Author Topic: Startup (Read 1652 times)

GillE · « **on:** June 24, 2006, 12:21 »

Whenever I start up (WinXP, SP2) the windows explorer automatically opens, not at "My Computer" as you might expect, but at a different file.

I've looked in the win.ini file, scoured msconfig and checked the various "open" folders in the registry but I still can't see what's triggering it. I've also scanned for viruses and other malware.

Any ideas?

Gill

Simon · « **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2006, 12:44 »

What type of file is opening, Gill? Is it an executable? You could try Hijack This, and see what comes up.

GillE · « **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2006, 13:58 »

Hi Simon

It just opens up windows explorer. There's no sign of anything being executed.

Hijack This is a very useful piece of software - thanks for suggesting it. Unfortunately, I'm none the wiser because I either don't understand what all the log references are pointing at, or I do understand them and I know they're supposed to be running. Would it help the diagnosis if I posted the log here?

Gill

sam · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2006, 15:24 »

possibly... we dont have a hj expert but if something obvious comes up one of us might be able to spot it.

GillE · « **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2006, 16:35 »

I've edited this post because it's no longer necessary

.

As I was reading through it, I noticed something a little irregular. I checked it through and... success!

A couple of weeks ago I downloaded a free piece of software called BASK which is a backup program. It's actually quite a decent utility but I had set it to operate when windows started. Instead of starting, it was looking for the main program in the folder where it had been downloaded.

Despite this limitation, if anyone's interested in the program it's available here :arrow:

Many thanks for the help. Hijack This saved the day

.

Gill

DJ · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2006, 17:00 »

If you want to analyse a Hijack This log file, enter it to
http://www.hijackthis.de/
and it will point out what to fix. Always backup first remember.

DJ

GillE · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2006, 18:16 »

That's a very useful facility

.

Simon · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2006, 21:55 »

Glad you got it sorted, Gill. HJT is very useful for that sort of thing.

mistybear · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2006, 06:03 »

Quote from: "DJ"

If you want to analyse a Hijack This log file, enter it to
http://www.hijackthis.de/
and it will point out what to fix. Always backup first remember.

DJ

Very helpful indeed.

I run scans quite frequently and get the occasional Malware and usually a couple of Adware, which I expect as I use the internet a lot.
So I was curious to see if there was anything that shouldn't be there.
One nasty (websearch), not surprising, and two not necessary.
Deleted all, forgot to back-up, but I figure the nasty shouldn't be there and the not necessaries are self explanatary.

Decided to do it on Michael's, expected to see a page of red symbols.

Pleasantly surprised with only three nasties and a couple of not necessary.

So for us this is a really useful peice of software. Thankyou.