'Dell Support Center' software opens folder 'C:\Program Files\Dell' on reboot

Question

Hi, I hope somebody can help me with this little problem, I have just installed the 'Dell Support Center' software on my computer, now it causes the folder 'C:\Program Files\Dell' to open every time I reboot my machine. Any suggestions how this can be rectified?   Thanks in advance!

tomron · Answer

Some possible solutions.   1) Disable it in msconfig 2) Start>all programs>start up folder 3) Start>all programs>Dell>open it>settings>startup destination

Hawkster66 · Answer

Any suggestions how this can be rectified? uninstall the ' Dell Support Center'...

250N · Answer

Thank you very much for your suggestions! but I think I may have solved the issue myself,

Here is what I did:

Start > Run

Type REGEDIT in Run Command Box

Navigate to the registry branch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Locate the key dscactivate, which has the following Value Data:
C:\Program Files\Dell Support Center\gs_agent\custom\dsca.exe

Double click the key dscactivate and place a double quotation mark at the beginning and at the end of the Value Data

Like so:
"C:\Program Files\Dell Support Center\gs_agent\custom\dsca.exe"

Click OK and then exit REGEDIT

Finished! : )

Bassman808 · Answer

I had the same issue. Just go to Run Type in msconfig click OK Go to Startup tab Uncheck the dsca box Click the OK & Restart You should be good to go! Worked for me :)

250N · Answer

^^^ Yes Bassman808 that will stop the Dell folder from opening upon boot-up,   but the dsca.exe application is supposed to launch at start-up.:smileywink: Message Edited by 250N on 11-01-2007 11:42 PM

chasbox · Answer

250N
IMHO Dell Support Center is bloatware and just another thing

to slow down startup. One of the first things i did when i received

my new machine last week was to uninstall it. To each his own.

Good luck.

acburke · Answer

I was able to fix this problem by using the regedit suggestions from 240N.  Thanxs.   Not sure if the Support Center is wort it yet, but I'll give it a try for a whle.

mpn6rxs · Answer

Can anyone tell me what effect it will have by performing this registry edit?  Other than preventing the Dell folder from opening at startup?

Bassman808 · Answer

250N, I tried your registry edit idea & it worked. Went back to Startup tab & checked the dsca box & all seems to be go'n ok. :) Thanx!

nitewatcher · Answer

I'm having the same issue with the folder opening at start up, after installing the new Dell Support Center the other day. Unfortunately, I'm not very comfortable with fiddling with the registry (nor knowledgeable enough to do so), so for now that's not a good option for me. Hopefully Dell will actually do something to correct this, as it's extremely annoying.   (I'm going to send a note to Dell about this, though I don't know if that will do any good or not.)

chasbox · Answer

nitewatcher   You can  create a shortcut for Dell support center on your desktop That way you can disable it on startup using Msconfig. Another way is use a free program  called What's Running. It gives you a lot of info on your computer and you could stop or start Dell support center from What's Running's startup tab. Check it out http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx and download it here   http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64952-order,1-page,1-c,systemresourcestuneup/description.html

nitewatcher · Answer

Thank you, chasbox, I downloaded What's Running and will take a look at it sometime this week.  From what I saw on the What's Running website, it looks like a good program to have.   I'd actually deleted the Support Center desktop shortcut that the install automatically created (I already had enough garbage on my desktop *grin*), but maybe I'll recreate it and disable the program from startup as you suggested.    I did email tech support about this right after I first posted, so I'll give them a couple of days to see if they reply and/or what they have to say about it.  If worse comes to worst, then I may just restore back to before I installed it. Or maybe even just uninstall it altogether, as I've noticed it seems to have slowed down my startup time as well. Thanks again. Message Edited by nitewatcher on 11-04-2007 06:28 PM

mgundogdu · Answer

250N thanks for the solution, I was suffering from the same event. I tried to change the quickset registy entry as described in here But it changes back at startup. I think your solution is the real fix for the problem. Thanks again.

StorageArchitec · Answer

Don't worry about making the registry change. You aren't messing with a critical part of the OS by tweaking this entry. All you are doing is 'fixing' somthing that is broken. That's a good thing. By putting in the quotes Startup will run the way it should. I just did it myself on two systems. Works great.

altimira113 · Answer

Thanx 250N, I also had same problem and it appears to be fixed-several boot ups with no problem.  Also was a little hesitant to change registry entries, but it worked great.  Just an added note registry not listed in one line, you have to locate 'HKEY-LOCAL-MACHINE' first and look for 'SOFTWARE' drop down window ,so on and so on til you get to last drop down 'RUN'. Thats for anyone who hasnt gone into Registry entries be4 such as myself. Thanx again for help 250N P.S. Couldnt find any direct e-mail support from dell--without forum I had no help...

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