Startup programs - need help turning them off/ msconfig doesnt help

[Jared701]

Hi, I work for the university that I attend as a low level tech guy for our computing sites. There is a curricular software in one of our sites called aspen. It automatically starts when windows starts on any machine that has it installed. It causes the machine to lock up and most users just leave it like this and move to another machine. Removing the program isn't an option. I disabled everything in msconfig only to find that this startup is somehow linked to another program which must be run on every machine on campus (not sure why disabling this other program removes this startup...) I know that there is another way to go through windows to disable startup items... just can't rmemeber how to do it. Any help would be much appreciated.

Edit: this is windows xp professional

[DoggyDaddi]

You're saying this program doesn't list under ANY of the tabs after choosing Selective Startup in msconfig? What about in the autoexec or configsys? If you didn't choose 'Selective Startup' before making your changes its possible the system didn't save them?

Chances are, its going to be there somewhere, possibly linked or acceced by another file. While I think it's unlikely, maybe the file is being initialized externally on start-up thru the network you're accessing thru? Also.. I'e read that some programs re-initialize on every boot-up, using a new, random name for the file generated each time.

Sorry if none of this helps... I get nervous giving folks advice on how to futz with things and not being able to watch over their shoulder to make sure they don't hose something irreperable :(

[eno-on]

Try Hijack this (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) to disable them?

[sirius]

Dunno if it may help, check out this link
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php

[whisper]

You might want to check out the utilities from Macecraft (http://www.jv16.org/). They are not free but are pretty cheap (you can download full-function trials for 30-day use before purchasing), and I've been a long time fan. If you want a complete set of tools, go for jv16 Power Tools. Otherwise, RegSupreme Pro should fit the bill. It's got one of the best (and safest) registry cleaners I've seen, and it also gives you control of startup programs, which is what you're looking for.