W2K: Can't stop startup from opening a file. Regedit & ctrl panel/ no go

[TomBilliodeaux]

Upon boot up, W2k keeps running C:\WinnT\Sytem32\cmd.exe
which displays the folder System32 with all its files as if running explorer and opening that directory for viewing files. Nuisance.
I have edit the registry and removed a hive that found the above string command. Also I have edited the start/up items in System Control and deleted the line refering to the above.
The System32 directory still keeps opening at start up.
Where is W2k getting this instruction?:disgust:😕

 

[puffpio]

The only place I can think of is in
HKEY_Local_Machine\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run
or
HKEY_Current_User\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run

or in the start menu startup group

 

[TomBilliodeaux]

I rechecked the registry keys and only found key hives that used C:\WINNT\System32\ in path statements for other applications.
do not find c:\WINNT\System32\cmd.exe
Where can this be located or being generated?

 

[jonnyfin]

had this same thing happen, this worked for me:

system32 link

 

[TomBilliodeaux]

Fixed it.
Thanks guys.
This is interesting problem Microsoft has endured since NT4.0 it turns out (Billy (Jonnyfin) Corgan link).
Turned out to be one of the keys as mentioned above in the Machine.....run hive.
I deleted a run key that had only a single REG_SZ with no other hive pointing to an .exe application.
The other run keys had a subsequent .exe.
Also in the Startup their was a similar key without anything pointing. I deleted that hive also.
(of course i had a back of my registry on hand).
No problems after multiple startups.

Now I am ready to backup this setup.
Thanks again.