4000+ entries in XP Startup??

[Hamhound]

While trying to fix a modem that always dialed upon XP boot (fixed by deleting connection and re-creating) I noticed the following:

In System Information: Software Environment: Startup Programs, I have over 4000 entries. No typo! Many are duplicates but over 4000? This Athlon 2800 computer boots fast, under 45 seconds and otherwise seems to work well. Note I am not talking about the MSCONFIG startup entries. Norton Ghost makes regular backups to another drive.

I also note that just about when all the normal startup activities are done and I am looking at the desktop, I see three flashes of the 'Windows Installer: Preparing to Install' window go by in just about enough time to see it but nothing else seems to happen. This has been happening for a few months and is a clue, I suppose. But, if it did the same thing each time I turned on the computer (once a day), I would expect to see copies of entries that are duplicated more than just 1 or 2 times.

I ran EasyClean and found 68 entries considered to be useless. No other malware found with multiple off and on line scans. I left the registry alone for now.

This may not be a problem, but my other machines have about 10-20 entirs and this one has 4000! Cripes!

Al

[TwoRails]

Try CCleaner. If I remember right, there is a Tool tab that shows what's in the startup list.

[GaryRouth]

CCleaner is highly recommended -- I'd "second" that vote! [ and Hi, Rails]

... if the list begins to grow again, even after EasyClean and CCleaner have scanned and cleaned what they could, try uninstalling and then finding the most recent version of -- and then reinstalling the "Windows Installer". I think the most recent version is 3.1, from September of 2005 - but I could be wrong (Windows Update would likely fix it anyway). . . here's the link to the 3.1 download page http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[... my guess on how a broken installer would add entries to Startup, is that each time it's attempt to install ran, it would get far enough to add the entry to your Registry value for startups, but the installation would not complete successfully, and -- yep, keep adding entries each time it tried again to install]

[Point your antimalware scanners at your drives, too - - - to make sure the entries aren't little devils]

[rjfvillarosa]

Considering the problems you have been having in this thread and the problem with your modem in your other thread, is a format and reinstall an option?

[Hamhound]

I have not ruled it out, hoping for a solution that was obvious to someone but anything but obvious to me. I will attempt some additional 'cleanup' activities and see where I get. I may try the WIndows Installer that was suggested but will need to figure out how that is done so I do not make matters worse. Funnyhow things like this just happen. I have not messed with anything and here I am. Life with the PC. Thanks for the reminder!