Persistent image of a lock on my screen

[Guest psychdoc]

In the center of my screen, there is an image of a box - with a lock inside

it. For approximately 15 seconds, the lock remains shut. Then, without my

doing anything, the lock closes and remains so for the same amount of time.

The cycle goes on and on. There are no messages accompanying the image.

Attempting to put the cursor on it are fruitless. I ran virus scan - which

turned up nothing - although after having done so, the images were no longer

present. They have, however, returned. Rebooting does not make a

difference. Control Alt Delete yields nothing. I have shut down Zone Alarm

but the images persist. The images don't seem to have any functional impact

on the computer except that they block the middle of the screen. Does anyone

have an idea of what is going on and how to rectify this situation?

[Guest Lem]

Re: Persistent image of a lock on my screen

 

psychdoc wrote:

> In the center of my screen, there is an image of a box - with a lock inside

> it. For approximately 15 seconds, the lock remains shut. Then, without my

> doing anything, the lock closes and remains so for the same amount of time.

> The cycle goes on and on. There are no messages accompanying the image.

> Attempting to put the cursor on it are fruitless. I ran virus scan - which

> turned up nothing - although after having done so, the images were no longer

> present. They have, however, returned. Rebooting does not make a

> difference. Control Alt Delete yields nothing. I have shut down Zone Alarm

> but the images persist. The images don't seem to have any functional impact

> on the computer except that they block the middle of the screen. Does anyone

> have an idea of what is going on and how to rectify this situation?

 

A "virus scan" alone isn't enough. See below, courtesy of MVP PA Bear:

 

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

 

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis

log to an appropriate forum.

 

Checking for/Help with Hijackware

http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

 

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2

(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use

(in conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix

anything on its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove

any hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log

to http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,

http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,

http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for

review by an expert in such matters, not here.**

 

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 local, reputable and

independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

 

--

Lem -- MS-MVP

 

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

[Guest psychdoc]

Re: Persistent image of a lock on my screen

 

Lem,

Many thanks. What a pain! I'll definitely look for a local computer pro.

psychdoc

 

"Lem" wrote:

> psychdoc wrote:

> > In the center of my screen, there is an image of a box - with a lock inside

> > it. For approximately 15 seconds, the lock remains shut. Then, without my

> > doing anything, the lock closes and remains so for the same amount of time.

> > The cycle goes on and on. There are no messages accompanying the image.

> > Attempting to put the cursor on it are fruitless. I ran virus scan - which

> > turned up nothing - although after having done so, the images were no longer

> > present. They have, however, returned. Rebooting does not make a

> > difference. Control Alt Delete yields nothing. I have shut down Zone Alarm

> > but the images persist. The images don't seem to have any functional impact

> > on the computer except that they block the middle of the screen. Does anyone

> > have an idea of what is going on and how to rectify this situation?

>

> A "virus scan" alone isn't enough. See below, courtesy of MVP PA Bear:

>

> Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

>

> Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis

> log to an appropriate forum.

>

> Checking for/Help with Hijackware

> http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

> http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878

> http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction

> http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

> http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm

> http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html

> http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

> http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/

> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

>

> When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2

> (http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use

> (in conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix

> anything on its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove

> any hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log

> to http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,

> http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,

> http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for

> review by an expert in such matters, not here.**

>

> 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 local, reputable and

> independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

>

> --

> Lem -- MS-MVP

>

> To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

> http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

>

[Guest 3c273]

Re: Persistent image of a lock on my screen

 

Is this a Dell monitor and is the lock blue? If so, it could be the OSD

lock. There are instructions to disable it on this page.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/1901FP/en/controls.htm

Louis

 

"psychdoc" <psychdoc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:7E4B7BA1-230F-4520-BB5A-28DB2B2563E6@microsoft.com...

> In the center of my screen, there is an image of a box - with a lock

inside

> it. For approximately 15 seconds, the lock remains shut. Then, without

my

> doing anything, the lock closes and remains so for the same amount of

time.

> The cycle goes on and on. There are no messages accompanying the image.

> Attempting to put the cursor on it are fruitless. I ran virus scan -

which

> turned up nothing - although after having done so, the images were no

longer

> present. They have, however, returned. Rebooting does not make a

> difference. Control Alt Delete yields nothing. I have shut down Zone

Alarm

> but the images persist. The images don't seem to have any functional

impact

> on the computer except that they block the middle of the screen. Does

anyone

> have an idea of what is going on and how to rectify this situation?

[Guest psychdoc]

Re: Persistent image of a lock on my screen

 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It IS a Dell monitor and it WAS (in

contrast to "is" -thanks to you) a blue lock - and it appears to be history.

This stuff has consumed 72 hours of my time - time, which like for most of

us, could be spent much more productively. It feels GREAT knowing that I can

now get back to my life. I also just noticed that I can turn off my monitor -

something that I wasn't able to do last night. Do you have any speculations

as to how that happened? I certainly did not touch those controls. Never

have. And I certainly would prefer it not to happen again.

I'm also thinking too that had I brought my cpu - by itself - into a shop

for assistance in extricating whatever it was that had supposedly hijacked my

computer, I would have spent a lot of money and the answer would never been

found (in the CPU itself).

May I ask how it is that you are aware of such highly specific information?

So - thank vERY much. I really appreciate your input.

 

"3c273" wrote:

> Is this a Dell monitor and is the lock blue? If so, it could be the OSD

> lock. There are instructions to disable it on this page.

> http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/1901FP/en/controls.htm

> Louis

>

> "psychdoc" <psychdoc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:7E4B7BA1-230F-4520-BB5A-28DB2B2563E6@microsoft.com...

> > In the center of my screen, there is an image of a box - with a lock

> inside

> > it. For approximately 15 seconds, the lock remains shut. Then, without

> my

> > doing anything, the lock closes and remains so for the same amount of

> time.

> > The cycle goes on and on. There are no messages accompanying the image.

> > Attempting to put the cursor on it are fruitless. I ran virus scan -

> which

> > turned up nothing - although after having done so, the images were no

> longer

> > present. They have, however, returned. Rebooting does not make a

> > difference. Control Alt Delete yields nothing. I have shut down Zone

> Alarm

> > but the images persist. The images don't seem to have any functional

> impact

> > on the computer except that they block the middle of the screen. Does

> anyone

> > have an idea of what is going on and how to rectify this situation?

>

>

>

[Guest 3c273]

Re: Persistent image of a lock on my screen

 

Not sure how they get that way. (Power surge, cosmic rays, the cat, who

knows?) I stumbled accross that article while I was trying to help someone

else and just happened to remember it. Glad the solution kept you from

having to spend any money.

Louis

 

"psychdoc" <psychdoc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:7290FB79-9302-46E7-9F9D-504AB641E5C6@microsoft.com...

> Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It IS a Dell monitor and it WAS (in

> contrast to "is" -thanks to you) a blue lock - and it appears to be

history.

> This stuff has consumed 72 hours of my time - time, which like for most of

> us, could be spent much more productively. It feels GREAT knowing that I

can

> now get back to my life. I also just noticed that I can turn off my

monitor -

> something that I wasn't able to do last night. Do you have any

speculations

> as to how that happened? I certainly did not touch those controls. Never

> have. And I certainly would prefer it not to happen again.

> I'm also thinking too that had I brought my cpu - by itself - into a shop

> for assistance in extricating whatever it was that had supposedly hijacked

my

> computer, I would have spent a lot of money and the answer would never

been

> found (in the CPU itself).

> May I ask how it is that you are aware of such highly specific

information?

> So - thank vERY much. I really appreciate your input.

>

> "3c273" wrote:

>

> > Is this a Dell monitor and is the lock blue? If so, it could be the OSD

> > lock. There are instructions to disable it on this page.

> > http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/1901FP/en/controls.htm

> > Louis

> >

> > "psychdoc" <psychdoc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> > news:7E4B7BA1-230F-4520-BB5A-28DB2B2563E6@microsoft.com...

> > > In the center of my screen, there is an image of a box - with a lock

> > inside

> > > it. For approximately 15 seconds, the lock remains shut. Then,

without

> > my

> > > doing anything, the lock closes and remains so for the same amount of

> > time.

> > > The cycle goes on and on. There are no messages accompanying the

image.

> > > Attempting to put the cursor on it are fruitless. I ran virus scan -

> > which

> > > turned up nothing - although after having done so, the images were no

> > longer

> > > present. They have, however, returned. Rebooting does not make a

> > > difference. Control Alt Delete yields nothing. I have shut down Zone

> > Alarm

> > > but the images persist. The images don't seem to have any functional

> > impact

> > > on the computer except that they block the middle of the screen. Does

> > anyone

> > > have an idea of what is going on and how to rectify this situation?

> >

> >

> >