BleepingComputer.com: Autoruns and Blank Entry

Hi,
Windows XP S_P 3.
Avast! 6.0.x (completely up to date)

Slow Boot and generally slow - ?age? (2007)

1. Read in the Autoruns Forum, apparently this program can do registry damage:
“How to uninstall Autoruns???” -- 4th post down
http://forum.sysinternals.com/topic9541.html
So I hesitate to use it.

2. Under Msconfig start-up there is a blank entry - checked
Entry: nothing
Command – nothing
Location: - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Mocrosoft\Windows\CurrentVer … I cannot see further.

I have 2 other PCs (a Windows XP Pro S_P 3; and a Windows XP Home S_P 2) neither have this blank item.
The 3 are physically networked only; (get same email)

I ran a full virus scan, a boot scan and a full Malwarebytes (up-to-date) and all are negative.


Aside from being something horrible, I installed an HP photosmart 9/14/11
I have disabled whatever I can from start-up - only have avastUI, ctfmom, nvCpl and the blank entry checked. (4 total checked)
Maybe blank entry has something to do with the HP software?


1. I cannot look up (find) the blank entry in the Startup Programs Database.
2. How can I expand or view the actual location of this entity?
3. Is it *safe* to uncheck it?

Please advise.
Thanks in advance!
And I have not asked this on any other message boards.

This post has been edited by XtanyaX: 01 October 2011 - 10:40 AM

First of all Autoruns doesn't install, so it won't be listed in Add\Remove.

Secondly, Autoruns is just a scanner, so it doesn't remove anything.

Then all items displayed by Autoruns have two options.
You can disable particular entry by simply removing a checkmark (it can be re-enabled at any time by putting a checkmark back).
You can delete that entry, but that should be used only with extreme caution and you have to know what you're about to remove.

Hi Broni,
Thanks for the reply....

Broni, on 01 October 2011 - 11:43 AM, said:

I only posted the link as an illustration....
(I have not run it and don't want to)

Quote

I used another program several months ago that ended up causing quite a few problems (I was told that program was only a scanner)

Quote

I don't want to use autoruns right now


How can I see the rest of the blank msconfig (start-up) entry:
Location: - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVer … I cannot see further.

If I can find out where the entry is in the registry - I could remove the check mark.... Just in case.

All I am concerned about is the blank entry.
Thank you very much again!

Quote

You had a bad advisor then.

Quote

Download Autoruns for Windows: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
No installation required.
Simply unzip Autoruns.zip file, and double click on autoruns.exe file to run the program.
Go File>Save, and save it as AutoRuns.txt file to know location.
You must select Text from drop-down menu as a file type:



Upload the file(s) here: http://www.filedropper.com/
Post download link (copy URL: link):

Hi,
Thanks for replying.

Quote

I don't want to use autoruns
Is there no other way to see what the rest of the string is?

from msconfig | start up:
Location: - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVer … [cuts off]

Thank you!

Quote

No. I don't understand why you're resistant to running Autoruns, but...it's up to you.

Broni, on 01 October 2011 - 04:45 PM, said:

Thank you for your patience!

Is there a text editor that one can open msconfig in?

This is exactly what Autoruns is for.
"msconfig" should NOT be used as startups control.
It's for troubleshooting purposes only.

Broni, on 01 October 2011 - 09:01 PM, said:

Okay thanks
I am troubleshooting:
Sometimes boxes next to the programs in msconfig -> startup are checked.
I uncheck the ones that aren't needed. The current program is unnamed - i.e. (above - nothing except for the test string showing part of the path).

Msconfig has no option to resize the window so I cannot see what the rest of the string is.
It stops at: Location: - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVer … [cuts off]

Other question: I have a screenshot but don't know how to post it



Thanks Broni!

ADDENDUM: Is it safe to uncheck the box next to the unnamed (blank) entry in msconfig -> start up?

This post has been edited by XtanyaX: 02 October 2011 - 10:55 AM

I can't advice you without seeing Autoruns log.

Broni, on 02 October 2011 - 11:17 AM, said:

Well I just found the path: (system info | software environment | starup programs)
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

So do I close the thread?
I really appreciate your patience and your taking the time to help me...

Thanks