How to Delete RunOnce

There are two possible RunOnce instances. One instance is Runonce.exe, a Microsoft "Run Once wrapper," according to Uniblue, a certified Microsoft partner. It is a utility process needed and used by third-party programs for the installation of those programs. It allows the installation process to boot up again as soon as you turn on your computer so that you can modify the software if needed. According to Uniblue, it is recommended that you leave RunOnce on your computer to prevent harm to any software installation. The other instance of RunOnce is an error upon installing Internet Explorer 7. It is a script error that loads every time Internet Explorer is opened.

Instructions

Download a RunOnce Removal Tool

1. Visit Zamaan's free software downloads web page (see Resources).

2. Click on the "Internet Explorer 7 Runonce Error Sample Page" in the Resources section to double-check that this is the script error that you are getting when you open your Internet Explorer 7 browser.

3. Click on the "Download" link in the first table on the right-hand side (third column).

4. Click on "Save File" when the download dialog box pops up.

5. Double-click on the download, "IE7_Runonce_Remover.exe."

6. Click on "Run." The program will run automatically without an install process.

7. Close Internet Explorer.

8. Click on the button labeled "Remove" on the lower left-hand side of the program.

9. Restart Internet Explorer. Skip Sections 2 and 3 if the script error is fixed.

Troubleshoot Runonce

1. Visit Microsoft's Visual Basic File Pack download web page (see Resources).

2. Click on the button labeled "Download" in the middle-left of the page.

3. Click on "Save File." Once the file begins downloading, close all of your Internet Explorer pages.

4. Double-click on the file name when it is done downloading.

5. Click on "Yes" if a box appears asking you for your permission to install Visual Basic 6.0 run-time files. Restart Internet Explorer.

Modify the Registry Entry

1. Click on the "Start" button on the lower left corner of the screen.

2. Click on the Notepad program display on the main menu, or type "notepad" on the search bar at the bottom, and press "Enter."

3. Highlight the following text excluding the beginning and ending quotations, and press the "CTRL" and "C" keys simultaneously on the keyboard: "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]

   "RunOnceComplete"=dword:00000001

   "RunOnceHasShown"=dword:00000001"

4. Right-click anywhere in the new Notepad file you opened in Step 2, and click on "Paste."

5. Click on "File" on the toolbar at the top and "Save As...." Type "RunOnceDone.reg" without the quotations. Click on "Desktop" on the left-hand panel to save the file to the desktop.

6. Double-click on the saved file now on the desktop. This will modify and import it into the registry editor. RunOnce will no longer be displayed when you start a new Internet Explorer browsing session.

References

• Zamaan's: Software Tiny Tools Collection
• Microsoft: Run and RunOnce Registry Keys (Windows)
• Microsoft: Definition of the Runonce Key in the Registry
• Uniblue: Runonce.exe - Process Information
• Megocollector: Internet Explorer 7 Gold RunOnce Removal

Resources

• Zamaan's Free Software Downloads
• Internet Explorer 7 Runonce Error Sample Page
• Microsoft's Visual Basic File Pack