mIRC Internet Relay Chat Client starts every time I bootup Windows 2000.
How do I remove this program, or at least stop it from launching every time I bootup?
I don’t see this program in Start>Settings>Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs.
If necessary, I don’t mind editing the Registry.
Have you checked in Start/Programs/Autostart ? If there is a shortcut there it will auto-start. Consider otherwise using a program such as Codestarter to block it from starting on boot.
Is it “pure” mIRC or is it a scripted one? I have never known mIRC to autostart in over 10 years of using it.
If you decide you really want to remove it, and it isn’t showing in remove programs (you have admin status yes?) then there should be an uninstaller in the folder.
If it isn’t being launched from Start|Programs|Startup then it is in the registry. You can use a freeware utility like AutoRuns to find the exact location, then delete that value in regedit. Back up your registry before making any changes.
If mIRC wasn’t something you installed then there may be a trojan running on your system. It would be a good idea to run a virus scan with HouseCall or a similar utility.
I second the recommendation for a full virus scan - some trojans and viruses attempt to spread themselves by sending themselves to other users on IRC.