Member Avatar for Chooch

This is weird. On my win98se machine the icons will randomly change themselves. FOr example, a word document .doc will change its icon to some other weird one, like ones that u would find deep within windows system folder or the like.

The other problem is that there are times when the left mousr button wont work...a window wont close. You see the little "x" depress its self without even having pressed the button. Its a lil weird. a system restart seems to fiz this problem temporarily, but it comes back randomly. I've run spybot but found nothing /removed nothing that has any relevance (or so it seems.)

the keyboard and mouse are Logitech cordless desktop about 3 years old. Batteries hav been replaced. Anyone know what this could be?

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Two likely roots: malware that changes file associations or injects UI events, and a failing cordless mouse (worn microswitches, RF glitches). ’s malware hunch is reasonable, but ’s cordless Logitech gear also deserves a focused hardware check before chasing deep software fixes.

Quick hardware checks (fast to do)

  • Remove the cordless receiver or take the mouse batteries out and watch whether the phantom clicks stop.
  • Try a different mouse (preferably a simple wired one) on the same machine. If the problem disappears, replace the cordless mouse; worn switches commonly cause “self-clicks.” See Logitech’s troubleshooting notes for click/double‑click problems:

Software/malware checks (if hardware is clean)

  • Boot to Safe Mode. If icon swaps and phantom window closes stop there, a loaded driver/utility or malware is likely.
  • Run an offline, up-to-date scanner from clean media (rescue ISO) so any rootkit can be found without the infected OS running. Kaspersky Rescue Disk is a reliable option:
  • Use a second, clean PC to download tools and create rescue media. After scans, collect startup/process logs (HijackThis logs are useful for help from experienced posters).

Fixing random icon changes

  • On Win98SE you can reset an extension’s icon via Folder Options -> File Types -> select .DOC -> Advanced -> Change Icon (point back to winword.exe). If many types are affected it suggests a shell/registry problem or infection.

Always backup important files and the registry before editing or reinstallation. If scans show nothing but symptoms persist, a clean Windows reinstall on that old system is often the fastest reliable cure. For rescue-media scanning and malware removal tools, use current reputable vendors such as Malwarebytes or the rescue disk above.

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Member Avatar for Catweazle

It's definitely a spyware/malware/virus/trojan related thing, I'd believe. You'll need to use more than spybot to dig out the culprit(s)

Member Avatar for Chooch

yeah, but ive run it a million times with the update etc. Maybe, perhaps, u DO read Hijack This logs? ;) im only half kidding, Okie, ill try the other ones and ill see what happens thanks

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