Strange icon rises above system tray

[Rebel1]

A day or two ago, the image shown here as ScreenShot002 started appearing:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90278919@N00/5128586810/#/

It takes about two seconds to rise, pauses about two seconds, then
retracts. I haven't timed how often it pops up, but about every 15 minutes.

I thought it might be a newly added indication that Alvira, my AV
program, was updating its files, so I removed Alvira. Still appears.

The computer is a desktop, powered directly from the wall; no UPS.
Someone in alt.comp.anti-virus suggested I change the CMOS battery. I
just did; the icon appeared just as soon as I finished screwing the side
panel back on.

Any idea as to what it is?

Thanks,

Rebel1

 

[TVeblen]

A day or two ago, the image shown here as ScreenShot002 started appearing:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90278919@N00/5128586810/#/

It takes about two seconds to rise, pauses about two seconds, then
retracts. I haven't timed how often it pops up, but about every 15 minutes.

I thought it might be a newly added indication that Alvira, my AV
program, was updating its files, so I removed Alvira. Still appears.

The computer is a desktop, powered directly from the wall; no UPS.
Someone in alt.comp.anti-virus suggested I change the CMOS battery. I
just did; the icon appeared just as soon as I finished screwing the side
panel back on.

Any idea as to what it is?

Thanks,

Rebel1

Have you checked the usual suspects:
Checked your Power Settings in windows for any battery settings that
shouldn't be there?
Right click on the task bar and open task manager and see if there are
any suspect programs or processes running > google them.
Run Virus, Spyware, and Malware checks?

 

[Rebel1]

Do you have a wireless mouse or keyboard?

I think you hit the nail on the head. Yes, a wireless mouse, and now
that I'm looking at it, there is a flashing red light on the top, about
once a second.

Many thanks.

Ray

 

[Rebel1]

I've certain done the reverse several times; Damn attic.


I'm glad it's worked out.

Here is a message that I posted November 2 in response to a message on
alt.comp.anti-virus. That's why some of my comments are unrelated to the
thread here on alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt.

*****************************************

Usually when the batteries become weak, the mouse pointer movement
becomes jerky or freezes, without the popup ever appearing. I don't know
why the popup appeared this time, without jerky pointer movement as
another clue to weak batteries.

(Recently I had to reinstall XP to fix a virus. Maybe I used to have a
popup blocker that blocked the battery icon, and now needs to be
reinstalled.)

Probably the reason there are no words in the icon is that the product
is sold worldwide, so which language do you use? Of course an outline of
a mouse would be universal.

The mouse is an HP MORFD6UO. The worse thing about it is the four "feet"
that contact the table (or mousepad) aren't thick enough, so the belly
of the mouse actually touches the table and gets scratched. I stuck
little pads of paper over each foot to elevate it a few thousands of an
inch above the table.