Dial-Up behaving strangely

[I Got A Problem]

Running Win XP Home, SP2 installed.

I've got a dial-up ISP.

Two days ago something very strange began happening.

Whenever I power up, or power down, or restart Windows, my computer
dials up for an internet connection!. None of my internet programs
opens, it just establishes a connection. It is REALLY odd when this
happens while Powering off!

All my internet related programs are setup to dial up automatically
when opened, if there is not already a connection. But none of them
opens when this occurs.

I have made no changes to any programs, nor installed anything new
recently. I've checked my start-up programs, using StartUp Inspector,
and nothing has changed.

This seems very suspicious to me, like maybe some spyware or other
malware is at work, but I can find nothing. Virus scanning finds
nothing. Spybot finds nothing.

Any suggestions, clues, or other advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Karl]

Try this: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316530

 

[I Got A Problem]

First, thanks for your feedback.

This is getting stranger and stranger...

Before I could act on the recommendations on the page you referred me
to, it was necessary for unrelated reasons for me to re-boot. And,
wouldn't you know it, dial-up did not occur! 3 days of this strange
behavior and now it has stopped, at least for THIS boot. Hopefully my
problem has gone away. But...

To add to the strangeness, I noticed two odd icons on my Desktop after
booting: drm1key.bak and drm2.bak. Properties said "unknown
application". I deleted them. Assuming that .bak files are backup
files, I did a search on the filenames without the extension, to try
to see what might be getting backed up. Didn't find anything.

Any idea what these files might be?

Curiouser and curiouser....

 

[Karl]

not sure if this it but go to www.google.com and type in DRM XP and read

 

[I Got A Problem]

Thanks once more.

Hmmmm...

There are sure a lot of differing opinions as to whether DRM is a
threat, loophole, or whatever. It does not, at first glance, seem to
relate to the auto dialups I was having.

I do not have WMP10. I'm still using 9.

I have not joined or registered with any site that is offering DRM
content, at least not to my knowledge.

I am not having any problems playing the media files I have on my
computer, predominately from Newsgroups.

A further google search on theexact filename(s) yields no results.
A further google search within the results for "dialup" yields nothing
that relates in any way to what was happening on my computer.

I don't know whether to be worried or not. "Tis a mystery still...

But your interest and help is certainly appreciated, and any further
thoughts you have will be equally appreciated.

 

[Karl]

Hi,

I did a search on my computer and found several DRM related files, most of
which seem to be tied to Windows Media Player. I do remember that a few
years ago when I had dialup, that Real Player used to dial up on it's own,
and I found out the problem was real player trying to complete or upgrade an
install that didn't finish. Not sure if that is related at all, but if the
dialup stopped could have very well been.

Good luck!

 

[Karl]

P.S. I see there is a folder called DRM in Documents and Settings/ All Users

 

[I Got A Problem]

Thanks again, I really appreciate your input.

I have no doubt that this is indeed related to DRM. Another pair of
those drmxxx.bak files has appeared on my desktop. Clearly I need to
find out what is causing this and get rid of whatever it is. Problem
is I have not the faintest idea what to look for. Obviously it got by
my Virus Protection, And my SpyBot scans.

Microsoft has just issued a bunch of security updates which I am
downloading as I write this. Included is a Malware Repair tool.
Perhaps that will take care of this.

Any other ideas?

Othewise I am stumped.