RealPlayer question

[BonedAgain]

I recently re-loaded RealPlayer basic from their website, after the verion which came on the PC stopped working. Now, everytime I use the software to listen to streaming audio, it places itself in the startup directory so it starts with each boot. This is presumably so it can send all those behind-your-back bits of data to the "mother ship" it's so famous for. Anyway, no matter how many times I go into msconfig & uncheck "realtray", it appears again the next boot after the software has been used. Just whose PC is this, anyway, mine or RealNetworks???? Anyone know of a way to block this? Also, is there a way to remove a line from msconfig startup? Even though I've unchecked something (like in this example) the line for it remains.

Thanks,

B.A.

[bassvax]

Try using the programs own options/preferences (or whatever they call it now) to disable the Start Center. With this checked it is re-writing your start up instructions with every boot...that is why it shows again in the Sys Config Utility.

The other thing about this Real spyware is your option of turning off the auto-update function for 30 days....why not indefinitely? This is one of the reasons I do not use Real crud...at least not on my home pc where I make the decisions....being the "help desk" person has its limitations...You can tell people (users...there I said it) about the pros & cons of software that you have personally experienced, but there will always be a "buddy" somewhere that says it works great....yada...yada....yada http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

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[This message has been edited by bassvax (edited 09-05-2001).]

[BonedAgain]

Bass-Thanks for the reply. I didn't think there was a preference for this, since I thought I was very careful to go through the various "update channels", "news (yeah, right) and entertainment" etc **features** when I downloaded the damned thing. I had turned all this crap off on the previous version, including the ads which run in the window, but somehow missed this "option" this time. I think this will do the trick.

I really did have reservations about using the program, for the reasons you cited. However I do like to listen to streaming audio of things like archived NPR programs, FAIR's Counterspin, etc. If there's another way to do this that would not involve RealPlayer or a similar "hidden agenda" program, please let me know.

B.A.

[This message has been edited by BonedAgain (edited 09-05-2001).]

[Gallaeglagh]

One thing you might try is see if you can find an older version of RealPlayer before their program became greedy and bloated. I just checked my old backups and I've got a copy from July 1999. Email if you're interested in it.

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