# Virus?  "System 32 Folder"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-system-32-folder/218662>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 12, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-system-32-folder/218662 "2003-12-12T20:31:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SoulSearching](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SoulSearching](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulSearching)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-system-32-folder/218662/1 "2003-12-12T20:31:50Z")

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Every time I boot my up my computer, a folder called System 32 will open by itself. If I close it too fast, it would open again right away. I believe I got some sort of virus or spyware which is doing this to me. I have no “unusual” looking programs in the programs running list when I CTRL+ALT+DLT…

So does anyone else have this program? Sometimes, very rarely, the system 32 folder will open even long after the computer has been up and running.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-system-32-folder/218662/2 "2003-12-12T20:43:18Z")

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Not familiar with it, but you can check for a virus at [http://housecall.antivirus.com](http://housecall.antivirus.com). It’ll always be up to date.

Are you using Ad-Aware or Spybot? That’ll check any spyware problems.

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**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-system-32-folder/218662/3 "2003-12-12T20:58:34Z")

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The System32 folder is a normal part of Windows. It sounds like you just have a shortcut to it running at startup. Check your **Startup** folder under **Start|Programs**. If it’s not there you can go to **Start|Run** , type **msconfig** , hit **OK** , and go to the **Startup** tab to disable any items that shouldn’t be running (Note: this assumes you’re using Win98, ME, or XP. If you’re using another version of Windows you’ll need to manually check startup locations in the registry).

It would also be a good idea to run Housecall, Ad-aware, and Spybot to check for other problems.