I have a few programs/processes that I do NOT want to start then Win98SE boots.

I've disabled (unchecked 'em the System Information/System Configuration Utility) and on looking at the Registry I notice that they've moved from the
key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
to the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run-
key

As I won't want them ever, can I delete them from the run- key?
Can I delete the whole run- key?

I s'pose I could backup the Registry, export and then delete the key and see but I though it would be easier to ask you guys....

Cheers MTK

Leave the registry alone, unless you really really know what you are doing. the run- is for those things that are deselected in msconfig. If they are deselected then leave it, if you delete the run- key then they may well run on start up, or worse still windows will find an error in the registry and never work again, or just create the key again. If you don't want something ever then uninstall would be the best bet. ;)

Amen to that registry is a minefield.
There was a good command you could type in dos, scanreg/fix, I think, but when I try it tell me invalid command, prolly got it wrong, anybody know the correct dos command ?.

Tony, start here (just did a google on "scanreg/fix"):

http://808hi.com/56k/registry.asp

no luck get back.

Use the MSCONFIG as mentioned above, nice GUI and options.

You're right about the keys you've found, check out the Services too, just next to it in the tree as this is also where some TSR programs are found.


Cheers

GE

Mac the Knife

As others have suggested I would avoid editing the registry directly unless you really know what you're doing.

Instead there are various pieces of software that'll let you manage the programs that start with Windows. The neat thing is that they often also pull together the registry run entries along with the Startup group from the Program Files menu so that you can see them all in one list.

For example, System Mechanic (http://www.iolo.com/) is one - that also gives you the option to simply disable rather than delete various startup entries so that you can restore them later if you run into any problems.