I keep getting the error 'fash.exe failed to start ...' - how do I stop it?

Leo - I am also getting a call for fash.exe when I boot. I am running Aluria Sofware Spyscanner which seemed to catch many more spy items than any other scanner I've tried. The secondary search windows I was getting have disappeared but there still seems to be some reference. It appears that Fash.exe and aqadcup.exe are being called at startup - and both are looking for 2ndsrch.dll which no longer exists - hence the error message when I boot. How do I get rid of these references?

My initial reaction would be to try another scanner, because incomplete manual removal often results in the thing coming back. However, you can certainly treat it as a simple start up problem. This article http://ask-leo.com/archives/000025.html talks about Windows start up and the tools you might use to examine, and disable, things that auto-load.

I found that FASH.EXE message @startup on a clients computer. Annoying, yes. It's apparently the result of an uninstalled program. Could even be uninstalled spyware. Either way, The registered version of Spysweeper and Advanced Optimizer will get rid of it. Seeing as it mentions that it cannot find an application associated with it points me to the registry. The registry key for it is still there and is looking for the program which is no longer there. Advanced Optimizer will take care of that.

I have some .exe files in my msconfig and don't know what they are, could you help.

amee.exe
Gdy5.exe
rizzawp.exe
ojghil.exe
stgz.exe

feels like spyware. Get and run a spyware scanner and see how much that cleans up. Recommendations here: http://recommend.pugetsoundsoftware.com