Screen saver and unknown process

[Guest]

My screen saver will not run because of some unknown process that
periodically appears (and then disappears) on my taskbar. I've opened Task
Manager process tab and stared at it hoping the unknown process would appear.
It appeared one time, for less than a second, but I wasn't able to get its
name. On the taskbar, it also appears for less than a second but only as a
box with no text.

I am running Norton Internet Security '05 (fully enabled and up to date). I
installed MS Anti Spyware beta which is also running. I have scanned my
system with NAV, Spybot and Adaware and still the unknown process appears.
Otherwise my system appears to be running OK although I have noticed that it
is bit slower than normal, but nothing major.

Is there any log or utility I could use to capture the name of this
"process" so I can see what's behind it?

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Trax]

|>My screen saver will not run because of some unknown process that
|>periodically appears (and then disappears) on my taskbar. I've opened Task
|>Manager process tab and stared at it hoping the unknown process would appear.
|> It appeared one time, for less than a second, but I wasn't able to get its
|>name. On the taskbar, it also appears for less than a second but only as a
|>box with no text.
|>
|>I am running Norton Internet Security '05 (fully enabled and up to date). I
|>installed MS Anti Spyware beta which is also running. I have scanned my
|>system with NAV, Spybot and Adaware and still the unknown process appears.
|>Otherwise my system appears to be running OK although I have noticed that it
|>is bit slower than normal, but nothing major.
|>
|>Is there any log or utility I could use to capture the name of this
|>"process" so I can see what's behind it?
|>
|>Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.


http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Filemon.html

 

[Malke]

My screen saver will not run because of some unknown process that
periodically appears (and then disappears) on my taskbar. I've opened
Task Manager process tab and stared at it hoping the unknown process
would appear.
It appeared one time, for less than a second, but I wasn't able to
get its
name. On the taskbar, it also appears for less than a second but only
as a box with no text.

I am running Norton Internet Security '05 (fully enabled and up to
date). I
installed MS Anti Spyware beta which is also running. I have scanned
my system with NAV, Spybot and Adaware and still the unknown process
appears. Otherwise my system appears to be running OK although I have
noticed that it is bit slower than normal, but nothing major.

Is there any log or utility I could use to capture the name of this
"process" so I can see what's behind it?

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Systernals' free Process Explorer will do what you want:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

Malke

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Ed,

Try Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

You may want to alter the "Difference Highlight Duration" if needed.

"Difference Highlight Duration: this dialog allows you to configure the
duration of time that new processes show in green and ones that have exited
show in red. The default is one second."

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies. I'll give process explorer a try. Does this sound
like a virus, worm, spyware, etc? I wonder why Norton, SpyBot, Adaware or MS
Antispyware don't see it.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Does this sound like a virus, worm, spyware, etc?

It can be possible. When I had this problem in the past, I found the process
to be EZ-Trust Anti-virus automatic update. The updater dialog opened and
closed quickly.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[Guest]

I tracked the process down using the Process Explorer utility. I was an
executable file named "hptskmgr.exe". It has something to do with my HP all
in one printer. I disabled all of the autoloading HP software in MSCONFIG
and the problem stopped. Now I have to figure out why this process kept
launching in the background. My printer is still working fine so I'll take
my time to figure this out. Maybe a uninstall and reinstall of the HP
software.

Thanks again for the suggestions, especially Process Explorer.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Excellent! thanks for posting back Ed.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com