Why does my System32 folder open when I log in?

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I also have the system32 problem. However my system32 window would open not only on the startup, but also whenever Internet Explorer is opened. I have ran AVG, AdAware, & Spybot Search & Destroy. Machine is all clean. I can go in msconfig and alter the startup. Then when I reboot the machine, the system32 window does not show up. But once I open the Internet Explorer window, it pops up and is completely back again showing up when the computer is turned on and when IE is opened. Could you please tell me where to fix whatever is running when IE opens?
Thank you,

Wow. And yet, it sounds exactly like spyware.

I would make sure that the databases used by all of your scanning programs are up-to-date. It sounds like you're getting re-infected immediately on IE running, which the scanners are *supposed* to clean up for ut. Perhaps try Microsoft's anti-spyware program as well. http://ask-leo.com/spyware_how_do_i_remove_and_avoid_spyware.html

Your instrutions were perfect.
It's so easy now to fix it but I would've never figured it out on my own.

Thank you so much.

I tried all the suggestions in the KB article as well as what you've said here about trying to fix it in msconfig. I find nothing that shows values "" or with any missing ". My System 32 folder opens on login and when I open IE. Many times it will open itself 2 -3 times consecutively before it quits. Any ideas? Thanks.

Thanks for your help. Your instructions were perfect.

Mary: if you've tried all the instructions so far, the only advice I have at this point is to make sure you're running an up-to-date spyware package. This article has more: http://ask-leo.com/spyware_how_do_i_remove_and_avoid_spyware.html

i have the same problem and yours instroctions resolve my problem.

Thanks.

For some reason in msconfig under the "Startup" tab, there was a line for the system32 folder to open. This was on a computer that I was repairing for a client. It only happened in 2 of the 8 accounts on the computer so I would have to assume that some piece of software puts it there. If it were hardware alone, all accounts share the same hardware so all accounts would have had the system32 folder opening.

Another spot to check is in the Documents and Settings folder for the particular user, look the Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder and see what you have in there.

There are only so many locations where a startup program can hide itself.

It could always ( but unlikely ) be malware that is loaded when you login and then it opens the folder. In that case, you'd have to track down the malware to get it to stop.

-Ryan

"In many cases the solution is actually just a little bit easier. Run msconfig, or autoruns (both described in this article), and look for a startup entry that matches that described in the knowledgebase article - that's likely the cause of the problem."

-- I have no way of knowing which to disable, because the Startup list is in a window I cannot make larger, and all the listings end at "Current Ver." What do I do next? Thanks.

Also, this started happening when my AOL Spyware told me it was disabling some things. I wonder if I should enable them again and see what happens.

Addition to my previous post --

In msconfig-Startup, the entries in the 2nd column -- Command -- also all end with "...", so I don't know which of them are going to system32. Two of them end with "system...": NeroCheck and ctfmon. There is also one line that has no entry in the Command column.

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