92 replies to this topic

[Rush4Rod]

Thanks, I thought the world was coming to an end... some solar flare thing. I know topics can get closed out if there is no posts after 2 days.

[Ztruker]

Yes, even if you do not use your browser you are still connected to the internet but the likelihood of any malware coming in on it's own without you using a browser or reading E-mail is almost 0.

Since the only time the problem occurs is when you are connected to the internet, disconnecting the Ethernet cable makes any other testing a waste of time. Leave it connected and go through the disable steps I've listed to see if you can find an application that is causing the problem. I don't see any other way to do it.

Also, not disabling your AV software may be a waste because it may be the AV that is causing the problem.

Edit: We don't close topics here in the tech forums. That only happens in the malware forum because of the very high activity there.

Edited by Ztruker, 06 August 2010 - 08:24 PM.

[Rush4Rod]

OK, thanks. When I return home Monday, I'll follow your post 4 instruction.

[Rush4Rod]

That doesn't sound bad. How does it behave if you boot to Safe Mode with Networking? If better then something is starting at boot that is causing the problem.

Use msconfig to determine what is causing the problem.

These are good tutorials on using msconfig in XP or Vista:
How to use msconfig in Windows XP
How to use msconfig in Windows Vista

Click on Start then Run, type msconfig and press Enter.
Click on the Startup tab, record what is currently starting then click the Disable All button.
Reboot and see if it runs normal.
If yes then use msconfig to enable several items at a time till you find the culprit.

If no, boot to Safe Mode again, start msconfig and click on the Services tab.
Check the Hide All Microsoft Services box, record what is currently starting then click the Disable All button.
Again, do a regular boot, see if it runs normal.
If yes then use msconfig to enable services till you find the culprit.

Once you've found the culprit, uninstall it or find out how to eliminate it from your system.
Simply disabling it in msconfig is a temporary fix at best.
Enable everything else you disabled.

I booted in Safe Mode, ran msconfig, opened the Services tab, clicked Hide All Microsoft Services, then clicked Disable All. I them rebooted the regular way but it still isn't running normally. I still have the problem. Could it be possible that none of these previously enabled Services (now disabled) was causing this problem? Is there something else it could be?



Rod

[Ztruker]

Did you do that for the Startup tab as well? You only mention Services.

[Rush4Rod]

Yes. First I did Start up then Service like you said. Then only thing was when I did Start up first, I wasn't in Safe Mode. Was I supposed to be? Does that matter?

[Ztruker]

No, doesn't make any difference. Sorry to hear that didn't help.Means it not something starting at boot time that is causing the problem.

What happens if you boot to Safe Mode with Networking, leaving the Ethernet cable connected. Don't use you browser, just boot that way then try opening a file or folder.

I'm going to ask some of the other techs here if they have any ideas as well.

One more idea:

Control Panel
Folder Options
View
Uncheck "Automatically search for network folders and printers" if checked.

See if that helps.

Edited by Ztruker, 09 August 2010 - 06:25 PM.

[Rush4Rod]

What happens if you boot to Safe Mode with Networking, leaving the Ethernet cable connected. Don't use you browser, just boot that way then try opening a file or folder.

I left the Ethernet cable connected to the CPU this time after you explained to me that it was safe to do so.

[Rush4Rod]

One more idea:

Control Panel
Folder Options
View
Uncheck "Automatically search for network folders and printers" if checked.

See if that helps.

I just did, but it didn't.

[Ztruker]

Okay, a couple other ideas from other techs. Turn off Indexing: Click on Start/Run, type services.msc and click OK. Click on Standard tab and scroll down to Indexing Service Right click it, STOP it and set Start Option to Disable. Uninstall SpyBot S&D or at a minimum disable TeaTimer if you are using it. Another possibility is to uninstall McAfee and replace it with Microsoft Security Essentials. Try these one at a time.

[Rush4Rod]

Indexing service was already set on manual, I changed it to Disable by double-clicking and changing the Start up type field under the General tab. Also I have not problem uninstalling SpyBot S&D if can recommend another (better) Spyware scanner/removal program to me. Lastly, I get McAfee subscription-free with my service provider (AT&T U-verse) I'd like to keep it if I can. Is Microsoft Security Essentials free or a subscription service and is it better/worse than McAfee?

[Rush4Rod]

I uninstalled SpyBot S&D and.... Tah-Dah The problem is solved!!! I thought I was doing something good when I downloaded & installed it. What can I use instead? Also, do I uninstall all the programs I was instructed to install during this process, i.e RKUnhookerLE, SpeedFan, Malwarebytes' Anti-malware, Everest Home Edition, HiJack This, ATF Cleaner, & StartUpLite ( I think I did that one on my own).

[Ztruker]

Hot ziggety! That's good news. Did you ave Spybot S&D's TeaTimer running? If so, perhaps that was causing the problem, though I would have thought disabling all Startup and non-MS services would have gotten rid of it. I used PSybot Spybot for years, but never used TeaTimer as I felt it was too intrusive.

I would keep SpeedFan, Malwarebytes' Anti-malware, Everest Home Edition, and StartUpLite in case you want to use them in teh future, especially MBAM which it would be good to run once a week or so (Quick Scan).

Edited by Ztruker, 12 August 2010 - 05:18 PM.

[Rush4Rod]

So I can reinstall SpyBot S&D or install PSybot either without tea timer? Also I can remove HiJack This & ATF Cleaner?

[Jimbo1]

So I can reinstall SpyBot S&D or install PSybot either without tea timer? Also I can remove HiJack This & ATF Cleaner?

Yes you can, I use Spybot S&D as a scanner only, the tea timer I always found hammers a system.