Let's review what the registry is. There are several files named ntuser.dat
in your "Documents and Settings" area. These are the files that contain all
of the registry information. If you format a hard disk, all of these files
are deleted and your registry is gone. The only way the entries would be get
back in is to install this software, or run a registry entry script. This
could happen if you used an install process from the manufacturer rather
than running a clean Windows XP install disk. I would suspect that you used
a manufacturer's restore procedure, and this would include software that
they deemed to be part of their configuration.

I would recommend that you install a clean copy of Windows XP form an XP CD.
If you don't have one, you will need to get one. It is not necessary to buy
a new copy of XP to get such a disk if you own a legal copy of XP through
the OEM computer purchase.

Hope this helps.

Peter
--------------------------
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
No... Peter.. I did a complete/clean format.  I had the  company software 
people help me with it.  So it was done correctly.   And I never installed
any of 
that stuff afterwards.  So that's what makes  me think some of the remnents
were still in there. Especially since one of them  I have never installed
ever.

      "Hold No Punches.." Rode brings you great shareware/freeware
        programs with his honest opinions in this weekly column.
                       http://freepctech.com/rode