strange window in xp

[azrobert]

Just noticed a strange window kind of above taskbar that has
an X Close Alt+F4 it is just a small strip maybe 1/4 inch tall and 2 inches long...... that does nothing
it reappears with a reboot. have never seen it before......
Any one seen this before ?

 

[linney]

It sounds a bit like a misplaced Taskbar Button for a window, albeit an invisible window. In any case it also sounds very fishy, so a malware scan might be worthwhile too.

I see lots of recommendations here for programs like -

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

SuperAntispyware

http://superantispyware.com/

Can you reproduce this in Safe Mode, or in Normal Mode with a different user?

Does Task Manager throw any light on the process?

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560

Autoruns for Windows v10.07

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[edfair]

I've seen several like that. Think the most common cause in my case was program upgrades in a background process when the machine was shut down.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[azrobert]

Yea... I think it must have been something misplaced..... I couldn't move it, find any processes that looked fishy.....
re booted 3 or 4 times and it dissapeared.......

Thanks guys.....

 

[BadBigBen]

find any processes that looked fishy....

to most they all do not look fishy!... so it is still recommended that you do a malware scan, with the apps that Linney suggested, just to be on the safe side...

lots of malware disguise themselves to look like regular windows processes...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"