Strange boxes with numbers floating on screen...what is this?? 1

[nissokone]

Of all the strange things that have happened since I installed Windows XP, this one 'takes the cake'. When online, I'm often 'beset' by these little boxes (about 1/8" or 3mm) with numbers in them, floating around on my screen. Sometimes, if the page is in paragraph form, they will 'align' themselves with the paragraph; other times they just float, or congregate in one area or another; sometimes they just disappear. They number from 1-18, I believe.
I'M NOT KIDDING!! I know this sounds like something I just made up, but it's REAL...and, obviously, very annoying. I haven't the slightest clue as to what causes it. Any suggestions as to cause and/or remedy would be greatly appreciated!
Below is my computer info, should that be helpful.
Thanks so much!

Judy King
Intel P3-1 GHz 133MHz Flip Chip
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (v.1.2600)
Memory: 512 MB
Speed: 1GHz

 

[IslandCustom]

Are you running antivirus software?

 

[nissokone]

Yes..Norton...just scanned the entire disk and no viruses found.

 

[IslandCustom]

Okay. What about anti-adware software? If not, you should download, update and run both Spybot and Ad-Aware. They're free and I have a link to them on one of my web pages:

http://www.islandcustompc.com/downloads.htm

Kevin

 

[nissokone]

No--ran ad-aware and it found nothing (which is unusual, as it usually does find one or two suspicious files)

 

[norty303]

Try Spybot too as it picks up stuff Adaware doesn't and vice-versa

 

[pmonett]

What are you using as browser ?
IE ?
Have you disabled Java (can you afford to) ?
Does it happen on any site randomly, or is it on one/several determined sites ?

Try Mozilla (

http://www.mozilla.org).

I switched not long ago and I see no reason to go back to IE and all its shortcomings.
With Mozilla, no more popups or popunders - just one click in Preferences and they are gone. No more flashing ads either. And tabbed browsing is rather fun - beats having 12 IE icons in my start bar.

Pascal.

 

[nissokone]

Thanks to everyone and the good suggestions. Yes, am using IE. I had spybot on for a bit, but if I remember correctly, had some problems with it. May give it another try. I do think I might have found the site that was causing it, and will avoid it and see--the little boxes haven't come up now for 2 days, so am hopeful.
Many thanks, again,
Judy

 

[nissokone]

By the way...if anyone should anyone else ever have this problem, I DID find the cause, strange as it all may seem.
I have IBM ViaVoice installed, and use it frequently. If that program is still active (in other words, if I haven't closed it down completely) and I go online, the boxes will appear. Why....who knows....it's just what happens.
Just wanted share what I found.

 

[micker377]

Thanks for letting us know - we can save someone else YOUR headaches in the future!

 

[rvnguy]

nissokone,

Echo > micker77's post.

It is always nice to close a post with findings for the rest of the community.

Thank You for posting back.

BTW - is you laptop functioning again?



rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all