The Identify-the-weird-program Game

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 6:37 am

OK, whenever I start up Windows (2000), which admittedly hasn't been for a while, a program called NewsUpd is running in my Task Manager Applications tab. I always close it, and there are no ill effects from ending it, but I'm just curious as to what it is...it doesn't seem to access the Internet (according to ZoneAlarm) nor does AdAware pick it up as being spyware of any sort. Could someone fill me in as to what this thing is?

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 6:47 am

*peers into his crystal ball*

I see Creative....Playcenter...do you perhaps run a creative SBLive or above? While at the same time maintaining the playcenter(re?!?) software?

The program was originally developed to provide user feedback which was never removed from the installation, Creative copped a load of flack for it too. Basically it was going to be spyware but was never utilitsed.

If you search the creative forums for it you will probably find a load of topics about it. It is nothing to be concerned about, although it does take up system resources for some reason. Ask Flibble what the startup utility is for 2000 since I can't recall at the moment and don't run 2000. Just take it out and you wont hear from it again, it isn't a persistent program which reinitilises itself.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 6:58 am

I have an onboard SB128, and the drivers that go with it. The only thing related to that (which I knowingly run) is the volume control in the system tray that I think is a process called starter.exe. I do have PlayCenter (I don't think I've ever used it, as when I just ran it it asked me about automatically playing audio CDs etc...), but I'll take a look at the Creative website (LOL, they've been so helpful to me in the past

). Also, it does reinitialise itself every time I start Windows - I would try and find its init string in win.ini/system.ini, but they're mostly empty under 2k...

Thanks for the info though, it was just one of those niggling things about Windows that I wanted to know

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 7:13 am

In 98/SE there was a program called msconfig which would allow one to alter the startup sequence, there is a program in 2000 which will do the same thing...I just can't remember where it is.

It's on the forums but they are a little hard to find, it doesn't tell you any really useful way to get rid of it either

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 7:27 am

OK, I don't think there is an analog to msconfig in 2000 (I could be wrong though...) but I managed to find this decent program, which does the job for any version of Windows. I can turn the thing off now...

Thanks for the help.

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 7:32 am

See if Msconfig is under Accessories/System Tools/System Information, then when you run that, look under the Tools menu for "System Configuration Utility." That is MSConfig.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 7:37 am

Originally posted by fable
See if Msconfig is under Accessories/System Tools/System Information, then when you run that, look under the Tools menu for "System Configuration Utility." That is MSConfig.

Nope, not there either. I know that msconfig.exe doesn't exist in NT/2000, and I don't think that there's anything that does a similar job. That program I posted above (it is OK to do that, isn't it?) seems to be basically a tool to keep you out of the Registry if you aren't entirely sure what you're doing.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 8:00 am

Originally posted by Kameleon
OK, I don't think there is an analog to msconfig in 2000 (I could be wrong though...) but I managed to find this decent program, which does the job for any version of Windows. I can turn the thing off now... Thanks for the help.

I think there is but I might confusing 2000 and XP.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 8:05 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
I think there is but I might confusing 2000 and XP.

Just pulled this off of Google:

http://www.techadvice.com/win2000/m/msconfig_w2k.htm

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 8:58 am

Since their d/l servers are down you could just copy the program over from 98...I assume they are the same.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 9:21 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
Since their d/l servers are down you could just copy the program over from 98...I assume they are the same.

Great idea - if I'd ever had a copy of 98. I could try the version from ME I suppose, though I really don't ever want to use anything associated with that again

I got the XP version linked to there, and that seems to work. I've stopped the program from loading with Windows now, so I'm happy

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 9:38 am

Then that is no problem, if any one else has a problem I could upload my msconfig.exe file and they can use that, it's pretty simple really

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 10:17 am

It's definitely a worthwhile utility to have around.

I'd also suggest something like Xteq X-Setup. It's got a very awkward interface, but allows you to perform all sorts of useful tweaks to any Windows environment.