Shut down problems with XP

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I've been having problems shutting down my system for some time now. I would
get that box on my screen with the scanning bar going across it telling me it
was shutting down a file called 'msmsgs.exe' I have no idea what the means
but once it did that it would shut down. Now all it's doing is giving me the
choice to end the task or cancel. When I cancel it of course my system is
still up and running. A while back I hit the end now button and when I
restarted my system nothing appeared on my screen for almost a half hour. I
had left my computer to find my boot up disc for Windows XP and when I came
back to my computer with the disc the screen was fully loaded with all of the
icons in place and my system was up and running. I'm afraid to just end the
task and take that chance again since I don't know what 'msmsgs.exe' does or
what it's for.
Can someone please help me with this problem?
Thanks
Linda S.
 
my_realtor said:
I've been having problems shutting down my system for some time now. I would
get that box on my screen with the scanning bar going across it telling me it
was shutting down a file called 'msmsgs.exe' I have no idea what the means
but once it did that it would shut down. Now all it's doing is giving me the
choice to end the task or cancel. When I cancel it of course my system is
still up and running. A while back I hit the end now button and when I
restarted my system nothing appeared on my screen for almost a half hour. I
had left my computer to find my boot up disc for Windows XP and when I came
back to my computer with the disc the screen was fully loaded with all of the
icons in place and my system was up and running. I'm afraid to just end the
task and take that chance again since I don't know what 'msmsgs.exe' does or
what it's for.
Can someone please help me with this problem?
Thanks
Linda S.
Click to expand...

It could be associated with the MSN Messenger, or with malware. See
this link:
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/msmsgs/

Do you have Messenger running? If not do a scan for malware using a
combination of AV and anti-spyware products in safe mode.

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Richard Harper’s Guide to Cleaning Pests
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
 
Thanks for all of the help. I did go into something and found that I do have
MSN messanger. I don't remember how I got to the list I was in but it showed
it was running. This list required a check in the box of the listed items
that were running to stop them from running so I checked that. Where does all
of this stuff come from and how do you know what you can get rid of safely if
you don't even know what all of this stuff is for? I hate to just go in and
remove programs or components if I'm not sure what they're for or where they
came from. I do have Yahoo messanger and AOL messanger but that's the only
ones I thought I had.
Thanks again for everyones help and I think I'll keep those links handy. It
is appreciated.
 
my_realtor said:
Thanks for all of the help. I did go into something and found that I do have
MSN messanger. I don't remember how I got to the list I was in but it showed
it was running. This list required a check in the box of the listed items
that were running to stop them from running so I checked that. Where does all
of this stuff come from and how do you know what you can get rid of safely if
you don't even know what all of this stuff is for? I hate to just go in and
remove programs or components if I'm not sure what they're for or where they
came from. I do have Yahoo messanger and AOL messanger but that's the only
ones I thought I had.
Thanks again for everyones help and I think I'll keep those links handy. It
is appreciated.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. One way is to ask here. Also you can research what
each of the running processes is; with that you can make a determination
if you want it running, and it increases your knowledge of what's going
on behind the scenes. Here are some resources for this research.

www.google.com
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm
 
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