Question about start up items.

I have a question about selected start up items. When I run msconfig and look at startup I had a selected item that was blank. All the other items have an entry under startup item and under command as well as under location. By using the info under startup item and command I have been able to deduce what everything was and turn off items that I didn't want loading on startup. However there was one item that was selected that was blank except for location. The location info is: software/microsoft/windows/current version/run

My question is does anyone know a way of telling what this is and whether I should turn it off or leave it selected?

Thanks for the help, Brian

 

Hi, Brian.

That looks like a registry location. You can Start > Run... > REGEDIT and look in the following locations in your registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Perhaps those will provide more information about your mysterious startup application.

If you decide to do any editing in your registry, be sure you have made a backup of your registry keys (or entire registry) beforehand and know how to restore your registry keys/registry in case you want to reverse your registry edits.

MVPS Link: How to backup the Windows XP Registry?

The registry can be a dangerous place to edit unless you know exactly what you're doing.

Alternatively, you can download and use Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel to investigate and control your startups.

 

Thanks guys for the help. I downloaded Mike Lin's program and by using it and then going back to msconfig and turning off and on the blank entry I was then able to cross check it with the info showing up on Mike's app. Turns out the blank entry is Registry Mechanic of all things....go figure. I guess I'll just leave it checked, though I don't know why Registry Mechanic would need to load at startup. According to Leo, it's not loading anything since there is nothing in the command line so it shouldn't hurt anything. I wonder though if it's a registry error why Registry Mechanic didn't pick it up? If it's not an error and it really is something why would Registry Mechanic need to load something at startup?

Oh well, either way, now at least I know it's benign. I'm a bit paranoid and I hate the idea of things running on my computer when I don't know what they are.

Also I noticed that I have the exact same entry listed and checked twice (partseal)......is this normal?

Thanks again for the help, Brian