A Strange Thing Happens At Windows Startup ...

from Stardock Forums
First off im one of these peeps who like to update things by patches and likes to keep a firm grip on apps running in the background etc. When i bought GalCiv the free XP had just come out and the only way to get was to use Stardock with a promise of a patch later on, so i down loaded Stardock and was a very happy camper (bruised , battered , bemused , by the AI but what a game !!). Anyways last week i read about the update so i checked Stardock once a day when i got in from work, ive download the XP and one patch via Stardock with no problems but last week Stardock decided to add itself to my startup !! when i boot now a little window comes up with object desktop info on, i checked Stardock, its not installed so can someone please fix this or explain why my poor pc is getting the big brother treatment?
this is why i dont use auto updaters like this... :HOT:

Heres the line it added to my startup:

1AO Stardock MCP (where the prog is located) sdmcp.exe -startup

Funny thing is i just watched Tron and the MCP is a big bad evil thing LOL
[Message Edited]
399 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

LOL at the big bad evil thing comment

Do you use Object Desktop? That exe is one of the core components of some of the OD programs.

--Cari

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Im sorry i never made it clear enough, I HAVE NOT GOT OBJECT DESKTOP INSTALLED, HONEST :) I said i checked Stardock and it told me its not installed , i looked in the control panel /add remove programs and that said it wasnt installed. So i remove the line from the startup and all is happy and smiles but when i boot Stardock it adds ANOTHER line to my startup , same as the one i said in my other post, then i end up with lots of unwanted / not asked for lines in my startup :notsure:

And yes im convinced that the big bad evil thing that is the MCP is alive, well and in my PC, i feel guilty now deleting 'programs'... LOL
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I get this thing too! But it disapeared after I uninstalled Galactic Civilizations . . . then it reapeared when I installed Galactic Civilizations . . . then it disappeared when I uninstalled gallactic Civilizations then it . . . well, you get the picture I'm sure . . . doesn't bother me or seem to slow things down any though . . .
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
the latest stardock crashed my win98 system at startup. when i loaded in safe mode i clicked the button (new?) that says don't loadup sdmcp.exe and then everything worked fine. i 'had' been getting some conflicts between sdmcp.exe and my HP drivers which loaded at startup.

but i iz an idiot. just passin' it on

:)
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
but i iz an idiot. just passin' it on
End of quote


No your not, i think ALL software companies that you download software from should also have a terms and conditions that THEY have to accept, for example 'i will not install programs in the background that you know nothing of' or 'I wont put data miners or trackers into your system' :D

If i want to go and look at the teletubbies site i dont want every joe bloggs knowing about it LOL
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

LOL, well it's not a data miner or tracker. However, it is currently only used by OD components (so if they're not installed, it's not doing anything)

Someone posted directions here for removing sdmcp.exe

http://www.galciv.com/forum.asp?BID=GF&id=109210#111208

I believe that the sdc team is working on only loading the sdmcp if the components that use it are installed.


[Message Edited]
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
the latest stardock crashed my win98 system at startup. when i loaded in safe mode i clicked the button (new?) that says don't loadup sdmcp.exe and then everything worked fine. i 'had' been getting some conflicts between sdmcp.exe and my HP drivers which loaded at startup.
End of quote


I assure you I had a similar problem, only it was preventing my Win98 system from loading all the startup apps - until the latest build of SDC. The latest one installed sdmcp incorrectly (so now it doesn't load) and all is well.

Bill

~SDC~
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
, well it's not a data miner or tracker. However, it is currently only used by OD components (so if they're not installed, it's not doing anything)
End of quote


Point is, you being one of these peeps that are coders (i think,(which isnt often if i can help it), i apoligise if im wrong), why are the users (those that install the program), never given any notice or have any information in the readme about programs added as background tasks to the startup etc?

Im not having a dig, im curious thats all, its always bugged me, like when you install any media from Microflop, it always reroutes my Audiolgy through a wavemapper and makes my Winamp wonky :notsure:
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Well, I've never had anything to do with installers, but I don't know if it would have occurred to me to put something about sdmcp in a readme or whatever if I had been the person who made the installer.  And I really can't answer for anyone who does make installers.

I can tell you that the sdc team is working on making it so that sdmcp only loads if the components that use it are installed.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
If i want to go and look at the teletubbies site i dont want every joe bloggs knowing about it
End of quote


No, you don't! LOL
But seriously, I do believe there are support groups to help you with these un-natural urges.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Howdy,

I got the same problem except this thing is eating up my resources.
I followed the link and tried the suggestion (regedit) but what he was describing (location) I couldn't find in my version of windoze(ME).
Anyone else got any other ideas?
Thanks in advance
Kelly
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Anyone else got any other ideas?
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It can be removed from the startup , NEVER play with the registry , your PC will end up with bad karma ;)

Load the 'system information' tool , then to the menu , tools / system configuration utility . the last tab is named 'startup' , go to that and just uncheck the offending program from the list (this is much safer than editing the registry but you still need to be very carefull, rule of thumb is , if your not sure leave it alone)

Hope that helps :HOT:

To SLW :

I like silly sites :D as much as pretty women who can play GalCiv ...

http://www.columbia.edu/~sjt59/mr_nice.swf
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Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
I like silly sites as much as pretty women who can play GalCiv ... Link
End of quote


Now I've seen everything!! LOL
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks much, that did the trick Kelly
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Glad to be of help :D

Dont tell everyone though or i might lose the most evil dude around title ... :HOT: