Problem with XP startup

[jfall]

Everytime I start up Windows XP professional a folder C:\PROGRAM is displayed in full screen.. there is nothing in this folder. I have deleted the folder and it still pops up when I restart the computer. This is what I have done so far:

1. Ran an up-to-date virus scanner, didn't find anything.
2. Ran the latest version of ad-aware.. didn't find anything
3. Tried deleting the folder and restarting, it just comes back.
4. I check my Start > Programs > Startup folder.. nothing in there.
5. Checked startup items in MSconfig, nothing in there that I think would cause this, I only have a select few things on startup.
6. I have not installed any software lately.. just the Project IGI 2 multiplayer test and a script called dccassist for MIRC.. I uninstalled Project IGI and still nothing.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be or how I can find out what is doing it?

Here is a list of what I have selected to startup in MSconfig:

Nerocheck
Sisusbrg
Rundll32
nwiz
cthelper
updreg
adgjdet
rundll32 cmicnfg
Autosizer
msnmsgr
StyleXP
Adobe Gamma Loader

 

[jfall]

Anyone?

 

[prosaic]

This could be caused by a startup process not using quotes (") to enclose the path to its target executable, so Windows tries to run C:\Program instead of "C:\Program Files\The Program's Folder\The_Program.exe". When Windows tries to execute a target that happens to be a folder, it opens the folder in Windows Explorer by default.

You might check Task Manager following a fresh boot. Look for the startup process listed in MSCONFIG that is NOT listed in Task Manager. My guess is that you will have found the culprit. If the startup process is legitimate you'll need to edit its startup entry (It'll be an entry in a registry key or it'll be a shortcut in the All Users startup folder or in the current user's startup folder.)

Of course there are other possibilities, but this is the one I'd check first. Did you install something just before you started seeing this folder pop up at boot time?

- prosaic

 

[jfall]

I'll have to check into that.. the only things I remember installing around the time it started happening was what I said in my first post.. there could of been some other little things, but I really can't remember.. I kinda have been living with it for a couple of weeks and just decided to start trying to fix it now lol

The odd thing is, when I run that Jet detection thing related to the creative software it does the exact same thing as it does on startup.. I run the EXE and it opens the c:\program folder.. I have unchecked it from msconfig though.. maybe it is starting another way

Another thing I just thought of that I am going to try here in a bit is creating a new profile and see if it pops up when I log onto that profile.. may help me narrow it down a bit further.. I will write down whats in the task manager process list and compare it to mine as well

 

[MonkeyK]

Look for a program called "StartupCPL" (Startup Control Panel). This program lists every thing that starts with your machine startup. That should narrow the list of possible suspects.

Link: StartupCPL

Plus, even if it does not help you out, this is a really cool program to have around.


-Mike

 

[jfall]

I may be wrong, but I thought startupCPL just used whatever was in the registry.. which I have already checked