Problems controlling Startup programs

  • Thread starter Thread starter CGB
  • Start date Start date
C

CGB

Be patient, please. I think this is on-topic for this NG. Just read on.

I updated my Zone Alarm firewall from vers. 5+ to vers. 6.0.631.003. Since
then, the firewall will not load on startup even though I have that checked
in preferences within the ZA program. Secondly, everytime I boot the
computer a folder which is "C:\Program Files\Zone.Com" appears maximized on
my desktop.

I suspect getting the ZA to start on initial booting (it will run after
starting the computer if I manually double click the shortcut placed on the
desktop but seems to ignore the same command which is in the startup list)
is a function of the program, but perhaps a function of whether/why the
startup utility of XP isn't working.

The second problem which should certainly be on topic for this NG should be
easily (?) solved by you folks, i.e. how do I get the computer to start
without the "C:\Program Files\Zone.Com" maximized on my desktop? I don't
see anything in the startup menu that I could uncheck to avoid this.

Many thanks.

Chet
 
Zone.com is a part of the MSN games-- games.msn.com/ . This is, most
likely a result of having visited or used their site. You should be able to
kill it in the download or in MSCONFIG by unchecking it from the Startup
tab.

Re: the Zone Alarm, try a fresh download and a clean install. Make sure,
during install, that you do not have anything running that may conflict with
the installation, i.e. AV's, etc. or install from the Safe Mode.
Heirloom, old and needs a nap
 
Heirloom,

Thanks for the reply. You are probably right-on with the comment about MSN
games. The content of Zone.com is a sub-folder of games. You said,
"You should be able to
kill it in the download or in MSCONFIG by unchecking it from the Startup
tab." but I don't see anything in the startup tab that seems related to
Click to expand...
this. Any idea what I should "uncheck" from the startup tab? I don't know
what you mean by "kill it in the download."

I am about to unload and re-install the Zone Lab firewall, although I did
have anti-virus programs, etc. inactive on initial installation of the newer
program

Thanks,

Chet
 
If nothing looks 'apparent' in MSCONFIG.........try Start, Run, and in the
dialog box type: services.msc and then click on Run. You may be
able to find what is initiating this at boot from there......not sure, but,
I think you may be able to disable it from there, as well. As far as the
'download'.........I just figured someone had gone to a gaming site and
downloaded a game or such. I am not familiar with the MSN Gaming Zone,
however, I do have a folder under Programs by that name with a subfolder of
'Windows'.....both of which are empty. I am not even sure how this got on
my computer, unless it was part of an update, service pack, etc. In any
case, I will be deleting it after checking the registry. Another option
for you may be to get a good process viewer like Process Explorer, free,
from www.sysinternals.com . This little app will show you every running
process, and everything about it. It even keeps a 'graph' over a set time
period that you can move your mouse pointer over and it will display what is
using the cpu cycles and the percentage at that point. Also, have you
looked in the Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel? It doesn't show in
mine, but, if you click on the 'add Windows components' on the left, there
is an MSN Explorer listed and this may be a component of that.....you can
remove or add it by using the checkbox. Please note, most of the above is
a 'swag' on my part.......you should consult one of the resident gurus for
anything serious.....I'm just a newbie at this XP stuff.
Re: Zone Alarm........were you attempting to 'upgrade' or a clean install?
ZA *usually* shuts all of its' components down before the upgrade, retaining
your settings. However, if True Vector or another part of the firewall was
running, it could have corrupted your install. If the next attempt does
not work, uninstall (after completely shutting it down....do a C-A-D and
make sure True Vector is not running) and try your new install from Safe
Mode. I'm running the ZAPro and I know it will disable the Windows
firewall....can't have them both. Hope this helps.
Heirloom, old and 'bout my bedtime
 
By trial and error, I think I got it fixed.
I also run SpyBot Search and Destroy and use the "immunize" function.
Searching the web somewhere I read that having that immuniztion thing
applied could interfere with some firewall installations. I "unimmunized"
every thing, rebooted, reset ZA to run on startup and then rebooted. It
worked and the Zone.com folder did not open, just the firewall. I then
"re-immunized" with Spybot and all seems to be well.

I had tried the services.msc but again didn't see anything "obvious."

The game folder, I believe, comes with the XP or perhaps Hewlett Packard put
it onto my machine. I've never played games on the computer and that folder
and files were there when I bought the computer, with XP SP1.

Thanks for your replies. I thought you'd be interested in how it turned
out.

Chet
 
CGB said:
By I thought you'd be interested in how it turned
out.
Chet
Click to expand...

Interested!?
This is the essential part of the whole excersize!
Let others know how the problem was solved.
Thank you
 
You did good, CGB! Sounds like to plundered through this one on your own
and figured it out. That's usually how I get my problems resolved. I keep
a back up image of my boot HD on a seperate drive using Acronis, so, if I
really jack something up, it is very easy to recover. System Restore is a
wonderful thing, but, I like having the full image back up for the "just in
case" aspect.

I figured you had something interfering with the install of ZA, either the
old app not shut down completely, an AV or, as in your case, the immunize
feature of Spybot. Once again, you did good!!
Heirloom, old and success is a good
thing
 
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