Startup Defrag

[Clancy141]

Hi, I installed a program called Workstation Optimizer that has various functions (defrag, malware scans, etc...). After rebooting, the program ran a degrag during startup. It did this everytime I booted, so I uninstalled the program.

However, now I get an error on startup saying that it cannot run defrag because it cannot find the Workstation Optimizer file. It still boots up normally after a few seconds, but I would like to get rid of this error.

I deleted all "Workstation Optimizer" entries from the registry, and do not have any shceduled tasks.

How can I stop the computer from attempting to do a Workstation Optimizer defrag every startup?

Thanks in advance.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

have you tried using a program like crap cleaner. it should remove it.

[Steven]

Yup, I agree. If it can't find it automatically, it may be under the "tools --> Startup" tabs.
http://www.ccleaner.com/

[Clancy141]

I ran ccleaner (the normal cleaner and the registry cleaner).

However, when I restarted the computer, I still get the Workstation Optimizer error that it cannot find the dfg driver. The error occurs after the Windows loading screen, but before the screen where I type in my username and password.

It is also not listed under startup items.

Is there anywhere I can look to correct the problem?

Thanks.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

Odd that crap cleaner didn't catch it. don't know where it would be loading from. you could check to see if its loading from the autoexec.bat
or the config.sys files if they exist. also check the registry for
run once it may be there.

thats the best I can think of at the moment.

[linuxguru]

Can you remove it using the old reliable msconfig?

[dutchdude]

I'm not sure which window version your using but if you have the option for System Restore ? Could you try that and set it to go back before you installed the software program . See if that might help.

[cdnLilWolf]

Have you checked this key?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run

[dawtcalm]

what cdnLilWolf said...

If not, what OS are you running?

[Clancy141]

Thanks for all the responses.

I am running Windows XP Home.

It is not listed under "Run" in the mentioned registry location, or under startup items in msconfig. My autoexec and config files are empty, and I do not use system restore.

The error occurs directly before the windows login screen, where you can choose to login to my account, or the guest account.

The error appears on a light blue screen, and states the following:

"WorkstationOptimizer

Press any key to exit... 3 2 1

ERROR: Can't load dfg driver: c0000034!
Path not found
Waiting 10 seconds....."

[dawtcalm]

hmmm. Also try checking
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Are you SURE start\run\msconfig startup tab doesn't show anything about defrag? Maybe send a screen capture..

It's rather ironic that a "optimizer" tool has done this to you!

[Mindcore]

You could try this solution:

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/...g-uninstalling

[Clancy141]

I checked that registry key as well, only item there is related to my logitech keyboard/mouse software.

Startup tab has 5 items:
-Kaspersky
-Nvidia Audio Mixer
-Startupmonitor
-Logitech software
-dumprep

And yes, this "optimizing" software has done pretty much the opposite; not very effective.

[Clancy141]

I uninstalled the program with Revo uninstaller when I first removed it.

[Clancy141]

Just to be sure, I reinstalled the program and uninstalled with Revo but the error still occurs.

[Clancy141]

Anything else I can try?

[cdnLilWolf]

Have you checked your "startup" folder? Some applications may still use older methods of automatically running code. You could check...

\autoexec.bat
\config.sys
\windows\win.ini

The above files can be edited with notepad or your favourite flavour of a text editor.

[dawtcalm]

^ CdnLilWolf, those are not longer used by windows xp etc...

What about this:
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOpt imizeFunction

Modify/Create the Value Data Type(s) and Value Name(s) as detailed below.

Data Type: REG_SZ [String Value] // Value Name: Enable
Setting for Value Data: [N = Disabled / Y = Enabled]
Exit Registry and Reboot

(I found this by googling "disable Workstation Optimizer defrag")

[lycan246]

If I was you i would download the tool Autoruns from Microsoft technet. then when you have it downloaded run the autoruns not autorunsc then near the top there will be tabs look under the drivers tab for drv or whatever the driver that was missing was called, uncheck it first and ensure that there is nomore error then you can right click delete after.

Hope it works

[cdnLilWolf]

^ CdnLilWolf, those are not longer used by windows xp etc...

For some reason I had ME on the brain without even knowing whether it was used there or not. Either way, curiosity is going to make me test that.

[Clancy141]

Hi, I found the registry key, and it is set up as follows:

Enable Y
LcnEndLocation 25090905
LcnStartLocation 24771373
OptimizeComplete Y
OptimizeError

I set "Enable" to "N", but I still get the error at startup. I read a bit about this entry and it doesn't seem like it is associated with WorkstationOptimizer.

With regards to Autoruns, I don't know what the driver is called. I looked through the list and didn't see anything under WorkstationOptimizer as the publisher.