Novice needs help with (permanently) disabling OSA.EXE

Hey guys,
I'm running Windows ME (I know, I know) and Microsoft Office XP, which was added recently.
I started having problems starting my computer as the system would just freeze while trying to load Outlook. I've figured out that OSA.EXE (the little quick-load program for Office) was the cause of my problems. I've disabled OSA in MSCONFIG, but when I restart the computer it gets dumped right back in to my startup files.
I've tried renaming OSA, but now I get an annoying message saying that Windows can't find OSA.EXE.
How can I remove OSA from my startup and keep it from coming back?

 

You can permanently disable it by following THESE steps.

 

Problem solved! (permanently) disabling OSA.EXE

Your answer didn't work out as it was a tutorial on the office assistant. I was asking about OSA.EXE (sometimes called OSA9.EXE), a quicklaunch utility.
I did figure it out though (by searching another forum. I don't remember which or I'd give credit where credit is due).
You have to go to C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp (or C:\Windows\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp)
Once there you delete the shortcut for Microsoft Office... something. It has a little flag icon. That and disabling in MSCONFIG worked for me at least.

 

Re: Problem solved! (permanently) disabling OSA.EXE

Off course it's not going to work if you don't try it!

osa.exe is the executable for Microsoft Office Startup Assistant, which in the tutorial I linked shows you how to permanently disable it.

Yes you can uncheck in msconfig and delete it in the startup folder, but that is not the correct method, disabling through the program itself is.

When asking for help, at least be prepared to try suggestions before you disregard them completely.

 

Re: Problem solved! (permanently) disabling OSA.EXE

This obviously doesn't involve me, but I'm bored at work so I figured I'd chime in. I think Office Startup Assistant (OSA) and Office Assistant are two different things. Insomniac, your solution would work for that stupid paper clip guy that pops up while using Office, but I think OSA pre-loads elements of Office when your computer starts so that the individual programs like Word or Outlook will open faster. I'm often wrong, so I could be again, but Zod's solution would work for OSA.

 

Re: Problem solved! (permanently) disabling OSA.EXE

No such thing as "this doesn't involve me", you have every right and that's what a forum is for.

And I've been wrong plenty of times (that link I supplied is wrong), and I will be wrong plenty more.

However, the point I really wanted to make was that just deleting a program from the startup folder and unchecking it from msconfig although may very well work, but can also cause problems and leave redundant entries.

Msconfig was designed for troubleshooting.

The ideal way is to do it through the program itself.

Anyway, he's fixed it and happy with it, and that's all that matters.

 

Re: Problem solved! (permanently) disabling OSA.EXE

Thanks. I agree with not using msconfig to permanently solve problems and to only use it for troubleshooting. I hate seeing that reminder on startup that you're using it, but I get queasy turning the reminder off knowing that I'm gonna forget what I changed. I just leave it alone.

 

Well, it's been a while.
Insomniac, I followed your link again and read the entire page. It only explains how to disable the Office Assistant (the little paper clip guy).
My quick and dirty way may have worked, but if you have a better way off shutting off the Office Startup Assistant though the program, I would appreciate your input.