Background activity?

  • Thread starter Thread starter programmernovice
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programmernovice

Hi, I have XP and have noticed that the hourglass icon comes on about
every 10 seconds, lasting about 2 seconds. This happens even when just
at the desktop. Is this normal, or could it mean the machine is doing
something it's not supposed to be doing? I have both Norton Internet
Security and Spy Sweeper enabled at all times. Thanks for any help.
 
Hi novice:

Open the Task Manager: CTRL-ALT-DEL simultaneously once.

Clikc the Processes tab.

When the "...hourglass icon comes on about every 10 seconds, lasting about 2
seconds.", see which process (look under CPU collumn) goes from 00 to some
other value.

Let us know.

Mark
 
Hi, I have XP and have noticed that the hourglass icon comes on about
every 10 seconds, lasting about 2 seconds. This happens even when just
at the desktop. Is this normal, or could it mean the machine is doing
something it's not supposed to be doing? I have both Norton Internet
Security and Spy Sweeper enabled at all times. Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

download and run Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

Let it run for awhile, then click the CPU monitor in the upper right;
It has a history you can drag your mouse over to find what's been
running at that time.
 
download and run Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

Let it run for awhile, then click the CPU monitor in the upper right;
It has a history you can drag your mouse over to find what's been
running at that time.
Click to expand...

It appears to coincide with something called GTB.exe. It switches back
and forth between it and GTB2.exe shortly after the hourglass comes on.
Interestingly, all other lines have a company name by them, but not
this one. Is this spyware or something?
 
It appears to coincide with something called GTB.exe. It switches back
and forth between it and GTB2.exe shortly after the hourglass comes on.
Interestingly, all other lines have a company name by them, but not
this one. Is this spyware or something?
Click to expand...

Right click on GTB and select Google.

Apparent malware?
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_21796023.htmlpparent

If it is then with PE

Double click on the process(s), reading it's image and command line
will tell you where to find them. stop the process and delete the
file/directory.

Run Regedit and search for the file name(s) deleting them as you find
them.

Right clicking on the Process and selecting Google will describe the
process.
 
This gtb.exe is apparently Google-related malware installed by Dell!!
Unbelievable what these people will do. Anyway, I eliminated all
references to it from my machine, and now the hourglass no longer comes
on every few seconds. Many thanks to everyone who replied.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's a trojan, and yes, Dell put it there. You did just the right
thing.
 
Jone said:
Yes, it's a trojan, and yes, Dell put it there. You did just the right
thing.
Click to expand...

Wow! What does it do? How does Dell get away with it? Thanks for
your input.
 
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