Blank line in MSCONFIG Startup in Windows XP Pro

Hi everyone!

I have an odd issue that I would like very much to troubleshoot. When I launch MSCONFIG in Windows XP Professional, on the startup tab, there are various processes that start up. Most of the self-starting processes occur from HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run in the registry, a few are from HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run in the registry, and some are listed as Common Startup items. I consider myself fairly savvy, and look up processes I don't know about at sites like www.answersthatwork.com.

But there is a blank checkbox that shows up in MSCONFIG under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run in the registry that worries me. If I uncheck the process in MSCONFIG, nothing seems to happen. I do not believe I have a virus, use McAfee VirusScan Online, the virusscans come out clean, run Sunbelt Software's Counterspy which also shows up clean.

I worry about rootkits and such, and run F-Secure's Blacklight software which also shows up clean. Can anyone give me some tips to asses if my system is compromised in some way, or suggested next steps to figure this out?

I also run Zone Alarm Pro firefall.

Any help is much appreciated.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: New utility by Sysinternals -- RootkitRevealer
    ... > discovering these kits but it is a shame it offers no removal ... since rootkits can hide themselves by running as kernel-mode processes, ... clean OS, like using a bootable CD-ROM, to clean the *inactive* OS of ...
    (microsoft.public.security.virus)
  • Re: w3k server
    ... Rootkits load at a level that can lie to programs such as these. ... This is why you do NOT clean a rootkit. ... Your only secure option is to format and rebuild. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)
  • Re: ot: @#$%%#%$%#^
    ... cybercat wrote: ... > Some asses just never come clean, ... > lose that essential Big Old Stinky Assness. ...
    (rec.pets.cats.anecdotes)
  • Re: Health care - thanks for reading this +++ : -) +++
    ... an obvious attempt at covering ... their own asses. ... They did contaminate the land and should be responsible to clean it ...
    (rec.sport.golf)
  • Re: Cleaning "Little Green Men", Aliens on AFM and RFM
    ... Tried to clean a couple of different ways, but not a lot of luck thus ... Bleche White will clean their asses up ...
    (rec.games.pinball)