Windows 7 spontaneously starting programs and applications – why?

Topic

New Reply

My new Windows 7 ASUS laptop spontaneously starts programs and applications ‘off its own bat’ – ranging from Thunderbird via IE to calculator. All ASUS could suggest was to reset the defaults in the BIOS.
Also does not retain the ‘administrator’ setting – I am the only user and am set as administrator.
Not a happy bunny! I do not like some programmer in Microsoft in effect telling me what I can and cannot do – without choices.
How can one remove these so-called improvements?

Reply | Quote

Replies

Does this happen when you boot the system or after the system is booted? If this is after the system is booted, I recommend a thorough antimalware scan using your favorite tools.

By not retain “administrator” setting do you mean that your user account is not a member of the administrator group? If not, what do you mean? Remember, starting with Vista and carrying forward to Win7 even though your account is a member of the administrators group you do not have the same rights and privileges as the builtin “Adminstrator” account.

I’m not sure what you mean by Microsoft deciding what you can and can’t do. AFAIK, you can do the same things with Windows 7 as you could with prior operating systems. Can you be more specific?

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

Do you have a multimedia keyboard (ie, one with mail, music, calculator buttons)? It sounds like either the buttons are stuck, there’s a short somewhere or the driver is at fault.
And I too am a little confused about the Admin situation you are having.

Reply | Quote

Thanks for response.
1) The spontaneous program etc start can be at any time.
2) I am the only user, and the word ‘administrator’ is shown after my log-in picture and username.
I know nothing of ‘built-in’ administrator accounts – what are they and why are they?
How do I get myself in the position that I can USE the computer?
I have another laptop running Vista – sort of!
I only got this Windows 7 machine because I could not replace my XP machine!
Wireless mouse but built in keyboard.
Already scanned with Malwarebytes Antimalware on a full scan – no change

Reply | Quote

What is your question about administrator then? Are you saying that the next time you boot your account won’t be an administrator?

The builtin Administrator account is disabled by default on Windows 7. See How to enable or disable the builtin Administrator account for more information.

See post #3. It seems as though you might have a key stuck on your keyboard. If you’ve checked this thoroughly see Autoruns or WhatInStartup to see what is being started when you boot the system. If you are unsusre of what you are seeing please post a screenshot of the startup contents.

NOTE: Autoruns will produce an enormous amount of information. You should look at the Logon tab.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

I need to be able to re-set the attributes of files in ‘Properties’. Each time I try the set-up reverts to ‘write protected’ despite my being nominally an administrator.
I am told in a previous reply that my being an administrator does not mean that I am an administrator!
How can I make my computer do what I want despite Microsoft’s stupidity?
All the keyboard keys seem to work – it’s a brand-new computer.
I must admit that if Windows 7 keeps on being as it is, I will ditch a lot of cash and go to Mac.

Reply | Quote

Poltor, I can sense your frustration, but I can also assure you that these problems have nothing to do with Microsoft’s ability to design Operating Systems, nor anything to do with an inherent fault in Windows 7 (based on the fact there are millions of PC’s running Win 7 and this is not a widely reported problem).

It is much more likely that you have faulty hardware or there has been a system compromise or software corruption. All of those are just as possible with Apple kit. Just yesterday I had a Mac user with a White Screen of Death (not good!).

Being an Admin in Windows 7 is not the same as the full admin account. This is the same concept as a user in Linux may have additional permissions assigned, but is not Root. There are options and features in the OS, that if left exposed could cause many problems, so they are controlled through the Admin account.

Have you looked at the Autoruns suggestion from JoeP517? The other thing to consider is a clean boot to investigate the cause.

Finally, has the machine always exhibited these issues from day one? If the machine has a factory default re-install, it may be worth performing that as a final step before considering a warranty repair. Many manufacturers wont touch warranty returns for software issues unless a factory restore has been performed and the problem continues to present itself.

Reply | Quote

I need to be able to re-set the attributes of files in ‘Properties’. Each time I try the set-up reverts to ‘write protected’ despite my being nominally an administrator. – Where are the files located?

I am told in a previous reply that my being an administrator does not mean that I am an administrator! – No, you were told that you do not have the same free unfettered access as in XP. Where you are limited is in changing objects which are in protected areas of the system such as C:Windows or C:Program Files. That is why you get a UAC prompt.

How can I make my computer do what I want despite Microsoft’s stupidity? – What are you unable to do?
All the keyboard keys seem to work – it’s a brand-new computer. – Good. Are the programs still starting? Is it random? Does a particular program start when another program starts?
I must admit that if Windows 7 keeps on being as it is, I will ditch a lot of cash and go to Mac. – I’m sorry you are so frustrated. If you feel that is the best choice for you go right ahead. In spite of the press hype, you’ll find that a Mac in not a panacea.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

Thanks for response.
1) The files are anywhere on the disk – can be in any directory. I need to be able to unprotect a directory or folder so that I can add files to it.
2)Looks like the protection is too prescriptive – most of the problem files are in directories in ‘Program Files(64)’ but the directories concerned are programs that I have loaded! I had no problem with XP, 2000, NT, Me, 98, 95, or 3.11. There is no UAC prompt. Things seem to work, but on checking file or folder properties the read-only box is filled and I cannot write to the file or folder.
3) I am unable to save files even into many folders that I have created! The only place I seem to be able to save files is my C:Downloads directory (which I also created).
4) The spontaneous programs are random and seem to be unassociated with any other program.
5)It seemed to start after a very long (3 hour) installation of SP1.
6) My comment about Mac was not because I think it is better, just to stop supporting Microsoft.

Reply | Quote

1.) The read only setting for a folder does not mean the same as for a file. There is no need to change that setting it has no relevance to your ability to change data in a folder.
2.) Why are you wanting to change files in C:Program Files? If a program is correctly installed you should not have to access that folder for any data. Other files in the folder should be for the correct operation of the program and nothing you need to modify. UAC is similar to what happens in the Unix, Linux, & Mac world. When you attempt to change something in a protected area of the system you are asked for an admistrative password. BTW, C:Program Files(64) is not a default folder name in Windows. Did you create it?
3.) How are you trying to save files into the folders? Using Windows Explorer? An application program?
4.) You need to use the tools to which I linked in post #5 and/or the clean boot procedure to which Tinto Tech linked in post #7. You’ve got to do some detective work to get some more information. We can’t just keep shooting in the dark.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

Thanks for further responses.
The comment that program Files (64) is not a default file puzzles me – it was present when I bought the computer, and was where the machine put programs on installation – also where programs seem to look for relevant files, as well as the (to me) stupid ‘My Documents…………etc’.
I do not have time to play around with a machine which should work as described ‘straight out of the box’.
Most unsatisfactory. Any personalisation should be straightforward and simple to do.
Just have to put up with it.

Reply | Quote

Thanks for further responses.
The comment that program Files (64) is not a default file puzzles me – it was present when I bought the computer, and was where the machine put programs on installation – also where programs seem to look for relevant files, as well as the (to me) stupid ‘My Documents…………etc’.
I do not have time to play around with a machine which should work as described ‘straight out of the box’.
Most unsatisfactory. Any personalisation should be straightforward and simple to do.
Just have to put up with it.

On a Windows 7 64 bit installation, 64 bit programs go in Program Files and 32 bit programs go in Programs Files (x86). Hard to understand why would that would be changed from the default.

Reply | Quote

Thank you for correcting me – it was an error as I was working on another computer (that works as I expect it to – even though it’s Vista) it should have read Program Files (x86).
The comments stil stand, but substitute Program Files(x86) for the erroneous one!

Reply | Quote

I just do not understand the issue here. What files would need to be “changed or added to” Program Files? Why would anyone need to or want to change file attributes in that folder? Program Files (x86) is a folder that nobody really need EVER access. What is the OP’s issue here? I would try to help too, but there does not seem to be an answer to the several others who asked for clarification. Just my $.02, but IMHO, it’s the question that needs to be made clear before there can be any kind of answer!

Joel

Reply | Quote

The machine puts any programs I load into Program Files(x86) – for example MGI (a picture manipulation program).
That program saves its data to a folder in its subdirectory in Program Files(x86). I have been prevented from saving files back to that folder after manipulation, and I cannot clear the ‘read only’ setting.
The questions boil down to 2:
1) Why does Windows 7 start programs/applications spontaneously when I have not set them to do so? and
2) how do I get over this read-only business – i.e. sort out my authority over the computer (I am grateful to all who have given me signposts towards that end which I will be following when time allows).
Question 1) is now the priority.
(problems worse since installation of SP1 – took 3 hours)

Reply | Quote

Have you tried changing out the keyboard? And which version of Windows 7 do you have (Starter, Premium, Pro, Enterprise or Ultimate)?

Reply | Quote

Many many thanks to all who have made suggestions – been away from computer for some time.
The system (7 Home Premium) seems to have gradually got better in that the ‘funnies’ now limit themselves to an occasional spontaneous opening of ‘calculator’ (usually after being idle for about 30 minutes), and occasionally opening Thunderbird at the ‘Inbox’ on start up (not set to do so!).
I’ve decided to put up with this – manageable!
Again, thanks to all.

Reply | Quote

1) Try this. Grab the Process Explorer from sysinternals (google it), and run that. Process Explorer shows you the hierarchy of which app start what. When an app starts all by itself, find the app in Process Explorer and look at what started it up. This might give a clue as to what is doing this.

Also, look in the Task Scheduler (open the Start menu and type “Task”, the Task Scheduler should show up) and see if there are any entires for the programs that are starting up.

Personally, I think that you are the victim if a practical joke. Hopefully one of the above ideas will help track down the mechanism that the joker used to cause this phenomenon.

2) How old is that copy of MGI Photo Suite? Searching the web it appears that MGI was bought by Roxio and is now part of the Creator Suite. If the version of MGI you are using is really old, which is must be if it is writing to Program Files(x86), then you should upgrade to a newer version. (Yes, it seems a shame to have to spend more money to get functionality that you used to have working just fine on XP, but any time a new version of Windows comes out you might have to upgrade due to application incompatibilities; and writing to Program Files(x86) is definitely an incompatibility!)

Alternative: turn off UAC. This turns off the protections built into Windows 7, and thus will allow you to write to Program Files (x86). It will also reduce your computer to the same level of insecurity that was in XP. If you found that you didn’t have to constantly fight malware in XP, then this might be acceptable. Personally, I turned off UAC on all of my Windows 7 machines (and on Vista). Many people will tell you this is not a good idea, and if you exhibit behavior that invites malware, then you should leave it on.

Reply | Quote

Re programs starting spontaneously.

In post #9 you said

It seemed to start after a very long (3 hour) installation of SP1.

In post #15 you said

Problems worse since installation of SP1 – took 3 hours

My guess is that you mean it started after SP1 was installed rather than got worse. Why? Because SP1 took so long to install. If there were any erorrs or problems installing SP1, you may have an unstable system. That being the case, you could review How to Uninstall Win 7 SP1. After reversion back to Plain Vanilla Win7, does the issue remain? If it does, I would be then tempted to revert to a known good image backup and start afresh.

BTW, have you attempted any of the earlier suggestions and if so, with what results?

Reply | Quote