XP start-up hangs - "net.exe" windown open for 20-30 minutes

[StanL]

Recently (after removing some suspicious software my kid downloaded - screen
savers, shredders, Flash players) my Dell Dimension running the home version
of XP with all current updates started to hang on boot up. I can log in, get
to my desktop, then a window opens running "C:windows\system32\net.exe".
While the window is open the system is mostly froze (I can open the task
manager, sometimes launch a desktop icon, but can't get to the task bar or
quick launch or open documents). The net.exe window stays open for 20-30
minutes then closes and everything runs fine. While it's open CPU and memory
use are low, but system is hung. I've run multiple virus scans using
multiple products and not found anything. I've run an registry
editor/cleaner. I even deleted the net.exe file but it came back next boot.

Any ideas? Has net.exe been high-jacked? Something else? Dell tech
support had no idea.

 

[sgopus]

Sounds like malware and or worse, normal virus scanners won't see it.
try hijackthis (do a google search) do not post the log here, there is a
special forum where to post the log.

 

[Randem]

Try this http://www.randem.com/virusproblems.html see if it helps.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
http://www.rndem.com/installerproblems.html
http://www.randem.com/vistainstalls.html
http://www.financialtrainingservices.org

 

[thehman]

Try uninstalling and reinstalling the .net framwork 2.0

 

[StanL]

SmitFraudFix referenced on randem.com was a big help getting to the route
cause, as was ultimately deleting Norton and replacing with SpyBot S&D and
Verge. Traced problem to a screen saver program from Freeze.com - avoid!

Thanks for the help!