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

I had one like that as well - not a virus, but a real PITA, got it from some popup infested site on one of those free server places.

Good luck.

BTW - I would recommend against a Win2K upgrade from 9x, it seldom goes smoothly. I'd just archive everything (or get a new drive) and install 2K or XP pro from scratch. Both are quite smooth.

“BTW - I would recommend against a Win2K upgrade from 9x, it seldom goes smoothly. I'd just archive everything (or get a new drive) and install 2K or XP pro from scratch. Both are quite smooth.”

Yes I had heard that and we purchased the full bore Win2K and a new drive but when we loaded since we lost the printer and the DSL we did not have our resources gathered up for the changeover, - backed out and returned everything to 98 and the old drive…and then never got around to it again, - when the disc for DSL was finally received. Since that time too, my mother (who is more computer literate than I in some areas) has complained that she’s had more trouble with 2K than she ever did with 98 at home and work and recommended I stick to 98 if its working or I might regret.

I was scared and decided against XP since we “used to” yank parts and upgrade hardware very often, and we understood for self builders you have the “limited count’ on these and then have to get codes for authorization to reload the OS or upgrade parts past the few allowed…. I decided not to support that kind of (microsoft stranglehold) mentality.

I have never bought a fully loaded system from a retailer since we started with a 286, (?) years ago which was given to us second hand. It just evolved over the years until no original part was left on it including the case and power supply (gutted, - many times over) into what I have sitting here now.

I really do appreciate all the help and the second this hits me again (on the weekend) or takes me out complete, I have printed all the links (although they won’t function if I crash…so I guess I REALLY need to do this soon). Right now the thing is just hiding from me!.

Thanks again everyone!

I agree with Soundhound's assesment of the situation.

------------------
Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net

Gaaak. Nooooo.

Don't buy electronics from a fruit company.

Nobody writes viruses for Macintoshes - there just aren't enough of them to make it worthwhile for the geeks, in their ego driven quest for world dominance. When a Macintosh encounters a virus written for PC's, it can't run it, thus no problem.

Actually not strictly true. As with Linux and other less popular OSs, there are viruses out there and there are also AV packages available, but just like anything else in software, the biggest 'market' gets targeted first so to speak. It's not, as some Mac users claim, that the Mac OS is any more secure. It's just as you said - popularity.

You are right, of course - The Mac OS is not immune from invasion. It would just have to be a relative 'loser' of a hacker that would bother with an OS that doesn't have even 5% of the market. Now, if a hacker wanted to paralyze Hollywood, which uses Macs almost elclusively in editing and post production, then a Mac specific virus would do the trick!

Lena, I agree that a "clean install" of a new version of an OS is much less likely to have problems than an "upgrade" install.

When I did the upgrade install from Win 98se to Win2000, things went fine. No problems showed up.

When I did the upgrade last year (2002) from Win2000 to WinXP, I had no problems with the install, but my office 2000 no longer worked. Later when I installed Roxio ezCD creator, I had problems with that as well. I worked with Microsoft support to try and fix the office 2000 problems. They sent me a utility that is suppose to clean up things in preparation for installing things. It didn't help. I tried: uninstall office 2000, re-install WinXP (upgrade route) and then re-install office2000 did not work.

I then wiped out the partition (C) that the WinXP was installed on and did a clean install of WinXP. I then had to re-install all my applications but beings I install applications on hard drive partition E, the data files were still there.

I decided to give up on Roxio ezCD creator (I have v5 and patches for WinXP) and now used Ahead's Nero burning Rom and Plextor's Plextools with no problems.

I do think that having the operating system on one partion, a fixed size swap file on another and applications and related files on yet other partition(s) is a good route to follow. If something hoses the operating system, a clean install can be done which leaves the contents of the other partions alone. Then, reinstalling the applications to their (prior) locations will afford minimum disruption.

I also use a router that has some firewall protection in addition to my software firewall. In the case of computer security, wearing both a belt and suspenders is warranted.

Lena, you may want to set up computer accounts for those who may be temped to go to those naughty sites. Do not give these new accounts administrator privilidges. It will help some.

Paul

I'd agree w/ Paul on this one - most issues in the upgrade process are not actually with the OS - Microsoft can catch those in QA. It's the things the OS group doesn't test or fix, like broken applications (even some MS apps) that are the real pain at times.