<Blank> startup Item in MSCONFIG

I have a Windows XP Pro system. When I go into MSCONFIG to turn off unneccesary startup items to help make the system run better, I notice there's one that starts up which doesn't have a Startup Item name its <Blank>. The location refers to "HKLM \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Run ".

Does anyone know what this is and do I need to run it when the system starts up.

Thanks.
Bill

 

MSconfig

[FONT= "Tahoma"][SIZE= "3"][/SIZE][/FONT]I use msconfig almost everyday and it is a great tool for finding out everything from slow bootup times to vispy related issues. I think the item in the Startup tab is a virus or trojan. Try downloading and running Hijackthis.

 

My guess would be they are win ini files. One is usually win.ini.run and the other win.ini.load. They download drivers, wallpaper, etc. You can Google it. The suggestion by Pete, Code Stuff Starter, will identify exactly what they are. I use it all the time. Great little program.

 

I have this same problem, and it is not caused by something malicious in my case. Let me explain.
I have a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick. When you install the drivers for this stick, it also installs the Wingman Profiler. I don't always have the stick plugged in, and therefore do not have the Profiler in the startup at all times.
I control the startup using the software itself. The method used by the software creates the problem by deleting the Value's Data, leaving the Value "Start WingMan Profiler ".
My theory is since the Value Data is blank, Msconfig has nothing to show under the Command column, seeming to by default ignore the Value and leave it blank also.
I confirmed this by using Regedit and Msconfig where I deleted then replaced the Value, the Value Data being blank in both cases.

Value deleted > no blank line in Msconfig
Value replaced > blank line in Msconfig

HijackThis 2.02 will not show the existence of the Value or it's Value Data while the Value Data is blank.

 

google the startup term
there will be someone else who has asked the question of what the startup item is , is it essential and can you take it out

Here is a very useful free startup utility


http://www.download.com/Startup-Inspector-for-Windows/3000-2086_4-10452094.html?tag=lst-7

 

petec

gotta ask you why you recommend not using msconfig ???

have looked at the other programs you suggest and they are cool no doubt but msconfig seems so much easier.

 

Hi Greg,

My reasons are that msconfig is:

Not all that effective against items that reinsert themselves into the startup locations - Startup Control Panel would deal with that.

And msconfig doesn't show all the possible startup locations.

An example that comes to mind is Print Monitors, which autoruns would show and disable.

 

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Startup.htm

if you do not know what a startup item is - google the term and add spyware after the term - someone else will have asked the same question

a good free startup manager

http://www.download.com/Startup-Inspector-for-Windows/3000-2086_4-10452094.html?tag=lst-7