Search Results Window keeps randomly popping up

[Aliza]

I had a problem with the little guy & dog window popping up randomly on my XP
system. I had an IT guy reformat the drive and reinstall XP, it is still
happening. I am absolutely sure it is not malware, virus etc. It will just
pop up and keep opening more & more windows if you try and X it closed. It
causes the desktop icons to flutter at times. Then finally (sometimes) it
allows you to close and stays closed. Someone mentioned elsewhere that maybe
a key is stuck etc. I am going to spray with compressed air today and see if
it helps. I have popped off some of the keyboard buttons, but nothing was
there ie: crumbs etc. My husband is quite sloppy but swears he never spilled
anything on his keyboard. I see no evidence of liquid damage either. Any
ideas?? Aliza

 

[Leonard Grey]

Does anyone know what "the little guy & dog window" is?

 

[nass]

I had a problem with the little guy & dog window popping up randomly on my XP
system. I had an IT guy reformat the drive and reinstall XP, it is still
happening. I am absolutely sure it is not malware, virus etc. It will just
pop up and keep opening more & more windows if you try and X it closed. It
causes the desktop icons to flutter at times. Then finally (sometimes) it
allows you to close and stays closed. Someone mentioned elsewhere that maybe
a key is stuck etc. I am going to spray with compressed air today and see if
it helps. I have popped off some of the keyboard buttons, but nothing was
there ie: crumbs etc. My husband is quite sloppy but swears he never spilled
anything on his keyboard. I see no evidence of liquid damage either. Any
ideas?? Aliza

Hi Aliza,
Can you tell us what you mean " little Guy & Dog" mean? Do you mean the
Local search Engine for Windows and what Version of windows you are using?
Windows XP Home/Pro/Vista..etc.

Can you uplaod a picture for this behavior?
If you can't then try to send one on the email address below and your
hijackthis if you wish!
If you wish to send me your Hijackthis log I will be happy to help you
further or send to one of many forums on the internet!
Download Hijackthis and send me the log.
(http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/threat_analytics/hijackthis.php)
my address is : to_you_ross(at remove this and repalce with the
obvious)yahoo.co.uk ( _ is underscore)

HTH,
nass

 

[Aliza]

Hi Nass, sorry if I wasn't clear. If you go to >start>search(magnifying
glass icon) it brings up SEARCH RESULTS window. I was wrong, its just a
little dog hopping around on the bottom left side no little man. I have
WinXP home edition, version 2002 with SP2. Like I said it just had a very
clean reinstall by an IT guy. The only other thing I noted is that the
delete key and the left & right arrow keys are not working. They are next to
each other also on this keyboard. MAYBE hubby did do something to this
area???? Would these keys have anything to do with Search Results Window
popping up, maybe some kind of key combo? I had just attached a wireless USB
mouse to the laptop when these random windows kept popping up. Today I am
just using the touchpad and the windows have not popped up yet.
Is this any clearer. I can't give you a screen shot because it happens
randomly, no way to reproduce it, and I don't really want to. Thanks alot

 

[nass]

Hi Aliza,
The Keys mentioned will not cause the issue you having, which unusual!
Windows XP Keyboard Shortcuts for Example (Windows Key + F to start the
search)
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Windows-XP-Keyboard-Shortcuts.html

It could be a software bundled with rootkit installed after the clean
install by the IT guy causing this issue. As I said if you want to take this
further I will be happy to help with the Hijackthis or send it to other
forums on the internet for help.

BTW did you install a security software and running firewall and all up2date?
HTH,
nass

 

[Aliza]

Hi Nass again, Thanks about the keys, I will just use mouse instead. My IT
guy is a friend of mine, he knew I had this problem before clean install, no
software other than XP was put back on laptop. He did install virus
protection and firewall is up and running. I do not use this laptop for
internet at all. He only put protection on to update XP. So I do not have
any access with this computer to internet. It does not even have an ethernet
connection for me to use. He updated using USB internet. Thanks for trying.
Aliza

 

[nass]

I think it is best if you used PS2/USB mouse and keyboard to avoid that
issue if it only happen with wireless KB.
You are welcome and don't forget viruses and malare doesn't just come from
you being connected to the internet, but can come through using infected USB
Flash sticks/CD/DVD/ Floppies..etc from Removal storages.
Good luck.
nass

 

[Jose]

I think it is best if you used PS2/USB mouse and keyboard to avoid that
issue if it only happen with wireless KB.
You are welcome and don't forget viruses and malare doesn't just come from  
you being connected to the internet, but can come through using infected USB
Flash sticks/CD/DVD/ Floppies..etc from Removal storages.
Good luck.
nass

LMAO.

Try again - I clicked Start, Search , For Files and Folders and I have
a little dog also! He is your helping friend if you need help.

If you right click the little dog, you can choose to make it do a
trick! Did you try that? Or, you can choose to remove the animated
character entirely. You can ask him for help. Too bad you can't
throw him a Frisbee.

The Windows default character for this is the little dog "Rover", but
given a choice, I prefer "Rocky". Remember when the only choice was
"Clippit" that stupid paper clip thing? I hate Clippit. Plus if you
have sound on, it is even more fun/annoying. If you did a fresh
install, it will get installed automatically, but you can turn it off
here and/or in your MS applications.

If this is what you are talking about, you can right click it and turn
it off completely or choose another character. You can do this in a
lot of MS applications like Word, etc. I just keep mine off.

You can find the files in C:\WINDOWS\srchasst\chars or C:\Program Files
\Microsoft Office\OfficeXX depending on your installation. Sounds
like you are using rover.acs. These are MS "agent character" files.

Here puppy, here puppy! Bad dog. Go away.

 

[nass]

LMAO.

Try again - I clicked Start, Search , For Files and Folders and I have
a little dog also! He is your helping friend if you need help.

If you right click the little dog, you can choose to make it do a
trick! Did you try that? Or, you can choose to remove the animated
character entirely. You can ask him for help. Too bad you can't
throw him a Frisbee.

The Windows default character for this is the little dog "Rover", but
given a choice, I prefer "Rocky". Remember when the only choice was
"Clippit" that stupid paper clip thing? I hate Clippit. Plus if you
have sound on, it is even more fun/annoying. If you did a fresh
install, it will get installed automatically, but you can turn it off
here and/or in your MS applications.

If this is what you are talking about, you can right click it and turn
it off completely or choose another character. You can do this in a
lot of MS applications like Word, etc. I just keep mine off.

You can find the files in C:\WINDOWS\srchasst\chars or C:\Program Files
\Microsoft Office\OfficeXX depending on your installation. Sounds
like you are using rover.acs. These are MS "agent character" files.

Here puppy, here puppy! Bad dog. Go away.

LOL... Cheeky Monkey!
Happy new year Jose.
nass

 

[Jose]

LOL... Cheeky Monkey!
Happy new year Jose.
nass

I see the little man now - my "little man" (so to speak) is Merlin.
Whatever happened to that Einstein looking character?

I figured that guy was Bill Gates in disguise.

*Sigh* If you use your favorite search engine for "Microsoft
animated characters", you can find lots more, or even build your own.
Now, I am getting some more ideas... Hee-hee.