it should be checked It is important.

Run an antivirus scan and download and run this:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware : Malwarebytes

That will take a while. Do not worry. I will stay with you until I am out of ideas. If you post an hour or so from now, and I do not answer, I will as soon as I am online, again.
Click to expand...

Do this now,
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I do not think you did a full scan. It should take 30-45 minutes an hour.
Do the malwarebytes, too.

What are your system specs. Ram, HD etc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Richard, thank you very much for your patience.

I searched registry and found both IE and FF are under the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run
I deleted them from the key and now the computer can start without them started automatically.

There must be a better way to remove them than editing registry.
 

My Computer

System One

Rather unique problem, I do not know of a way other than the registry.

But I am glad that the problem is solved.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
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