WinXP: How to stop a process from running on bootup?

[JEDI]

the process is PCTEL. it's for my modem, why is it running in the background if i'm not using it?

i can't find it in the startup folder, nor in msconfig.

How is it automatically running? and how do i stop it from doing that?

thx

 

[Malak]

What all did you check in msconfig? It should show up in there if it's starting up at boot. Might be in services, checked that?

 

[jvarszegi]

Since it's not malware, I won't counsel you to check the normal places, such as the Fonts folder. Did you check this registry key?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

There's a chance it could be launched from autoexec.bat, I guess, although that's kind of old-hat for system software.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: jvarszegi
There's a chance it could be launched from autoexec.bat, I guess, although that's kind of old-hat for system software.

That would be in msconfig though wouldn't it?

 

[Byers]

Are you running XP Pro? If so just go to Start, RUN and type msconfig. You should see a row of tabs. Click on the startup tab and search for 'startup item'. De-select it and it should no longer be loaded. If you don't want it at all, also de-select whatever you don't want in the services tab. Be careful though. General rule: If you aren't 100% sure, don't get rid of it...