I'm sure that in a moment people will start replying with stuff I didn't think of.
 
But until then, I would check for SpyWare with SpyBot ( http://security.kolla.de/).
 
Just be sure to read what it does so you don't delete anything important!

Quote:ok, i have a mates win 98 (not se) laptop and whenever it boots an internet explorer window opens and trys to connect to the web ! Pain in the ...... i can't see anything in the startup or in msconfig! any ideas

thanks


Frog

Are you sure that it isn't in registry??

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

or

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runservices

also should check:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Follow that same path in the registry that he gave and check out the run once.
 
Also, what programs are running at startup? I know you mentioned that you couldn't find it, but I once had a Microsoft Works updater link (found in the registry or under msconfig). Uncheck anything under startup in msconfig that looks suspicious, like something with a /update or similar. You can actually uncheck everything, and then add the options back one by one. I would recommend using msconfig first, then once you isolate the little pest, use the options mentioned above to remove it from the registry. Hope it helps.

What web page is your IE trying to connect to on startup?
 
This wasnt an install of IE created with the IEAK?
 
Does it happen in safe mode? If so, then its your OS and/or IE, if not, then its either a 3rd part application and/or bad registry key.