System32 opens on startup

Question

I have Windows 7 x64 SP1 and when my OS started, Explorer with C:\Windows\system32 opens. What is it?

May it be a virus?

Answer 1

This Microsoft Help article is for other OS, but is likely to be relevant: System32 Folder Opens When Logging on to Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows NT 4.0

Symptom: When you log on to Microsoft Windows, a Microsoft Windows Explorer window may open that displays the contents of the System32 folder.

This behavior also occurs if there is a String value that contains only a single quote character (") as the Value data in the following Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Cause: This behavior can occur if a null, incomplete, or damaged entry exists in the registry.

Resolution: Use Registry Editor to view the following two Windows registry keys:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Verify that all the values in these keys do not contain any incorrect, incomplete, or null entries (such as "").

Answer 2

I believe I may have found a fix here, and it seems that Internet Explorer is the culprit. It will have you download this file and use the following directions.

To use the VBS Files: Download .vbs file and save it to your hard drive (you may want to right click and use Save Target As). Double click the vbs file. You will be prompted when the script is done.

NOTE: If your anti-virus software warns you of a "malicious" script, this is normal if you have "Script Safe" or similar technology enabled. These scripts are not malicious, but they do make changes to the System Registry.

Answer 3

You may have a program or shortcut in your startup folder that opens the folder. Look in C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ and ensure there is noting there that opens the folder.