For some reason, everytime I start Windows, it opens the System32 folder. -I have checked the "startup" folder in the Start Menu -I have inspected the Registry thoroughly, I have already tried the "userinit.exe" trick, already looked for suspicious things in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN key, and searched the key, "RUN", throughout the Registry. -I can't see anything wrong in the Registry. -I have repaired and reinstalled Microsoft Office XP. Even more confusing, I just got this computer on 7/27/03, which negates the possibility of a virus (no Internet connnection also). This problem has been with me from the first time I restarted the computer. I know someone has the answer, so speak up!! My machine: Dell Dimension 8300 Pentium 4 at 2.8 GHZ 512 MB of RAM at 400 MHZ 80 GB Hard Drive Intel 875P Chipset Windows XP Professional

Go to Start/Run and type in: msinfo32 From there navigate to Software Environment, Startup Programs. The Command column will show you the exact command line used. You are looking for a listing that uses a long file name/path with spaces in it, that is not enclosed in quotes. If found that is the culprit. Go to Start/Run/msconfig/Startup. If this is the case go to Start/Run/Regedit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Look here for the program/folder in question. If listed, double click the entry and put the full path name in quotes. And Verify that all the values in these keys do not contain any incorrect, incomplete, or null entries (such as ""). System32 Folder Opens When Logging on to Windows http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q170/0/86.asp --

These steps and instructions were very helpful. I noted several entries in the registry that did not have quotes around c:\program files\... and therein lies a space. I fixed these entries. And the problem was fixed. Also, while going through these steps, keep an eye out in the registry for invalid or rather, non-existant drive letters for options. For instance, for SBAudigy, there was a drive reference in the registry for L:\ which is non-existent. I removed it. Whether this, or a combination of this and quotes, fixed the problem...hard to tell.

Tom - What do you mean when you said you fixed these entries? Did you put quotes around the whole line or did you remove the spaces? Thanks for any help you can give me. I've never had to do anything with the registry before.

Uncheck /l:eng in the startup list: 1. Click Start, Run 2. Type "msconfig" 3. Click on the startup tab 4. Uncheck /l:eng 5. Click Apply, Close, Restart. This is added to startup by changes made to the settings in the SB Audigy 2 Card software. NOTE: Make sure you have the System32 folder closed when you do this.

Thank you so much! Finally, a solution to my problem. Actually I had two problems: one was Windows XP would not shut down and the other that System32 would always open. I enclosed all the registry entries in Quotes (e.g., "xxx") and removed the funny L:/ENG reference, and Presto, everything shuts down and starts up like it should. Again, many thanks! Jane

In reply to response number 4.... Thanks for this suggestion. I had set up three accounts on my new dell dimension XPS system when I got it. Only one account would open up the system32 folder when that person logged in. Since I had already looked through the suggested registry keys as freshman 01 did and don't particularly care to make changes to the registry if not absolutley necessary I thought I would give your suggestion a try. Very pleased to let you know that by unchecking /L:eng in the startup tab of msconfig and rebooting that this fixed the problem that my user was having. I believe by unchecking this value in the startup tab of msconfig that it removes it from the registry as well. But I did not go back to check. My motto is: "if it ain't broke don't go fixing it"