msconfig wont stay open for very long

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

i have a problem, my msconfig doesnt stay open, recently i tried to open it, it does but it closes like 1 sec right after. Same thing happens with the Windows task manager (ctrl alt delete)

 

[xEDIT409]

Yeah, this has been happening to me also....

When I type msconfig, nothing appears.

When I prees CTRL+ALT+DEL, I get a device manager in my taskbar, but when I go to double click it, it disappears.

What's goin on?

 

[r0tt3n1]

hmmm, hopefully it isnt a trojan or spybot....
Locate the task manager file, usually C:/Windows/System32/Taskmgr.exe and rename it to something like task.exe and open it. Hopefully the Task Manager will open and may be able to find the rogue process.
Dont forget to re-rename the file back to taskmgr.exe when you are done!
Use SpyBot Search&Destroy to remove some of the baddies off your computer. Update anti-virus definitions also.

 

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

How do you rename the file?

 

[rudeguy]

spybot will get rid of the spyware which doesnt sound like the problem...sounds more like either a virus or you messed with something you shouldnt have...run a virus check first off. Then restart in safe mode and see if it lets you get at it there...report back after doing so

 

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

yeah, i can see it/run it in safe mode, what does it mean?

 

[rudeguy]

means you fudged somethin up...have you tried doing a system restore?

 

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

system restore = reformat? IF not, what is it and how do i do it

 

[rudeguy]

are you running xp?

 

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

yes i am

 

[rudeguy]

start>help and support>pick a task

 

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

I cant choose a date other than todays date, whats up with that?

 

[Sabrewolf21]

This happened to me last night after I used msconfig to disable some startup items. I fixed it by doing a system restore. I have no idea what caused it, it was something in msconfig though.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: mAtRiXeNgIn33r
I cant choose a date other than todays date, whats up with that?

FUBAR'd

did you run a virus scan?

 

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

Yes i did, did adware thing as well.. i did spybot and what not, nothing terrible (virus) comes up.

 

[Sabrewolf21]

you changed something in msconfig that caused it. I just built this new computer and I installed something annoying that was coming up on startup on my computer, so i went into msconfig and i disabled a bunch of startup items. After i left msconfig, it said the system had to shut down in 60 seconds for some reason. And then after it rebooted, I could only go into msconfig for half a second before it dissappeared, same with the ctr alt del menu.

There is something in msconfig u must have done which is the same thing i did which causes this system error. Its no virus. The only way I know to fix it is to do a system restore or to delete everything on your harddrive and reinstall windows. There may be other ways but I sure as hell dont know. Good luck.

 

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

would it be possible to check everything on msconfig in safe mode and then go back in normal mode to see if that works?

 

[DPG0wnz]

I have the same problem!!
It is some sort of virus that I have yet to pinpoint.

I know this:
It affects C:\Windows\System32\msconfig32.exe
It creates a random xxxx.exe file ( for example: xcsdfdgdfse.exe )in the same directory that is executed at startup.
Using a process killer and terminating the file and deleting it has not helped as it was regenerated at startup.


Any ideas?!

 

[Sabrewolf21]

i dont think it is a virus as it happened on my new computer without downloading anything from the internet. Unless the virus was on the timer warner cable cd (which was a malfunctioning program by the way). It installed a bunch of crap on my computer and then errored out. Then at startup it would give me a msg to insert my time warner cable cd. So I went into msconfig and disabled it at startup, along with tcaudiag. After this windows said it encountered some kind of error and had to shut down, and then the problem u guys described came.

I fixed it by doing a system restore to my fresh install and deleteing the directory which timer warner cable had made.

 

[rudeguy]

geez...what kind of stuff are you guys downloading?

try updating your virus software. and rescanning

if all else fails you might have to reformat and move on with your life

 

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

would it be a good idea to take my comp somewhere to see if they can fix it? If not, will reformatting make me have to install my cable modem again?

 

[DPG0wnz]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
geez...what kind of stuff are you guys downloading?

try updating your virus software. and rescanning

if all else fails you might have to reformat and move on with your life

It is a virus or worm.

Formatting is the Newbies way out.

I thought there were more computer literate people on this forum.

 

[mAtRiXeNgIn33r]

Hey, i changed the name of msconfig from "msconfig" to msconfig.exe and it works now, wtf is up with that

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: DPG0wnz

Originally posted by: rudeguy
geez...what kind of stuff are you guys downloading?

try updating your virus software. and rescanning

if all else fails you might have to reformat and move on with your life

It is a virus or worm.

Formatting is the Newbies way out.

I thought there were more computer literate people on this forum.

formatting is the easy way out...if you back up
sometimes its just not worth the fight

 

[SemperFi]

I haven't used msconfig since I had windows 98. I use startup.cpl now. Excellent program.

EDIT/ Startup monitor on the same site is cool also. If you are working on a new build install it after you install your programs or it will annoy the h3ll out of you.