Tech Team Newsletter - Volume 5 Issue 3

Tech Team: In the Trenches

May 2007 Volume 5 Issue 3

Table of Contents

Technology Q & A - Closing a Disobedient Folder

Q.When I start my Windows XP computer, the folder C:\windows\system32 pops up repeatedly every time. Why is this and what should I do to resolve it?

A.If the System32 folder window keeps opening all by itself every time you start your computer, it may be due to the fact that a remaining component of an uninstalled program is causing problems in the Windows Registry or with your computer’s start-up function. (The Registry is the database of software and hardware information Windows depends on to work correctly.)

Microsoft has an article about how to troubleshoot the issue at support.microsoft.com/kb/170086. The article’s explanation, which is a bit technical, entails changing your computer’s Registry file and getting rid of incomplete entries — like quotation marks on a line by themselves in lieu of file path information in the Data column of the Registry Editor window.

Editing the Registry incorrectly can cause the system to fail so the company recommends that you exercise caution and back up your Registry file before beginning the process; a link to another article about backing up and revising the Registry is also featured on the page.

Backing up your PC or producing a restore point (a snapshot of your system that you can refer to, when necessary) with System Restore in the Start menu’s Help & Support section is an excellent suggestion before you start playing with your machine.

If the thought of tinkering with the Windows Registry sounds too terrifying, there are other alternatives. A free script from Kelly’s Korner, a Web site dedicated to tuning Windows XP, might take care of the issue for you; search for the link called “System32 Folder Opens Upon Boot” at www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm. Double-click on the downloaded script file to open it.

If that doesn’t repair the problem, registry-cleaning utilities like Registry Mechanic (www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic) might lend a hand.

If the System32 folder keeps showing up after you verify your Registry for defective entries, a program fragment may be impeding your computer’s start-up function. You can use the System Configuration utility to find out what programs are starting up with Windows and what might be influencing the System32 folder, and to turn off unnecessary processes.

Utilizing the System Configuration function may cause some Windows alerts regarding configuration changes to pop up, and you should proceed with caution. Microsoft has another article that explains the tool at support.microsoft.com/kb/310560, and the Net Squirrel site describes all the aspects of the process at www.netsquirrel.com/msconfig.