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Geek Culture / how do I delete rogue entries from the Windows StartUp list

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 17th May 2014 13:38 Edited at: 17th May 2014 13:39
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Last night I carelessly got my laptop infected with some annoying thing that planted itself in my Windows Startup list. Here's a screenshot from msconfig showing the offending item at the bottom of the list.

I've managed to disable it and remove the associated files, but can't seem able to remove the entry itself from the startup list. I've tried removing it with AVG's TuneUp Utilities but that only seems to flag it for removal but doesn't actually remove it (although it says it has ). I've tried restarting but the entry is still there even though the infection itself has gone - as far as I can tell (perhaps it hasn't and sneaks back and is merely disabled ).

Any suggestions anyone? Using W7.





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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 17th May 2014 15:24
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Found out how to delete the thing.

It seems there was a residual registry entry lurking in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder.

Deleted the whole entry and now all is fine again (but I've kept copies of everything I deleted just in case I'm barking up the wrong tree and need to reinstate it ).



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nonZero
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Posted: 20th May 2014 00:22 Edited at: 20th May 2014 00:24
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You can run "msconfig" from the "Run" window (winkey+R) and from there you can safely modify startup options and enable/disable services. It's usually the safer course of action.
On security, give COMODO a try. It'll replace almost all your existing security at the cost of about 10% sanity while you figure it out but it really is reliable and worth it. In "Paranoid Mode", your PC can't sneeze without you knowing.

"Oh nonZero, let me tell you, I love you." -- Dark Java Dude 64, Vice-Kapitan of nASA(nonZero's Awesomeness-Spreading Association)
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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 20th May 2014 15:32
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Quote: "You can run "msconfig" from the "Run" window (winkey+R) and from there you can safely modify startup options and enable/disable services. It's usually the safer course of action."


That's what I used to disable the thing - but it doesn't delete the entry itself. There seemed to be no alternative other than deleting the corresponding registry entry manually. I've no idea whether the rogue entry did any damage elsewhere (no sign of damage so far) - the main symptom was that it kept activating the UAC warning about something wanting to make changes to my computer and I couldn't get past that screen. I got rid of it by going into safe mode and hunting it down manually. Worked fine apart from the residual traces which msconfig wouldn't remove. A bit of Googling told me what to do to get rid of the traces. [And it wasn't the answer provided by MS techies - who seemed intent on giving the right answer to the wrong question. ]



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bitJericho
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Posted: 20th May 2014 16:43 Edited at: 20th May 2014 16:43
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Wait you mean UAC actually tipped you off? Go figure, the most hated feature in history (when windows vista came out) does its job as intended

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nonZero
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Posted: 21st May 2014 00:04
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Hmmm, msconfig not working on its own keys? Sounds a little odd, but then an OS that needs a registry is a little odd.
I'm not sure about residual damage but if you got all copies of the executable and the system works, I'd say you're fine. I still highly recommend COMODO, it really is the ultimate shield on a Windows PC. I have not had a virus for so long, I don't even remember the feeling.

"Oh nonZero, let me tell you, I love you." -- Dark Java Dude 64, Vice-Kapitan of nASA(nonZero's Awesomeness-Spreading Association)
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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 22nd May 2014 01:31
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Quote: "Wait you mean UAC actually tipped you off?"


Yes - but now you mention it that's the one thing that's now wrong with my system. None of my old DBPro exe files will run - but any newly compiled one will. Weird. Or is Norton SONAR doing this?

Quote: "Go figure, the most hated feature in history (when windows vista came out) does its job as intended"


On a par with Norton SONAR - while I was typing this post SONAR removed my newly compiled DBPro exe files. Something has been set back to default settings on this machine. But that could have been a result of my initial fumbled attempts at getting control back.

Looks like I've got more irritating housekeeping to do.



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bitJericho
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Posted: 24th May 2014 16:03
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I'd just reinstall Windows. Who knows what all happened or what was installed.

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Green Gandalf
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Posted: 24th May 2014 18:27
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Not this time. Everything seems back to normal now.



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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 26th May 2014 05:06
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i miss using windows. Everything was so easy. Motherboard is somehow damaged, Harddrive is half dead, Windows wont even install. The only thing that runs decently on this hunk of junk of mine is Debian when the system dosent crash for whatever reason.

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