Windows Explorer Trying To Connect To Internet

[AnnMarie]

*StateMgr c:\windows\system\restore\statemgr.exe All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

Needed - required for Restore functionality

AVG_CC c:\progra~1\grisoft\avg6\avgcc32.exe /startup All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Needed - this is your AV

Avgserv9.exe c:\progra~1\grisoft\avg6\avgserv9.exe All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

As above

LoadPowerProfile rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,loadcurrentpwrscheme All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

This is required if you are using Power Management (accessed through Start|Settings|Control Panel|Power).

LoadQM loadqm.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersi
on\Run

Not needed - Loads the MSN Explorer Query Manager


Microsoft Office c:\progra~1\micros~3\office\osa9.exe -b -l .DEFAULT Startup

Optional - this a utility for Microsoft Office (Some users report that unchecking this item can cause difficulty. Bear this in mind if you uncheck it and performance is degraded)


PCHealth c:\windows\pchealth\support\pchschd.exe -s All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Needed - required for Restore functionality

ScanRegistry c:\windows\scanregw.exe /autorun All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Needed - scans your Registry at StartUp and makes backups.

SiS KHooker c:\program files\sis630_v1.05\utility\3d\khooker.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Probably not needed - SiS Keyboard Daemon. System Tray utility which gets installed by the drivers of SiS VGA cards. I have heard that it can contribute to StartUp problems.

SiS Tray All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

As above

SSDPSRV c:\windows\system\ssdpsrv.exe All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

Depends - This file is part of Windows Millennium Edition but is not installed by default. This program only gets installed if you choose to install the "Universal Plug and Play" sub-component of the Communications component in "Add/Remove Programs \ Windows Setup" however some manufacturers pre-install it. It is subject to a security vulnerability - see here andhere unless you have installed the patch. My recommendation is that if you are using standard Plug and Play devices, you do not need this program. You can de-install it by un-selecting "Universal Plug and Play" in "Add/Remove Programs \ Windows Setup tab \ Communications".


SystemTray systray.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Needed - This program runs the Windows System Tray, which is that part of the Task Bar where the time is displayed.

Tweak UI rundll32.exe tweakui.cpl,tweakmeup All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Needed - Some users will need to have this loaded at startup to enable some of its options.

VidSvr All Users HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

Not required - Web TV channel guide

BTW I remember that I didnt see your firewall loading. Double check and make sure that its checked in your StartUps.

[jordanf1]

Hi there.

I ran ad-aware which removed heaps of spyware, but it didn't pick up anything relating to MP3 Dancer. I uninstalled that program ages ago. Do you think it's ok to remove that registry entry and the files in the totem shared dir?

I have also uninstalled Kazaa. I would appreciate if you could let me know of an alternative. I have previously tried Morpheus and WinMX. Morpheus isn't very good since it changed and I didn't like WinMX very much.

I uninstalled Web TV and the Plug and Play, rebooted and didn't get the explorer.exe alert. Yaaay!!!

I changed my startup which now runs the following:

*StateMgr
AVG_CC
Avgserv9.exe
LoadPowerProfile
Microsoft Office
PCHealth
ScanRegistry
SystemTray
TaskMonitor
Tweak UI

Do I need the TaskMonitor one? I also unchecked one called bpcpost.exe in c:\windows\system. Not sure what that one is.

Norton isn't showing up in the startup and I double-checked that the "Run at System Startup" is enabled in the options menu. It loads up when I reboot and is sitting in the system tray.

Will hear from you later.

[AnnMarie]

Hi Jordan - well, we are nearly there

Yes - go ahead and remove the registy entry and files associated with MP3 Dancer - I would bet my bottom dollar that its spyware. Unfortunately, AdAware cannot pick up everything but it does a terrific job for a freebie.

Here is a spyware free alternative to KaZaa - KaZaa Lite. There are a couple of things that you have to do after you install it though. Firstly, it downloads a dummy copy of cydoor, a file named cd_clint.dll so when you run AdAware again, you have to configure it to ignore this file. Secondly, go to C:\Windows and find your hosts file (not hosts.sam just hosts). Open it with Notepad or Wordpad and copy the below information into it.

127.0.0.1 wwww.brilliantdigital.com
127.0.0.1 desktop.kazaa.com
127.0.0.1 shop.kazaa.com
127.0.0.1 wwww.bonzi.com
127.0.0.1 wwww.b3d.com

it should now look something like this:

127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 wwww.brilliantdigital.com
127.0.0.1 desktop.kazaa.com
127.0.0.1 shop.kazaa.com
127.0.0.1 wwww.bonzi.com
127.0.0.1 wwww.b3d.com

.*EDIT* this darn board automatically turned everything with www in front of it into a link so I have added an extra w - you will have to remove it. I really dont want people accidentally clicking on those links.


There may also be other entries in there depending on your restricted site settings in IE.

This last part is known as the "Super Trick". Be sure to do this before you start KaZaa Lite. Also, as with any download, scan it for viruses before you install it.

Last but not least - you dont need Task Monitor in your Startups.

BTW - nearly forgot about Norton, as long as its showing in your system tray and it is alerting you, its OK. Its probably running either in running tasks or services

[jordanf1]

Hi AnnMarie,

Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate everything you've done for me. I feel a lot better now, knowing my computer is ok, and I bet it does too!!

[AnnMarie]

It was my pleasure Jordan - just dont forget to run scandisk and defrag after getting rid of all that junk