CMD.EXE over-running my computer!!! help!!

[Shelley]

I'm running Windows XP Pro, and when I logged onto my
computer this morning, the cmd.exe was popping up, and
flooding my task manager. If I killed it, it would just
keep coming back, resulting in hundreds of instances of
this process running, which was eating up all of my RAM
and causing my computer to freeze. I'm pretty sure it has
to do with the 'socks.exe' application that I found in the
task manager. I ran several scans, including my fully-
updated Norton anti-virus software, to no avail, however,
I found one site that told me to load up in Safe Mode and
delete all of the associated 'socks' exe files. I have
done that, several times, and still nothing is working,
the cmd.exe application keeps running out of control. Is
there anything else I can do?

 

[Shaun L. Anderson]

Sally you may need to reformat the hard drive, but first let's try this

if you can kill all the cmd.exe's that are running that would be easy but since you can't do that you'll need to disable ALL your start-up items by holding down the shift key while you are logging in

once you've confirmed the start-up items have been disabled (a dialog box demonically may pop up saying so or an event in your event log will tell you)

insert XP cdrom into cdrom drive and

(exit that stupid little XP Setup screen that comes up or hold shift while inserting cdrom into cdrom drive unit)

goto "start" > "run" and type this command

"SFC /SCANNOW" (without the quotes)

go grab a cup of coffee (this could take a while).

after the system file checker box goes away REBOOT NOW!

if cmd.exe still refuses to play nice (try starting a few 16 bit apps or cmd.exe itself (it shouldn't be starting up on it's own, that for damn sure)

perform a in-place upgrade (to do so read below)

=========IN-PLACE UPGRADE DIRECTIONS=======

STEP 1: Insert CD-ROM and wait for the XP Setup screen to come up

STEP 1/2: (Ok I had to do that) now click the "Install Windows XP..." (Your's demonically may be different) button (it's the green one)

STEP 2 Proceed ahead normally through those stupid dialogs (if any) until XP ask's you what type of setup to perform

STEP 3: At this point the drop down box should say
upgrade (recommended)

STEP 4: Choose the "upgrade (recommended)" option

STEP 4.1 (ok I'm sorry I had to get that one out of my system) Now XP is gonna either start dynamic update
or ask you for your product key (this is common sense here, you'll know what to do, I hope)

STEP 5 Proceed normally through the upgrade process and reinstall ALL hotfixes and patches from the Windows Update Site (if applicable) if and after setup completes with no problem.

================THE END====================

Now if cmd.exe STILL cause's you grief AFTER performing these steps email me at

(e-mail address removed)

and I can damn well show you a way to achieve maximal orgasm by taking a sledgehammer to your PC!

NOTE: BACKUP FIRST (EVEN BEFORE OPENING THIS POST)!!!!

NOTE #2: As a side bar try throwing some holy water on top of your PC! and performing an exorcism as a last result