Microsoft KB Archive/291782

= PRB: Registry Run Key Entries that Delete Themselves May Cause the Subsequent Run Key Entry to be Skipped =

PSS ID Number: 291782

Article Last Modified on 5/22/2003

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows 95
 * Microsoft Windows 98
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
 * the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000

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This article was previously published under Q291782



SYMPTOMS
When an application is started from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run key Registry key, Run key deletes it's own Run key entry from the registry, and the subsequent Run key entry is skipped. This may cause either an application or a service not to load until the system is restarted.



CAUSE
The execution of entries in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Registry key is sequential. If an application deletes it's Run key entry, the remaining Run key entries are shifted up by one; however, the Run key pointer is not updated. Because the Run key pointer is not updated, the Run key entry that immediately follows the deleted entry is skipped.



RESOLUTION
Registry entries that delete themselves in this matter should be started from the following Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Once

Microsoft Windows automatically deletes all Run Once entries after execution.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.

