Ending a self-launching .exe file

[Wevvie]

My father has inadvertently downloaded a .exe file that is causing his desktop icons to change from one to another as he moves the pointer towards them. If Auto Arrange is deselected, the desktop icons will move away from the pointer like a magnets like poles.

I've searched by date to try and find the culprit and think it's called Timeframes. Any attempts to delete this file bring the notification that it cannot be deleted as it is in use.

How can I end this file in Win98?

Reggie

 

[cdogg]

Make a note of the path to the application.

First, try rebooting into safe mode (hitting F8 during bootup and choosing option 3). See if the application is under Add/Remove programs in control panel. If it's not, then see if you can delete the file itself while in safe mode.

Second, if the above doesn't work, reboot to a DOS command prompt. Type the following:
del [path\filename]
where path is the location of the file starting with C:

 

[cdogg]

Oh yeah I forgot, don't include the brackets [] in your DOS command!

 

[Fadius]

You may also check in the startup folder as it sounds like one of those pesky little joke programs got installed and may be launhing from the startup folder.

 

[dsi]

You can also run MSCONFIG (Start > Run). There is a tab that lists programs that are initiated on startup. If you find it, just uncheck it.