Hidden Layered Windows

[Guest]

Recently I have had trouble shutting down or hibernating Windows XP Home - I
get the message that a Hidden Layered Window is running - would I like to
terminate it - when I say yes if fails to terminate and keeps looping back to
the same question. Solution - switch off and reboot - but it comes back after
a while. Yesterday, after the PC had been connected to internet via broadband
for several hours and had successfully downoaded emails into Outlook 2003
many times - I suddenly found I could not access my email account or the
internet. My ISP diagnostic software indicated first that there was a problem
with the telephone/filter connection then later that there was a problem
between my ADSL Router and the internet. Even other PC's on the network could
not connect to the internet. I checked out all settings and re-booted the
router but this did not slove the problem. Then, in desperation, I tried to
shut down my PC and got the Hidden Layered Windows message again and could
not terminate it or XP. FINAL SOLUTION - switch off and re-boot and after
this all PC's on the network can again access the internet!! DOES ANYONE KNOW
WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT? HAVE I FALLEN PREY TO A VIRUS THAT ZONEALARM SECURITY
2005 VERSION 6 CANNOT DETECT?

 

[PA Bear]

WinXP SP2? Fully patched at Windows Update?

Here's one possiblity, albeit a faint one (does not apply to WinXP SP2):

Hidden windows of custom programs unexpectedly appear on the screen as blank
windows in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=833509

It could be a hijackware problem, yes.

Malware Removal and Prevention - CastleCopsWiki:
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/archive/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.net/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. **Post
your log to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html or http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30
for expert analysis, not here.**

 

[Guest]

PA Bear

Thanks for your help - much appreciated!

Yes - Windows XP fully up todate with SP" and all available patches.

I have just scanned with Spybot then ZoneAlarm Security for Viruses and
Malware and Microsoft AntiSpyware runs daily - nothing of any significance
found with all of these!!

I don't know anything about the links you have provided - is it fair to say
that these will reveal something that the programs I have run cannot??

Again, many thanks!

Adrian

 

[PA Bear]

I don't know anything about the links you have provided - is it fair to

say that these will reveal something that the programs I have run cannot??

Yes.