System32 folder opens on startup

[Satan_Claws]

Morning all.

Got this weird problem on a customers laptop running XP Home.

He has had various virus and spyware on his system which I have successfully removed and all is working fine except for this annoying problem.

Whenever windows loads the system32 folder opens, you can close it and it's not causing any problems it's just annoying me!
I've looked in startup, sysedit and all the usual places but no sign of it.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Many thanks

[Tekboy]

By "all the usual places", do you mean msconfig and regedit?

Usually, in XP, it is difficult to determine what all is starting from where, as the size of the window is fixed.

The last time I saw this, was after virus removal, and the command for its executable was still there in msconfig, even though the virus was gone.

Hope this helps.

[Ya_know]

Yup...as Tekboy suggested, look in the Run strings in the registry, there is an entry there that was probably left behind by a cleaned virus, since the file’s gone, the folder opens.

I would also advise that you check the antivirus logs, see of anything was cured recently. Then research the virus by name if you find it in the logs, that way you are better familiar with what sort of thread you are dealing with. Also, rerun a full scan on the PC to be sure you are clean, with system cure options enabled...

[MobilePCPhysician]

Http://www.windowsstartup.com. Download, install & run. Will show you all startup items.

[Satan_Claws]

Thanks everyone, I did eventually find it in the registry, it was well hidden but after your posts I decided to check again, had to change some settings in msconfig as well as it kept putting the problem back everytime I restarted.
all done now.
Many thanks.

[tjj]

i had the SAME problem, i "killed it" by running "hijackthis(.exe)"

type EXACTLY this into google: hijackthis.exe

the first result takes you to the official site.

FREE-WARE, but you need to post the "log" it generates to their forum so they can analize it and make suggestions.

WARNING!!! it IS POSSIBLE to totally DESTROY windows with this tool!!!

do NOT just randomly check boxes and "apply" them!!!

also, run the tool from inside a FOLDER, because the default settings makes a "back-up" for the items it removes. the back-up files will go to where the "exe" is located.

remove 30 items, get 30 new icons all over your desktop.

^^ personally verified be ME....

=(