"Lock Icon" appeared on Start-up

[Guest]

A blue and white "Lock Icon" appeared in the middle of the windows screen on
Start-up this morning.

It constantly changes from open to closed and cannot be moved or closed

Can anyone identify the program (or virus?) which caused it and how to
remove it.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[NewScience]

What does Task Manager say as far as the name of the process?
Right Click on the Description under Applications, Select Go to Process and
see what process name is associated with the window.

 

[Guest]

Sorry...forgot to mention ...there is nothing in Task Manager under
Applications. In addition the Icon is unclickable and the Mouse pointer
disappears behind it.

 

[Malke]

Sorry...forgot to mention ...there is nothing in Task Manager under
Applications. In addition the Icon is unclickable and the Mouse
pointer disappears behind it.

Boot into Safe Mode and examine what you have starting with Windows by
using the System Configuration Utility.

Start>Run>msconfig [enter]

Look on both the Applications and Processes tabs, although do not
disable services from there.

What is the virus/malware-status of the machine? Be sure it is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

To boot into Safe Mode, repeatedly tap the F8 key as the computer is
starting up. This will get you to the right menu. Use your arrow keys
to navigate.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks...

Booted into safe mode...herewith what was running in Task Manager processes
(nothing in Applications):-

taskmgr.exe
explorer.exe
svchost.exe (3 instances)
MsMpEng.exe
lsass.exe
services.exe
winlogin.exe
csrss.exe
smss.exe
System
System Idle Process SYSTEM

Went to your recommended page: Norton, Adaware and Defender found
nothing...previously had Spybot S & D but had to uninstall because it is
incompatible with Norton Ghost.

Don't know the if all the above processes are OK. Grateful if you could
advise.

By the way the "Lock Icon" also appears in Safe Mode...it is driving my wife
crazy!!!!

Sorry...forgot to mention ...there is nothing in Task Manager under
Applications. In addition the Icon is unclickable and the Mouse
pointer disappears behind it.

Boot into Safe Mode and examine what you have starting with Windows by
using the System Configuration Utility.

Start>Run>msconfig [enter]

Look on both the Applications and Processes tabs, although do not
disable services from there.

What is the virus/malware-status of the machine? Be sure it is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

To boot into Safe Mode, repeatedly tap the F8 key as the computer is
starting up. This will get you to the right menu. Use your arrow keys
to navigate.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Malke]

Thanks...

Booted into safe mode...herewith what was running in Task Manager
processes (nothing in Applications):-

taskmgr.exe
explorer.exe
svchost.exe (3 instances)
MsMpEng.exe
lsass.exe
services.exe
winlogin.exe
csrss.exe
smss.exe
System
System Idle Process SYSTEM

Went to your recommended page: Norton, Adaware and Defender found
nothing...previously had Spybot S & D but had to uninstall because it
is incompatible with Norton Ghost.

Don't know the if all the above processes are OK. Grateful if you
could advise.

By the way the "Lock Icon" also appears in Safe Mode...it is driving
my wife crazy!!!!

Your list looks fine and I don't see anything that would produce a "lock
icon". However, these things don't happen all by themselves. What
changed between the time you didn't have a lock icon and the time you
did? Try a System Restore to before you had the problem.

Since you mention Norton Ghost, does Ghost have any function that might
produce a screen lock? Any other security software that you are running
that might have just been updated?

Malke

 

[NewScience]

Have you tried running Autoruns from www.sysinternals.com and check what get
started when the system starts up? Specifically, under WinLogin.

Thanks...

Booted into safe mode...herewith what was running in Task Manager
processes
(nothing in Applications):-

taskmgr.exe
explorer.exe
svchost.exe (3 instances)
MsMpEng.exe
lsass.exe
services.exe
winlogin.exe
csrss.exe
smss.exe
System
System Idle Process SYSTEM

Went to your recommended page: Norton, Adaware and Defender found
nothing...previously had Spybot S & D but had to uninstall because it is
incompatible with Norton Ghost.

Don't know the if all the above processes are OK. Grateful if you could
advise.

By the way the "Lock Icon" also appears in Safe Mode...it is driving my
wife
crazy!!!!

Sorry...forgot to mention ...there is nothing in Task Manager under
Applications. In addition the Icon is unclickable and the Mouse
pointer disappears behind it.

:

What does Task Manager say as far as the name of the process?
Right Click on the Description under Applications, Select Go to
Process and see what process name is associated with the window.

A blue and white "Lock Icon" appeared in the middle of the windows
screen on
Start-up this morning.

It constantly changes from open to closed and cannot be moved or
closed

Can anyone identify the program (or virus?) which caused it and how
to remove it.

Boot into Safe Mode and examine what you have starting with Windows by
using the System Configuration Utility.

Start>Run>msconfig [enter]

Look on both the Applications and Processes tabs, although do not
disable services from there.

What is the virus/malware-status of the machine? Be sure it is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

To boot into Safe Mode, repeatedly tap the F8 key as the computer is
starting up. This will get you to the right menu. Use your arrow keys
to navigate.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Guest]

Thanks Malke and New Science for your replies,

I have been unavailable for 2 days "but the Lock Icon persists".

As far as I know nothing changed since my wife last used the computer the
night before.... that is why I feared it might be a virus; especially because
it is so annoying (a box about 1.5 inches by 1.25 inches, fixed in the middle
of the screen with the lock flashing from open to closed about every 10 secs)
and with no access to turn it on or off . It starts right from system boot
before we even get to the screen to login to the individual user accounts.

However, the first thing I tried, after all the anti virus scans etc. was a
system restore.....but also to no avail.

Just Downloaded Autoruns. The result for "Winlogin" only gave Microsoft as
the Publisher for all entries.....not sure if that is good or bad!!!

Grateful any further suggestions.

 

[Malke]

Thanks Malke and New Science for your replies,

I have been unavailable for 2 days "but the Lock Icon persists".

As far as I know nothing changed since my wife last used the computer
the night before.... that is why I feared it might be a virus;
especially because it is so annoying (a box about 1.5 inches by 1.25
inches, fixed in the middle of the screen with the lock flashing from
open to closed about every 10 secs) and with no access to turn it on
or off . It starts right from system boot before we even get to the
screen to login to the individual user accounts.

However, the first thing I tried, after all the anti virus scans etc.
was a system restore.....but also to no avail.

Just Downloaded Autoruns. The result for "Winlogin" only gave
Microsoft as the Publisher for all entries.....not sure if that is
good or bad!!!

Grateful any further suggestions.

Well, something is running. Do clean-boot troubleshooting:

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Malke

 

[NewScience]

Did you happen to download Process Explorer from www.sysinternals.com? If
not do so. Then,

Open Process Explorer.
On the toolbar you should see something that looks like the old TV Test
Pattern (Round Circle).
Click and hold with left mouse button, dragg out of Process Explorer (You'll
need Process Explorer to be NON-MAXIMIZED), and release over Lock Icon
window.
Now look at Process Explorer and see what process was highlighted.
Chose View | Show Lower Panel ...
Chose View | Lower Panel ... Handles (peruse anything that looks out of
place)
Chose View | Lower Panel ... DLLs (see what DLLS have been loaded)

What Process was highlighted?

 

[Guest]

I can't thank you enough for your help.

After I tried a "clean boot troubleshooting," which found nothing, I thought
it had to be something else......but what? Hours later I had a
brainstorm....maybe the Dell LCD.........it was!!!!

It was installed over 3 years ago and I haven't ever had to touch it other
than turn it on and off. It appears to have lost all its ability to change
any of the settings as well.

So if anyone else ever gets the same problem....we now know not to waste
days trying to solve it.

So sorry to have wasted your valuable time too.

Many thanks again.

 

[Malke]

I can't thank you enough for your help.

After I tried a "clean boot troubleshooting," which found nothing, I
thought it had to be something else......but what? Hours later I had a
brainstorm....maybe the Dell LCD.........it was!!!!

It was installed over 3 years ago and I haven't ever had to touch it
other than turn it on and off. It appears to have lost all its ability
to change any of the settings as well.

So if anyone else ever gets the same problem....we now know not to
waste days trying to solve it.

So sorry to have wasted your valuable time too.

Many thanks again.

You didn't waste anyone's time. I'm glad you figured out what it was.
Thanks for posting the resolution.

Malke

 

[NewScience]

Sorry, I should have known that. I maintain Dell systems for my family all
the time and didn't dawn on me that it could have been the LCD. And I've
seen that stupid Lock Icon many times.

I should have asked if it was a Windows' Dialog window. In the future, I
will, thanks to you.

However, Dell LCD should last longer than 3 years. I just had to send my
uncle's monitor back after 3 months because the power button stayed
depressed when pushed.