Stealth keystroke every 7 seconds

[TinMan]

This is most apparent in Quicken, but I see it happening in Outlook Express
as well. It's pretty weird and I'm stumped.

In Quicken - Every 7 seconds or so my cursor bounces back to the date field
during entry (that's the first field of an entry in the registry).

Now I'm using Outlook Express for my news client. While I'm here I notice
that every 7 seconds or so the "news.microsoft.com" blinks to bold in the
drop down box where I select news servers.

The problem doesn't exist in safe mode.

I've tried "end tasking" about everything I can and can't find what it is.

In Word, I'll get the hourglass for an instant in the same pattern.

I can't find a keystroke that replicates these two things.

I'm stumped. Any ideas how I can find what's happening every 7 seconds and
messing me up?

Thanks.

 

[Kelly]

Are your news accounts included to update when your mail is checked? Is
that the time frame chosen (every seven minutes)? Also, is your AV set to
scan all incoming mail/news?

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[TinMan]

It's every 7 seconds, not minutes.

I've disabled my AV (Norton) and that doesn't do it.

If I monitor my CPU load, it spikes at the same interval, but if look at the
processes running, I don't see any of them indicating a CPU usage when it
happens.

When I start looking, something is happening in most the applications. In
Word, I'll get an hourglass, others may just blink. I just can't figure what
it is that's triggering it.

BTW - Your site has given me more help than probably any other on the web.

Thanks. I maintain a high tech emergency operations center and invariably
things happen in the middle of a crisis. 8 out of 10 times, I find the fix
on your site (When it's computer issues anyway, you haven't fixed any
chemical releases yet).

Steve

 

[Kelly]

Thanks, Steve and nope on chemical releases, sorry. )

As for your issue it sounds like a keylogger. Check to see if you any of
these programs installed:
http://www.sharewareconnection.com/titles/keystroke-logging.htm

If you don't find anything relative listed in Start/Run/Msconfig/Startup and
nothing listed via Add or Remove, run:

Windows XP Startup Programs Tracker
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util

and/or:

Belarc: For a detailed list of all installed software:
http://www.belarc.com/Download.html

In the Software Versions section you'll see all of your installed software.
At the end of each entry is a clickable asterisk that will take you to the
folder the software is installed in.

Another is:

EVEREST Home Edition is a system diagnostics and benchmarking solution for
home PC users, the. It offers the world's most accurate system information
and diagnostics capabilities, including online features, memory benchmarks,
hardware monitoring, and low-level hardware information.
http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en

Or...

Enterprise System Information - Line 317
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/
--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com