XP Doesn't Open To Desktop

When I logon, XP Home boots up to a McAfee folder where it used to open to the Desktop. An annoyance. How can I change the settings so I will boot up to the desktop? Pretty basic stuff, but I haven't been able to find an answer in searches to date.

 

Go to Run and type Regedit.

Go to the following key (by double clicking as you would using windows explorer):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Any reference to explorer.exe? Anything strange? If so, please list and we can go from there.

 

Registry Check

Tracing the Registry as you suggested, under Run I find: Optional Components>IMAIL MAPI MSFS

I didn't click on any of those choices.

Bill

 

No, that won't be what we're looking for. If I understand you correctly, you have an explorer window that opens to your McAfee folder when you boot? I take it there was no string with explorer.exe listed?

 

That's right, nothing about explorer.exe

The problem is when I initially bootup the computer, it doesn't open to the Desktop. It opens to a McAfee folder. I close the folder and then have the Desktop where I like to begin. I guess what I'm looking for is how to change the bootup settings so I end up with the Desktop as my opening screen. Sorry about the confusion.

Bill

 

Splash Screen?

It sounds like you are getting a splash screen from McAfee. I'm not familiar with it, but there should be an option to turn it off. Some software writers think that people are reassured by splash screens that everything is working properly? I disable them.

HTH
Johanna

 

Now, I've never run XP Home, only XP Pro, but you can try this:

In the folder window (any folder window) click Tools->Folder Options.

In the Folder Options dialog, go to the View tab. In the Advanced Settings box, scroll down and find the box next to "Restore previous folder windows at logon ".

If the box is checked, uncheck it, and then click the "Apply to All Folders" button, then click OK.

If the box is not checked, check it, click the "Apply to All Folders" button, then uncheck the box, click the "Apply to All Folders" button again, then click OK.

Shut down and restart. Then come back here and report the results, so we'll know if this works in XP Home or not.

 

I followed the instructions, but it was unsuccessful. FYI, the box was unchecked for the string, " "Restore previous folder windows at logon ".

The folder the XP boots to is a McAfee folder, two folders deep under C:\ Program Files.

I guess nothing can be lost by my asking McAfee if they have an answer. This all began when I was offered a free application download as a result of a class action suit brought against McAfee for original purchasers of McAfee antivirus quite a long time ago. I downloaded the application after which a pop up wizard asked if I wanted to update the application. The update failed. I contacted McAfee support which guided me through a registry backup and then a modification of the registry to delete the wizard. I believe it was RegWiz.exe. I'm still getting the pop up. Long story, but that's where the problem began.

Bill

 

Something else to try.....

Go back to the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Look for your McAfee string (C:\Program Files\McAfee (or whatever it may be called) etc. Double click on the key and ensure there are quotation marks on either side of the value.

My Antivirus string looks like this:

"C:\Program Files\CA\eTrust EZ Armor\eTrust EZ Antivirus\realmon.exe "

If there are no quotation marks the folder will open at startup rather than run the application at startup.

Hope this helps!

 

Any luck Bill?