Help please!
Ages ago I downloaded some free software which I decided I didn't want. You know the stuff - you have x days to use it and then buy it or it locks. So once it had locked I uninstalled it. All fine as far as that is concerned, except that it has a pop-up reminder that it's locked and if I want it I should go and purchase it...this pop-up appears on startup every. bloody. time.

I know I need to go into the start up directory (or something like that) and I've taken a look but can't see that there is anything there.

Can anyone tell me the proper file I should be searching in to delete this bit of rubbish? It's not affecting my laptop or causing anything more than vague annoyance on my part...but I'd love to be rid of it!

Ta.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Mon 7 Jul 2008, 11:35, 6 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

.
As well as the Windows startup directory, the windows registry also contains entries for which programs to run on startup.

The easy way of fixing it is to install a startup manager program that will let you select which programs to run on startup. One program you can use is Startup Genie (this itself is one of those X days before it locks type programs - perhaps further Googling can find an alternative). When using it, make sure the program you are disabling is the one that brings up the message. Disabling other programs may have unwanted side effects unless you're certain about what they do.

The hard way is to use the Windows registry editor and manually check the following registry keys and if you see the offending program, delete its entry from the key. Only do this if you're sure you know what you're doing.

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ RunServices
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ RunServicesOnce
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ RunOnce\Setup
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Mon 7 Jul 2008, 12:03, Reply)

Lavasoft
Adaware. Free download. removes spyware, adware and malware as well as data miners.
( Kroney, Mon 7 Jul 2008, 12:30, Reply)

@Kroney
If the program Chickenlady used had a legitimate purpose, a Spyware remover may not clean it.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Mon 7 Jul 2008, 12:47, Reply)

IT'S FIXED!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!
Thanks to Al's advice - it seemed to be the easiest solution - it now all works without that bloody annoying pop up from DU meter - which may well be a lovely bit of software, but quite frankly I don't need it.

And ccleaner seems like a good bit of kit too...maybe it'll stop Mozilla Hyperjackalope (what it's calling itself today) from crashing as it often does.

Ahhh...the power of b3ta!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Mon 7 Jul 2008, 14:04, Reply)

Hitman Pro.
Here is their official site: www.hitmanpro.nl/hitmanpro/

It's an all-in-one spyware killer. Install it, tell it to run, and when it asks you if you agree with the conditions of use and it gives you the option of saying Yes to all, do that. (The agreements are all standard boiler plate.) It will automatically download and install a load of anti-spyware stuff, automatically update it and configure it. Start it about an hour before you go to bed to make sure you've answered its prompts, then let it run overnight. It'll kill anything bad in there.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 7 Jul 2008, 18:18, Reply)

^
Kind of like an antibiotic?
( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Tue 8 Jul 2008, 2:32, Reply)