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Situation:
You are troubleshooting a suspected conflict between programs, and need to temporarily prevent programs from loading when Windows starts. The programs in question are loading from one of the Run keys in the Windows registry.

Solution:
CAUTION: We strongly recommend that you back up the system registry before making any changes. Incorrect changes to the registry could result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Please make sure you modify only the keys specified.

Please request the document, How to back up the Windows registry, before proceeding.

NOTE: If you are using Windows 98/Me/XP, as an alternative you can use the System Configuration Utility that is included with these operating systems. For these operating systems, this is the recommended method, as it does not require you to edit the registry. Please see your Windows 98/Me/XP documentation or the section "4. Disable unnecessary startup items" in the document, Basic guide to optimizing system resources for instructions on how to do this.

To temporarily remove values from the RUN keys in the Windows registry:

1. Click the Start button and then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
2. Type regedit and click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
3. Navigate to the following key, and open it:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
4. The right pane will display one or more string values.
   • If you only see (Default) or SystemTray, go on to step 10.
   • If there are additional values, for each value other than (Default) or SystemTray , follow the instructions in steps 5 through 9.
5. Double-click a String Value in the right pane. The Edit String dialog box will appear with the value selected.
6. Press the Home key on the keyboard. The cursor should be to the left of the string value, and the value should no longer be selected.
7. Type rem and press the Spacebar once. This remarks out the string value, and prevents the program from loading when Windows starts.
8. Click OK.
9. Repeat these steps for each string value you want to remark (REM) out.
10. Navigate to the following key, if it exists, and open it:
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    
11. Repeat steps 4 through 9.
12. Some computers may also have Run or RunServices keys in the following location:
    
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (or \RunServices)
    
13. If it exists, repeat steps 4 through 9 for this location as well.
14. Exit the Registry Editor when you finish changing these values, and restart the computer.
15. Check to see whether or not this resolves the problem.
16. If it does, and you want these programs to load with Windows, add back one string value at a time by removing the REM and the following space.
17. Restart Windows, and then test the system after each addition. When you find the key causing the problem, you can either REM it out in the registry or delete the value.

NOTE: If you do this in Windows NT 4.0, for each REM line that exists you will see the following message when Windows NT boots:

"Cannot find the file REM (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available."

You will need to click OK for each REM line that generates the message. To avoid this each time you start Windows, once you have determined the program that is causing the problem, delete the string value for that program.

 

Document ID: 1999090215364439
Last Modified: 06/02/2005
Date Created: 09/02/1999
Product(s): TS_GEN

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