I think I had almost the same problem a couple of years ago and if I am remembering correctly it was not a virus at all. I got rid of it by. Going to:
Start
Then Run. Type in MSCONFIG then enter
and then found the little program under the STARTUP tab. But it may have been under one of the other tabs.
All I did was de-select it and that was all it took.
I picked up the "unwanted program," at a website while looking for "keygenerating"
cracks.
It may not be anything like your problem, but it couldn't hurt to look and see.
Good luck,
Richard