Errant Folder "Starting-up" ...

A quick question tonight please ...

I must be brain-dead (uh, more so than usual), but every time I start this machine lately, I'm getting a "Microsoft" Folder starting-up, and displaying on the screen. It "seems" to have something to do with some Windows Live crap I downloaded awhile back (as I do have a Hotmail account, and use MSN Messenger also).

An 'Enhancement Pack' file or something along that line is contained within the folder.

Not sure exactly how or why this started, but how might I turn it off please?

Thanks in advance,
g ...

 

Hopefully this (Please see attached) will better explain the problem, and what I am trying to do here. This "window" (?) jumps-up on my screen every time I start this machine, and I would like for that to not happen.

Thanks ...

 

Hi David - and thanks ...

Here's a screenshot (thanks again!), and no sir - not using msconfig (I well understand not that-that's a big "no-no").

I believe that folder is still in its original location, I mean, the only way it would be deleted/moved is if I did it correct? How would I know if its been deleted/moved, or how would I determine its original location?

Thanks as always ...

 

Struggling as usual with a screenshot. Not sure if I can get it to stick here or not.

**Ok, I'm running-out of edit time, and not sure how to make this screenshot SMALL enough to be "accepted" here?? I've got it down to 351KB from 1.3 MB

 

Well, this all seemed to work well-enough a month-or-so-ago when I was able to take the time necessary to tend to it - but now - it's baaaaack!!! And whatever it was that I (er, um, that "WE") had done to make it disappear before, is not working now.

It (Windows Installer) asks me; "Are you sure you want to uninstall this product?" - and then TELLS me; "This action is only valid for products that are currently installed?" ... ?? "Something" must surely be "installed" for me to get this errant start-up window - yet again ... no?

 

Would this be relevant? Article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907342

 

Thank you for the offer to help/reply, but no, I don't see anywhere in the link that you were kind-enough to provide where it is relevant.

As I seem to have an absolute degree-of-difficulty with screen-shots, would anyone be available to scroll down to my post#2 here, and view that one (?). That is the problem I am still having (though we were able to eliminate it here once before - somehow - it is back again).

This thing drives me crazy and eats at me on a daily basis.

Thanks in advance ...

 

Sorry, no intent to "bump", but I just noticed that this only happens on this User Account (the "Limited" one that I use to access the internet) - it does not occur in the Admin. account on this PC.

Not sure if that is helpful/relevant to the problem or not (?) ...

 

Ok. Can anyone tell me if "getting rid of" (uninstalling) Internet Explorer might clear this up? I've had IE7 installed on this PC since it first came-out (though I really only use Firefox), but I think I also have a "partial" download of IE 8 downloaded/installed. Could that be causing this problem?

 

Can't really help you with your problem, but one thing is for sure..... NEVER uninstall Internet Explorer!!!! Apparently it's intertwined with Windows so your OS could go haywire if you do that!! Additionally you need IE to get Window Updates. Moreover, Firefox NEEDS Windows, like it or not.

You don't know whether you have IE 8 installed or not? Check it out in Add/Remove Programs. If it's there, you can remove IE 8. Here are the instructions on how to remove IE 8. Read them carefully prior to proceeding!!
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

 

Wow, thanks. This continues to get more and more confusing.

IE 8 "shows" in my Add/Remove Programs list - but it's different than all the other programs listed, in that it does not show its "size" listed there (as it usually does or always has in the past with IE7, IE6, etc.) - such as '7.24 MB' - or whatever it might be, for example). Also, whenever I happen to be in my IE browser, I am prompted to install it (IE8), and given an option to "Ask Later".

If I "Remove" IE8 from the programs list, I will then not have any sort of "IE" - correct? There is no "IE7" showing in the list. Should I try to find, and download IE7 first please?

This PC has always been configured for "Automatic Updates" from Microsoft - since the day we got it in August 2002 (all my PC's have been set-up for Auto. Updates).

Can you tell me if I should try to find IE7, and install it, before I remove IE8?

Lastly, there is something in Add/Remove for "Windows Live Essentials" (58.63 MB), but the last time I attempted to remove it, it would not budge. I think it's related to the problem I'm having with the start-up folder, because inside the folder there are two files: "Office Live" and "Search Enhancement Pack" - both of which, as you know, are from Microsoft. Any clues on how to get rid of this - as I think it may be the root of the entire problem?

*UPDATE* - when I open IE, and select Help>About Internet Explorer, it says "IE8" there - but I am still getting the prompt to IN-stall it??

 

IE 6 was released on Aug 27, 2001, IE 7 on Oct 2006. So I assume that you had IE 7 installed?

I blocked IE 8 from installing and therefore cannot see how it should look like in the Add/Remove Programs. However, I see IE 7 as 6.60 MB and don't see IE 6 in it although I had IE 6.

It sounds as if IE 8 didn't install properly since you get nudges from Windows Update to install it although you seem to have it. Could be a corrupted install, I really don't know. When you get a prompt to install IE 8 click "don't install" and see what happens.

From what I've read in the link that I posted in my previous reply when IE 8 installed, one can remove it and one will get automatically IE 7 back if that was the previous one.

Here's some additional info from Microsoft re IE 8. Read it carefully!! http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950719/

I don't know about Windows Live Essentials but got a feeling that it has something to do with the errant folder popping up. Perhaps, other members who are using IE 8 will be able to help you further along.

 

Ok. So I've removed (uninstalled) IE8 now (and restarted the machine) - and now I have no IE whatsoever. Not that I able to access 'as-per-usual', anyway.

I also still have this annoying "C:\Program Files\Microsoft" folder starting-up with the machine - and am still not able to remove (uninstall) "Windows Live Essentials" (58.63-Problematic-MB).

Any hints on what my next ANTI-Microsoft move(s) might be please??

 

Hi David, and thanks.

I've been working with/on the other PC (Vista), and just getting back here now to read your post.

I think your idea makes the most sense. Now, all I have to do is figure-out how to "transfer" everything to a new UA ...:-D

Thanks again - it may be a day or two before I am able to attempt the suggested and aforementioned 'acrobatics' ...:-D