Internet Explorer opening and closing silently...

[petrosky]

Hi,

This is driving me nuts. Basically it opens, then closes every 30 seconds or so...steals focus from any window including this one, then returns focus after approx 2 seconds...obviously frustrating to say the least

I have completed full A/V and anti-spyware scans - all clean.

I have also run SFC /SCANNOW.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I looked (briefly) at PROCMON.exe but I am unfamiliar with that program.

Essentially, I need to see what process kicks off this "phantom" internet explorer object.

Hope you have some ideas for me.

Regards,

Peter.

Remember- It's nice to be important,
but it's important to be nice

 

[petrosky]

In case any one else suffers the same problem...It turned out to be a security update to SQL Server 2005 KB948109, that somehow caused this on my machine.

The problem seems to be rectified now although of course my software is not patched against the latest threat...oh well.



Remember- It's nice to be important,
but it's important to be nice

 

[petrosky]

Hi again,

Please disregard the above "fix." The symptoms have returned.

Peter.

Remember- It's nice to be important,
but it's important to be nice

 

[linney]

Has the security update also returned via any automatic updates?

Can you reproduce the fault in Safe Mode, or in Normal Mode but as a different user?

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Try this with IE7.

How to optimize or reset Internet Explorer 7

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/936213#appliesto

 

[petrosky]

Hi linney,

Thanks for your reply.

The issue persists with other user logins including the local admin user. It seems to take up to 1/2 hour before the IE symptoms occur.

In safe mode...no phantom IE processes run and close themselves every 30 seconds or so...

I am thinking of doing a repair install as I have just about ruled out malicious viruses/malware/trojans as the source of my discontent.

Are you familiar with procmon? I can't seem to work out how to find what process actually spawns the IE7 process using this application...If I could see what launches it, I am sure I could diagnose/fix the issue...

Regards,

Peter.





Remember- It's nice to be important,
but it's important to be nice

 

[petrosky]

Hi,

Just to wrap this up...it turns out I was infected with a trojan horse.

Booted into safe mode w/networking and went to

http://www.trojanscan.com.

Goes to show that indeed these issues need a multihoned approach to controlling.

IE. I run Symantec CE 11 here at work...Did full scans with Spybot S&D,

http://housecall.trendmicro.com

and

http://www.ewido.net!

Remember- It's nice to be important,
but it's important to be nice

 

[linney]

I take it the problem is now solved. As far as Procman is concerned is that Process Monotor from Sysinternals? There is a forum that deals with that software which you might find helpful?

http://forum.sysinternals.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=19

The latest version and other help is available here.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx?PHPSESSID=d926