Windows configuration files and programs started automatically



Document ID: 94000241

 

Posted Date: 1996-08-19

 

Last Updated: 1996-08-19

 

Distribution: View Public Website

 

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Information
WARNING: The procedure you are about to follow to fix your stated problem involves editing the system Registry files. Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems which may cause the loss of data, and may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Neither Toshiba nor Microsoft will guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files before you edit the registry.

To create an icon on your desktop that will restore the registry to the most recently saved version, do the following:

1. Go to the Start Menu / Run command
2. Type "regedit /e restore.reg" (where restore can be any filename)

Double-clicking on the desktop icon will restore the registry.

WINDOWS CONFIGURATION FILES AND PROGRAMS STARTED AUTOMATICALLY

Windows 95 includes several methods for loading programs automatically. Starting in Safe mode prevents any programs from being started automatically.

Windows 95 includes a Win.ini and System.ini file for backward compatibility with legacy programs and device drivers. Upgrading a previous installation of Windows 3.x to Windows 95, as well as adding software, can lead to conflicts within the Windows configuration files.

Determine If Issue Is Related to Program Starting at Startup
Load Windows 95 by booting to a command prompt and starting Windows 95 by typing "win" (without quotation marks), holding down the SHIFT key for the duration of the boot. This prevents any programs from loading automatically at startup.

If the issue is resolved by preventing programs from loading at startup, investigate the following possible sources:

The Winstart.bat File

The Winstart.bat file is used to load TSRs that are required for Windows-based programs and are not needed in MS-DOS sessions.

The Win.ini File

The "load=" and "run=" lines in the [Windows] section of the file can start programs automatically. See the following section for more information.

The Startup Group

If the issue is resolved by bypassing the Startup group, remove each of the programs from the Startup group individually to isolate the problem program.

The Run Key in the Registry

You can prevent programs from loading by removing the program's string from the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Test Windows Configuration Files

To test the Windows configuration files, follow these steps:

1. Boot to a command prompt.
2. Rename the Win.ini file by typing the following line:

ren c:\windows\win.ini *.bak

Start Windows 95 by typing "win" (without quotation marks). If this procedure corrects the problem, ensure that the "load=" and "run=" lines in the [Windows] section of the Win.ini file are either blank or preceded with a semicolon (;) to prevent the items from loading.

3. Rename the System.ini file by typing the following line:

ren c:\windows\system.ini *.bak

4. Windows 95 requires a System.ini file to load the graphical user
interface (GUI). Replace the original file by typing the following line:

copy c:\windows\system.cb c:\windows\system.ini

NOTE: Starting Windows 95 with the System.cb file does not load a driver for the mouse. Edit the new System.ini file, adding the following lines:

[386Enh]
mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd

[boot]
drivers=mmsystem.dll
mouse.drv=mouse.drv

Start Windows 95 by typing "win" (without quotation marks) at the command prompt. If replacing the original System.ini file with theSystem.cb file corrects the issue, the problem most likely resides with either the [boot] or [386Enh] sections of the original System.ini. Restore the original file to troubleshoot it. To isolate the cause of the problem, place a semicolon (;) at the
beginning of a line to prevent the item from loading.


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