cannot open msconfig.

I have tried all the methods listed in the sticky. While I found a ton of malware, trojans, etc. on my daughter’s computer I still cannot open msconfig to disable programs on startup. When I try, it flashes open and then closes immediately. Any idea what I am dealing with and how to cure it?

What OS are you running? If it’s Windows 2000, there is no MSConfig.

btw, I am running windows 98.

Lord Ashtar’s comment applies to Win XP as well.

Duh! It it was Windows 2000 the MSCONFIG window wouldn’t “flash open and then close immediately” - he’d get the “Windows cannot find MSCONFIG.EXE error”.

dauerbach: Can you open REGEDIT.EXE? If so, I can give you instructions on how to manually do what MSCONFIG does automatically.

MSConfig works quite well on both my home and work machines - both of which are XP.

Try this, this or this.

Aw hell, look at that! :smack: (Was I thinking of NT??)
Anyway, my hopefully helpful links should outweigh my stupidity :wally

Unfortunately, I am at work and the computer is at home. I will try to access regedit.exe tonight.

If you’re running it from the Start/Run box, try opening a DOS window and running it from there.

Damn. Submitted too soon.
Did you try running it in Safe Mode?

:rolleyes:

Sounds very much like a piece of malware is desperately trying to stop you removing it.

Download and install SysInternals Process Explorer (freeware) - run it and kill any suspicious-sounding processes (the worst that can happen if you acciddentally kill something vital is that Windows will crash and you’ll have to reboot) - then try opening MSConfig.