Solved Want to stop an .exe file from running

[kdkrone]

I have a problem with an .exe file (PPScheduler.exe---for a Nuance program I use, PaperPort) that causes an error message (PPScheduler has stopped working), and it is not a necessary file as far as I can tell. I found an entry in the registry under HKEY-USERS, S-1-5-21-xxxxxx, Software, Microsoft, Windows, Run,PPSCHEDULER.

I could delete the registry key or change its name, I suppose, but I am wondering where the listing of the files under RUN are housed in the Windows directory. It is not a service. I can't find it in Task Scheduler. How is it launched? Other services or files that are housed in the registry Run entry above are things like DroboAssist, GoogleChromeAutoLaunch, ICloudDrive, iCloudservices, Akamai Netsession Interface, Dropbox Update)

Thanks,
Ken K

 

[townsbg]

From the start menu type in msconfig and then click on the startup tab; uncheck anything that you don't want to run on boot up. Also from the start menu look under the startup folder. You can also use Winpatrol. https://www.winpatrol.com/winpatrol/

 

[kdkrone]

Thanks. I had looked in all of the Startup folders without success. MSCONFIG was painless..!

 

[townsbg]

I've noticed that the startup folder usually isn't used but it is an option. Other than those two there is task scheduler and services.msc. Services is mostly used by Windows programs that run all the time or run on demand whereas task scheduler is usually only used for performing certain work and then terminated and it is also mostly by windows. Second party and third partly applications usually use msconfig but some use services. Winpatrol (which I used to use) allows you to control msconfig and the startup folder and performs real time monitoring of those. I'm not sure if it is free any more though. So can we call this resolved?

 

[kdkrone]

townsbg,

Thanks again for the additional info. I certainly consider this resolved!

Cheers
KK