I have an HP desktop with XP SP3 and I use Firefox for a browser; recently I noticed the computer running slow and I find IE7 running two windows in the background (found using Process Explorer, doesn't show up under Applications on Task Manager). I never see any window of any kind from IE but one of the windows uses a huge amount of resources. I can kill the processes and the computer runs fine, for a while, but then the processes (both IE instances) come back, without anything appearing on the screen. I have read and tried some other methods on this forum, but have been so far unsuccessful. Here is a log file from Hijack This.

Thank you in advance for any help you might be able to offer.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 1:44:16 PM, on 9/30/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16705)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\arservice.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
d:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\ntrtscan.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSIService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
d:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\tmlisten.exe
d:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\OfcPfwSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\VO2782.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CAPM5RSK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\comctl32.exe
N:\FOXPRO\PCSMENU.EXE
D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\pccntmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
d:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\Pop3Trap.exe
C:\PCS\PcsPrint\pcsprn.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\frontdesk\Desktop\Stuff\procexp.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...ion&pf=desktop
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...ion&pf=desktop
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...ion&pf=desktop
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...ion&pf=desktop
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...ion&pf=desktop
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...ion&pf=desktop
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SearchSettings Class - {E312764E-7706-43F1-8DAB-FCDD2B1E416D} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCSPrn] C:\PCS\PcsPrint\pcsprn.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCSMenu] N:\FOXPRO\PCSMENU.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OfficeScanNT Monitor] "d:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\pccntmon.exe" -HideWindow
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PCSMenu] N:\FOXPRO\PCSMENU.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\npjpi150_05.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\npjpi150_05.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Run IMVU - {d9288080-1baa-4bc4-9cf8-a92d743db949} - C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\>IMVU\Run IMVU.lnk (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Connection Help - {E2D4D26B-0180-43a4-B05F-462D6D54C789} - C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Vendors\CN=Hewlett-Packard,L=Cupertino,S=Ca,C=US\IEButton\support.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Connection Help - {E2D4D26B-0180-43a4-B05F-462D6D54C789} - C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Vendors\CN=Hewlett-Packard,L=Cupertino,S=Ca,C=US\IEButton\support.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...?1170353111230
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = RiveredgeMarina.local
O17 - HKLM\Software\..\Telephony: DomainName = RiveredgeMarina.local
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{43937E10-51A8-4C94-A358-ACA84B55FDB3}: NameServer = 192.168.2.1
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = RiveredgeMarina.local
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\{43937E10-51A8-4C94-A358-ACA84B55FDB3}: NameServer = 192.168.2.1
O17 - HKLM\System\CS2\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = RiveredgeMarina.local
O17 - HKLM\System\CS2\Services\Tcpip\..\{43937E10-51A8-4C94-A358-ACA84B55FDB3}: NameServer = 192.168.2.1
O20 - Winlogon Notify: dimsntfy - %SystemRoot%\System32\dimsntfy.dll (file missing)
O20 - Winlogon Notify: PCANotify - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\PCANotify.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: pcAnywhere Host Service (awhost32) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\pcAnywhere\awhost32.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: HP Status Server - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\HPBOID.EXE
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: OfficeScanNT RealTime Scan (ntrtscan) - Trend Micro Inc. - d:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\ntrtscan.exe
O23 - Service: OfficeScanNT Personal Firewall (OfcPfwSvc) - Trend Micro Inc. - d:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\OfcPfwSvc.exe
O23 - Service: ProtexisLicensing - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSIService.exe
O23 - Service: OfficeScanNT Listener (tmlisten) - Trend Micro Inc. - d:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\tmlisten.exe

---------------------------------------------
end of log file
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Just FYI the entries for PCSMENU and PCSPRN are files relating to Point of Sale software running on this computer.



Thanks again for any help!

I have run every scan and tried every technique I have read on these forums, and still have the problem, can anyone please help me?

I personally found "Spy bot - Search and Destroy" to be a good tool in tracking down most "generally nasty" things on my PC/Laptop.

I'm no professional in this area, but I found it to be easy to use.

I was able to fix this by deleting suspicious things from the HijackThis scan list. Trial and error wins again...