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Help me kill these 2 files PERMANENTLY!

T

Twiller

Member
Hi...

On my computer there are 2 files that load into memory on start up. I want to stop that from happening, but it turns out it's not that easy. The 2 files are STIMON.EXE and WMIEXE.EXE. The first has something to do with scanners attached through the USB port, and since I don't have a scanner I don't need this file. I'm not sure what the second one is for, but I know it interferes with my Real Audio player and with my newsreader, Agent. If WMIEXE.EXE is in memory, neither of these programs will run. They start to load, then freeze up. If I use MSCONFIG.EXE to close WMIEXE.EXE, the 2 programs will run fine. I've never had a problem with any other program with WMIEXE.EXE shut down, so I don't think I need it.

Anyway, here's the problem: I CAN'T GET RID OF THESE 2 FILES! I tried unchecking them in the MSCONFIG start-up box. The next time I started my computer they were back. I disabled them with the freeware STARTUP COP utility. The next time I started my computer they were back. I renamed the files. The next time I started my computer they were back, along with the renamed files. I tried deleting them. The next time I started my computer they were back. No matter what I do, they keep reappearing.

I've done a little hunting around on the Internet, and I'm not the only one who has tried to get rid of these files, and can't. It seems to be common among people who, like me, have Windows ME as an OS. I came across a theory that if, at bootup, the registry sees that these files are missing, it pulls a copy out of the RESTORE/ARCHIVE folder and puts it back into the windows/system folder. Supposedly, if you could find the files in the RESTORE/ARCHIVE folder and delete them or rename them there, that would get rid of them. Unfortunately, the RESTORE/ARCHIVE folder is full of hundreds of mysterious *.cpy files, so if backup copies of those 2 files are in there, I wouldn't know how to find them.

Maybe a different approach would work (modifying the registry?). Anybody have a clue?

Thanks,

Allen
helmwal@tds.net
 
Run MSCONFIG from the START menu. When MSCONFIG comes up on screen click on the startup tab. Check the listing of programs that are starting up when you bootup. If you find the files you are looking for listed then deselect them, that is uncheck them so they are not selected. The list may be long so scroll up and down to see all items in the listing.

I would uncheck one program at a time. Reboot and see if you get any error messages. If not you are probably OK and if your programs run correctly. Later run MSCONFIG again and remove the other program from the startup menu by unchecking it. Then reboot and check again to see if all is OK.

Do not uncheck startup files that are necessary as that can make Windows unstable or some items may no longer work or show on screen. 😕.

 
STIMON is the Still Image Monitor, it is used by Windows for USB Scanners, and Cameras,etc.... It allows you to use the Windows 'Still Image Control Panel' to manage your camers, cameras, USB Devices, etc.
My Olympus Camera dosen't use the STIMON in windows, it's got it's own proprietary software to download pictures.

WMIEXE.EXE is a printing related file, I believe it enables USB Printers to initiate communication to the computer. < I may be wrong though.
Did you try to search the Microsoft Knowledge Base??
 
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