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Unwanted folder opening on Windows 8 startup

I have an unwanted folder (Libraries) opening on Win8 startup. How can I turn it off?

Hi,

 

As I understand the issue, an unwanted folder opens automatically during startup. Please let me know if this is not correct. I understand that it must be frustrating, but rest assured, we are here to help fix your issue and guide you in the right direction.
 
Before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps I may need a few more information to understand the issue better.
1. What is the name of the folder?
2. Did you make any recent changes on the computer prior to this issue?
3. Is there any content inside the unwanted folder?
 
Let's first set the computer to ‘Clean boot’ state to check if the issue occurs. Refer the following steps:
 
Step 1:
a) Press the ‘Windows + R’ key on the keyboard.
b) In the ‘Run’ windows type ’MSCONFIG’ and click ‘Ok’.
c) Click the ‘Boot’ tab and uncheck ‘Safe Boot’ option.
d) On the ‘General’ tab, click to select the option ‘Selective startup’, and then click to clear the option Load startup items check box.
e) On the ‘Services’ tab, click to select the ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ check box, and then click ‘Disable all’.
f) On the ‘StartUp’ tab, click ‘Open Task Manager’. In the Task Manager window under startup tab, right click on each startup item which are enabled and select ‘Disable’.
f) Click ‘OK’, and then click Restart.

Step 2: Enable half of the services:
a. Follow steps 1a and 1b to start the System Configuration utility.
b. Click the Services tab, and then click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box.
c. Click to select half of the check boxes in the Service list.
d. Click OK, and then click Restart.

Step 3: Determine whether the problem returns:
If the problem still occurs, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2, click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Service list.
If the problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 2. In step 2, select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Service list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.
If only one service is selected in the Service list, and you still experience the problem, the selected service causes the problem. Go to step 6. If no service causes this problem, go to step 4.

Step 4: Enable half of the Startup items:
If no startup item causes this problem, a Microsoft service most likely causes the problem. To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat step 1 and step 2 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step.

Step 5: Determine whether the problem returns:
If the problem still occurs, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Startup Item list.
 
If the problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Startup Item list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.
 
If only one startup item is selected in the Startup Item list, and you still experience the problem, the startup item that is selected in the list is the service that is causing the problem. Go to step 6.
If no startup item causes this problem, a Microsoft service most likely causes the problem. To determine which Microsoft service may be causing the problem, repeat step 1 and step 2 without selecting the Hide all Microsoft services check box in either step.

Step 6: Resolve the problem:
After you determine the startup item or the service that causes the problem, contact the program manufacturer to determine whether the problem can be resolved. Or, run the System Configuration utility, and then click to clear the check box for the problem item.
 
Step 7:
Note: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to boot to normal startup.
 
a) Press the ‘Windows + R’ key on the keyboard.
b) In the ‘Run’ windows type ’MSCONFIG’ and click ‘Ok’.
c) On the ‘General’ tab, click the ‘Normal Startup’ option, and then click ‘OK’.
d) Restart the computer and check with the issue.
 
You may refer the link for additional information:

Libraries: How to add or remove a folder
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/add-folders-library
 
Give this a go; I’m confident you will find what you need here. But if you face any further issue please reply back to this post and I'll be happy to assist you further.

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So a few months later and I found a fix that worked for me... in case anyone else has this issue.

 

If you have folder or item that is starting up and you can't seem to locate it in the windows Startup folder or in Windows Task Manager Startup tab then I suggest you use Autoruns to see all the various items loading.

 

Download and run a program called Autoruns (link below) and install the program.

 

1st) After installation run Autoruns and first go to the Options tab and under Folder Options uncheck all the filers.

 

2nd) After the program scans all startup entries go to the Logon tab and look for the folder (or item) that is starting up, simply uncheck it and restart to see if it stops opening at startup. In my case, the user folder was being initiated by this entry in the registry... explorer.exe /select (see registry location below). After unchecking explorer.exe /select I no longer see the user folder at logon in Windows 8 Pro.

 

Registry location:

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell\    

 

 

Autoruns Software:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

 

I hope this helps.

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I've been trying to do that with autoruns but it won't let me access the options tab, it also says "Could not get wmi subscriptions"

Guess i'm stuck with the annoying Temp Files window constantly popping up :( 

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This solution was enormously helpful. It was quickly executed and removed the infuriating unwanted folder loading in Windows 8.1. I had searched for many solutions but the problem persisted despite my best efforts. Thank you very much for posting this solution.

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This worked on Windows 10 for me.

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Last updated December 18, 2022 Views 6,351 Applies to: