When I boot up my computer running Windows XP, it opens up several command windows and starts running files with names like n5fs6xio.exe and a cursor flashes around in the window. When I tray to close them, I get message saying windows can't stop the program and I have to force quit the programs. I've scanned the computer for viruses using McAffee and found nothing. Any idea what this is and how I can get it to stop. I tried deleting the .exe files but it just generates more when I reboot.
Posted by Herblay (Member # 11834) on :
If you got the exact file names, you could probably Google them. Lot of people ask questions like these in forums, and Google should be able to hit them. The .EXE file you posted is likely not the actual filename, because I'm not able to Google it.
Unless it's a brand new virus.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
I've googled the exact file names that come up and I get no hits. They are different every time I reboot the computer.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
Do the names have anything in common? (Like xio?)
Have you tried running the task manager to look for the names of the running processes?
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Sounds viral to me. Try booting in safe mode and run a deep scan.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Those sound like spyware, if it's anything like the stuff I had on my computer that was driving me crazy. I had to reformat my whole harddrive to get rid of them.
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
Definitely sounds viral.
I know that Avast has a boot time scan that should run before any of those have a chance to load up, and I imagine that other virus scanning programs do as well.
I would recommend figuring out how to do that with whatever virus scan you use, and see what it turns up.
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
It's malware (That pretty much encompasses spyware and most modern viruses).
Step 1: Ditch McAfee Step 2: AVG or Avast for free stuff Kaspersky or NOD32 for Demo and Pay Antivirus. Step 3: Get Windows Defender if you don't have it. It's been a while since I've done lots of virus cleaning, so it's hard for me to recommend a good scanner. Defender is relatively good.
Scan in safe mode. Then click start, then Run, then type in MSCONFIG. This'll open up a utility. Click on Startup and remove the check box from everything that isn't something you obviously need. Anything that has a file name that looks like a bunch of random numbers or letters is probably not necessary.
You can also try using a little utility called Smitfraudfix. It's capable of shutting down some of the more pesky malware types and it's worth it to download and scan with it. If it finds anything, it can fix it pretty easily.
You'll also need to delete any of the files that you see when you're looking around.
There's a whole lot more you *can* do, but it's all pretty advanced stuff.