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Summary: If the SYSTEM32 folder opens on log in it's normally the result of a broken start-up entry or a virus. There are steps you can take to correct it.
Why does my System32 folder open when I log in?
As I discussed in a previous article, a lot can happen when you start up or login to Windows. Some of it you want, some of it you don't, and some of it you don't even know about unless you go looking. But every once in a while we come across the strange, unexpected, or bizarre. Several people reported that the system32 folder would open automatically when they logged in. They'd close it and everything seemed fine.
A minor annoyance, or a symptom of a more serious issue?
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As it turns out, Microsoft even has a knowledgebase article on the scenario here. It describes how an improper registry setting can cause the problem and one way of dealing with the issue - editing the registry entry directly.
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. Do your best to make sure that it's not something important, certainly save the text somewhere (copy/paste it to a text file or even write it down), delete it and you should be fine.
Of course the next question is how did it get there? Since things that happen at startup time are usually created by setup programs it's certainly possible that a poorly written setup program could have had a problem and left an incomplete or corrupt entry. If you've installed or tried to install anything recently and the problem began then, then that's a likely scenario.
The other scenario is one we've been hearing much about lately: a virus. The viruses that have been making the news are all fairly sophisticated and apparently well written. But of course not all of them are. It's quite possible that a problematic virus either has infected or has tried to infect your machine. Viruses also like to make things happen at start-up. If they have a problem when writing that startup-entry then this type of problem can result.
The advice? You've heard it before:
Get a good anti-virus package
Make sure the virus signatures are up to date
Scan for viruses on a regular basis
Don't open email attachments from people you don't know
Have a good firewall solution in place
Related:
Article C1888 - January 29, 2004
Hi Leo.
The System32 folder keeps continuously popping up when I start up my machine. I've tried the msconfig advice but it keeps happening. I'm starting to think it's virus related as it happened after I got rid of one(or at least, think I got rid of one). I've scanned for viruses with AVG, and used Spybot too but no luck. Nothing else pops up when System32 does, however I had a look in the folder and there's folders with nothing in them and other suspicious looking items, with names like "CatRoot" inside it. I'm not THAT savvy with computers, and am hesitant to start just poking around the intricities of my machine, but everywhere else that offers help either is a bit too confusing, or doesn't fit my problem. Please, any advice or help in sorting this out would be terrific.
Regards, James.
Posted by: James at August 28, 2007 7:33 AMmy desktop brings up system 32 on everyones accoount what do i do , i am not pc efficient?
Posted by: lindsey at September 30, 2007 12:37 PMhi i am having the same problem and i had restored my computer to a previous date and that fixed it but i just installed a update and its back again and it messes with my game Command and Conquer 3 so that when i try to run it my computer restarts upon restart i get a windows error message and it contains
C:\DOCUME~1\HP_ADM~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERb60b.dir00\Mini111307-01.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\HP_ADM~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERb60b.dir00\sysdata.xml
i was reading some of your other topics on the MSCONFIG but i dont get exactly wat i should do do these files need to be tweaked
Posted by: Ian at November 13, 2007 12:48 PMinstead of system32 folder popping up, the my computer folder keeps popping up for me everytime i start my computer. What do i have to do?
Posted by: tina at January 22, 2008 8:47 AMhai, try at HKEY_CURRENT_USER - Software - Microsoft - Windows - CurrentVersion - Run
Posted by: Azlan at February 17, 2008 7:05 PMsee at right the name Yahoo Massengger, Type REG_SZ data C:\WINDOWS\sistem32. Delete the data entry (C:\WINDOWS\sistem32). u can try to solve the problem.
ty
hai, try at HKEY_CURRENT_USER - Software - Microsoft - Windows - CurrentVersion - Run
Posted by: Azlan at February 17, 2008 7:30 PMsee at right the name Yahoo Massengger, Type REG_SZ data C:\WINDOWS\sistem32. Delete the data entry (C:\WINDOWS\sistem32), click Yahoo Massengger, Edit > Modify > delete C:\WINDOWS\sistem32 entry. u can try to solve the problem.
ty
i m gatting machine basically i boot open the system 32 windows.im trying to scanning sys., reg clean, but same prob.
Posted by: sachin at July 19, 2008 3:20 AMgo to start - run - type msconfig - select the startup tab - disable the /L:ENG then restart. that should clear it up
Posted by: cornbread at December 5, 2008 8:24 AMhi everyone its a registry error just use registry clean expert and it will fix the peoblem.you can find it here http://www.registry-clean.net/
Posted by: kinglooka at May 9, 2009 5:17 PMwhat is system 32folder how i cen open it
Posted by: sekar at June 19, 2009 6:22 AM