Windows explorer

[Guest]

When using my computer i noticed a lot of internet activity evn though i had
no web pages open and i was not downloading. I checked with Zone Alarm which
program was connecting to the internet to find that Windows Explorer was
constantly sending and receiving information. My internet speed has reduced
to about half its normal speed presumably due to this activity. When i stop
all internet activity a second problem starts in that my page file usage
begins to climb eventually shuting down my anti-virus and Zone Alarm and the
computer then stops all activity and reports a low on system memory failure.
I have had this problem now for several weeks and i have posted this
information on this board before but got no replys which solved the problem.

Any help would be most appreciated

Regards

Eddy

 

[DL]

Presumably you scanned your sys for malaware using Adaware, Spybot, and
Windefender?
Also done online AV scans at symantec.com or Trend Micro?

 

[Malke]

When using my computer i noticed a lot of internet activity evn though
i had no web pages open and i was not downloading. I checked with Zone
Alarm which program was connecting to the internet to find that
Windows Explorer was constantly sending and receiving information. My
internet speed has reduced to about half its normal speed presumably
due to this activity. When i stop all internet activity a second
problem starts in that my page file usage begins to climb eventually
shuting down my anti-virus and Zone Alarm and the computer then stops
all activity and reports a low on system memory failure. I have had
this problem now for several weeks and i have posted this information
on this board before but got no replys which solved the problem.

Since you didn't post to your original thread, we have no idea what
you've already done to troubleshoot. Your description of the symptoms
sounds like virus/malware infestation.

Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local version of BigStoreUSA).

Malke

 

[Guest]

Yep, i've done everything i can think of. I run daily updated AdAware
professional, Edwido Guard, AVG Free and Zone Alarm Pro. I've also downloaded
and run the latest version of Stinger, Spyware blaster and Spyware search and
Destroy and also had independent virus scans using the web versions both
Synmantic and PANDA Antivirus. None of these have found a problem. I'm
beginning to think the problem is hardware related rather than software.

Eddy.

 

[DL]

Try msconfig, then disabling stuff eg disable all non MS and test, if no
improvement disable all startups and test

 

[Malke]

Yep, i've done everything i can think of. I run daily updated AdAware
professional, Edwido Guard, AVG Free and Zone Alarm Pro. I've also
downloaded and run the latest version of Stinger, Spyware blaster and
Spyware search and Destroy and also had independent virus scans using
the web versions both Synmantic and PANDA Antivirus. None of these
have found a problem. I'm beginning to think the problem is hardware
related rather than software.

I don't see how Internet activity can be hardware related. Perhaps you
should run a rootkit detector like the one from Systernals (free). Or
just clean-install Windows. I hardly ever suggest that, but maybe if
you have a second hard drive you could install XP on it. Disconnect
your original hard drive. Don't connect until you have SP2 and an
antivirus installed. You didn't say whether you have a router or not or
how you're connecting so if you *don't have a router definitely install
your av before connecting.

Then see what happens. If you have no problems, then you know there's
nothing wrong with the hardware. Frankly, because you've done so much
work, I'd just clean-install Windows because if you have a rootkit it
can be almost impossible to be sure your machine is clean.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Hi malke

I did run the Blacklight rootkit detector which found no problems. I have
also done a re-install of windows when the problem first started, but the
problem persisted. As a last resort i will try a complete reformat and
install. I am using a Belkin ADSL router to connect to the internet.