BigDogBigFeet BigDogBigFeet

Where oh where is my msconfig.exe?

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Where oh where is my msconfig.exe?

Do I still have it and it's been hidden by an installed app or is something else going on?

from WinCustomize Forums

Hi all, 

Well as a result of Po's thread Virtual Memory Question I've discovered that when I click on start, run and type in msconfig and press enter ...... nothing happens.  I fired up explorer and searched my windows sub, no go and did a system Search twice and again no go.  Did some web searching and discovered one of 2 possibilities an installed app has it hidden from my through a system key setting or in the worst case malware.  At present I'm not suspecting malware.  System has no other problems currently and it's possible any of these progs could have it hidden: Ad-Aware 2007 Free, SpyBot Search and Destroy (I'm new to both of these) I also have Tune-Up Utilities 2006 and please don't gasp, Norton System Works(well mostly, lol).

Anywho, I thought I'd post to see if anyone has some insight as to what's caused this and what Reg Key(s) might be involved.  I'm thinking that's probably what's happened.

308,518 views 157 replies
Reply #76 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Is there a way to keep it from starting up at all when I boot?


is msconfig working for you now po? un tick ituneshelper and quicktime in start up.. :)
Reply #77 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Find the process as Big Dog Big Feet has said and then go to your msconfig and look at the startup for the program in the command area is where it will show the file it is starting to run that process. Uncheck it and restart your computer.

SGT :HOT: 
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #78 from WinCustomize Forums Top
is msconfig working for you now po? un tick ituneshelper and quicktime in start up


It's working.
I did that. I've never used it before. I got all these pop-ups...Restart for change to take effect, etc. When I rebooted I got the 'running in diagnostic or user set mode' stuff. I wasn't sure if this was safe or not, so I turned them back on.

I have reinstalled all my SD app's.
Bootskin
Log On
Desktop Gadgets
DesktopX
Windowblinds and Skinstudio6
Icon Packager and Developer
IconX
SounPackager
ObjectBar
RightClick
Theme Manger
I rebooted after each install.
Updated to pre-release versions of
Windowblinds
DesktopX
and Object Edit
re-booted
Everything running goo. MSCONFIG still working. Defrag works. Nothing vanishing on me so far.
Reply #80 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it's safe to do po, hasn't hurt me yet! :LOL:
Reply #81 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it's safe to do po, hasn't hurt me yet!


Okay, but it's running in an other but normal mode, right? When I re-boot after making changes, I get the pop-up. There is a box to check, so that the pop-up doesn't coma up again. Do I just check that?

While I'm here...I'm almost done with all this reformatting, etc. Questions..
Do I leave the setting to compress all files on disk on?
Do I allow for Indexing? (I heard this just uses more resources and doesn't make any noticeable difference when on.)
Reply #82 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Do I just check that?


yes

Do I allow for Indexing?


yes

Do I leave the setting to compress all files on disk on?


what???????
Reply #83 from WinCustomize Forums Top
what???????


Sorry. Do I want to use the Compress Drive To Save Disk Space' setting?

*got rid of three more add-ons. Is that better?
Reply #84 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you're talking about the Windows Compression tool, leave it OFF.

*got rid of three more add-ons. Is that better?


atta boy....keep going
Reply #85 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That's up to you on the compression, Po'. It'll only smoosh down (technical terminology) the files you don't use a lot, and if you do need to use them, it only takes a couple of milliseconds to uncompress them.
Reply #86 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you're talking about the Windows Compression tool, leave it OFF.


Wait. Why? I'd always been told it was fine.
Reply #87 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you're talking about the Windows Compression tool, leave it OFF.


I guess that's it. When you click on your drice and click properties...at the bottom it gives you the option to compress files and allow for indexing.

Thanks.
Reply #88 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why? I'd always been told it was fine.


It was fine when the biggest HD out there was 1/10mb's. Now it's virtually unlimited....why waste the time and performance it takes to perform an un-needed process
Reply #89 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Anyone post a solution yet for how to fix this problem? (no msconfig visible)
Reply #91 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ok here is what I did I uninstalled all my sd programs via sdc after uninstalling impulse. Still no go..
So I check startups and find a logitech mouse setpoint driver. Deleted it and uninstalled the program. Deleted all prefetch files in windows prefetch folder. ran %temp% and deleted all temp files in the temp folder. Then restarted the computer ... after the restart ran a reg cleaner called Clean My PC registry cleaner. Ran msconfig and it's back and everything is normal.
I suspect it is a conflict with maybe the set point driver for logitech caused the problem and it may have reacted with a sd program like impulse maybe?
Anyone else have any luck as this or running like wise programs?


I don't have a logitech mouse driver and my startup folder is empty. I don't know what windows prefetch folder and windows prefetch files are. Where are they located? I need to know the path to the $temp$ folder you mentioned also. I have 2 different registry cleaners so I should be covered there.
Reply #92 from WinCustomize Forums Top
BDBF,

Click on Start/Run .. type this into the box %systemroot%\prefetch .. hit OK .. that's prefetch

Click on Start/Run .. type this into the box %temp% .. hit OK .. that's temp folder
Reply #93 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, My startup is empty. I deleted everything in prefetch and everything in temp. Rebooted and ran a reg cleaner rebooted again and no go. Problem still exists.
Reply #94 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I did a system restore and got msconfig back .. along with fixing a couple other oddities. I'm guessing something I installed in the past 2 weeks caused the problem. Haven't re-installed Impulse yet .. but did update with SDC
Reply #95 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've use system restore points but, I can't get them to work. Windows won't restore using the restore points. Can this be done in Safe Mode or by booting to the recovery console?
Reply #96 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I fired up a bench machine and installed everything related to Stardock....msconfig still shows and no other oddities show up.

Still think it's the permissions. Haven't heard back from John yet in regards to the fix I sent him....maybe it blew his machine up...... ;p

BigDogBigFeet- run #15 again and post results .....
Reply #97 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, I think this will do it. Looks the same as before.

Reply #98 from WinCustomize Forums Top
OK. I need someone who 'fixed' (via restore or backup) the missing msconfig to run that and post the same snap.
Reply #99 from WinCustomize Forums Top
bumb
Reply #100 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Fixed with System Restore. here's Dependency Walker shot now: