Can't Modify Registry (Auto-start Manager)

howpix · Post by **howpix** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 3:45 am

I wrote a couple of days ago and never heard back so I thought I'd try this route. Recently my XP SP2 computer began acting strange. Programs long ago uninstalled began showing up at startup time. MSConfig starts everytime I boot regardless of what I check to keep it from happening. I went to Auto-Start Manger and eliminated the offending programs from the start menu, including MSConfig. When I reboot they're all back and checked as viewed with AU. In MSConfig, I unchecked all System (except Microsoft) programs and all Startup programs. When I reboot, the System files are still unchecked but all the Startup programs are there and checked along with all the unchecked versions. I went to regedit and eliminated all the offending programs from the Run folder. Closed regedit and simply restarted it (regedit) and they were all back. I booted in safe mode, eliminated them all and rebooted . . . all back. I went to Restore and there is no record of the computer prior to about two weeks ago although it has been in operation for well over two years. I exported the registry, edited it with a programmer's editor and tried to read it back in and it wouldn't read the file. I've run AdAware Pro, SpyBot, HiJackThis (and found nothing out of line). I'm really at a loss. Several programs won't start or hang all the time including Windows Explorer. I have not installed anything recently and have been using the computer regularly up until this began. I rarely visit the Internet with this computer.

Post by **Aneesh** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:04 am

This issue does not seem to be related to Ace Utilities, I suppose, because you said you were unable to fix it using other methods too. If you've exhausted all other options, then you *may* have to perform a fresh Windows install.

howpix · Post by **howpix** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:44 pm

Hmmmm. Encouraging . . . and helpful. So if I discover a problem using Ace Utilities, can't fix it using Ace Utilities, try other methods in my toolbox which don't work, write to the company I purchased software from designed to fix such problems and with which I discovered the problem in the first place, it has nothing to do with Ace Utilities? That's a creative perspective.

Good luck with your career in tech support. You're off to a wonderful start.

Notwithstanding Ace Utilities non-involvement with this problem, I'll bet the programmer's would love to hear a report from a customer who can't change the Auto-start menu using Ace Utilities. Sounds like something which might effect future sales if it get's out into the public.

Post by **Aneesh** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:20 pm

You said that you were unable to permanently modify the auto-start entries using Ace Utilities as well as MSConfig; not even by directly manipulating the Registry. So I was merely suggesting that the problem at hand could very well be due to some issue with your Windows installation itself (prob'ly a spyware/virus), and if that is indeed the case, you won't be able to fix it unless you find the root cause.

howpix · Post by **howpix** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:14 pm

Bearing in mind that Ace Utilities is designed to modify the registry via the Clean-Up facility as well as the Auto-start routines, which I do regularly as recommended and that recently I was automatically upgraded to version 3.2.0 just prior to this current mess and that I run resident versions of Ewido, AdAware, Zone Alarm, and Avast, the coincidence is . . . to state the obvious . . . stunning.

jazzbodepew · Post by **jazzbodepew** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:24 pm

Ho**x
On My version of WinXP Pro Coprperate Ed;
I can boot to the CD(on startup)OK the EULA/ENTER to install/Then Use the Repair windows(R)funtion to repair the setup without losing data..
jazz...........

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