Y me? IE 99%, & always downloading...

[Kip]

G'DAy,
I have a problem that is driving me nuts. Whenever I access the net using IE (6.0.2800 SP2) it goes into 99-100% CPU useage (vied via Task Manager). I cannot cancel it, even via the task manager applications, I have to 'end the process' via task manager processes.

Also, whenever I access the net my connection is hammered and downloads 7 to 15 Mb of data. This is not emails and not M$ Update (off & manual only) or anything similar that I can trace. I have Nortons antivirus with all updates, Adaware, Winpatrol, Search and destroy, and am using the XP Firewall. None of these indicate anything wrong! Even the files Nortons cannot access are known zips or files currently in use (viewed via Nortons log history).

I do not regularly surf the net, but this is P***ing me off. I only have a 56k connection and it kills anything I want to do, let alone costing me for the downloads (still user pays by Mb I am afraid as I don't use it a lot). However, I now need it for business and it hurts in the hip pocket, too!

Nothing is added to my HD during hte downloads t hat I can see or trace (no new files, hidden, system or otherwise, no less space, etc), nothing extra is visible running in Processes, nothing large seems to be uploading from my pc.

I am not a 'node' or anything that I am aware of or have agreed to - I've only ever heard about that scam, never seen anything related to it.

I run XP SP1 with all updates. I am using Mozilla for this as I do not get the CPU usage with it, but do get the downloads if I start Outlook, eg over 8Mb tonight for 600k of email messages.

I have checked for all virus's that I can and run all of the scans I can. My PC is slowly becoming REALLY buggy with weird things happening in some games (related or not??? I have no idea), but I run very few games anyway.

I have doen ALL types of housekeeping on it from Defrag, reloaded IE, scans, disk cleanups, mail archives, etc etc. I cannot identify what is downloading or WHY IE seems to loop/lock me out from closing it, although it will respond to a requerst to access another page eventually, so it does get the occasional lookin to process some commands.

Is ther a 'new' virus, or is it on old one that has slipped through, or what????

Any ideas? Anyone?

PLEASE...

[Alan]

Hello Kip,
You havn't mentioned an important program in the fight against Spy/Adware, spywareblaster! if you dont have it, download, update and install it. (you can get it here) This program which resides in the registry will stop any malware from installing itself on your system.
Next download and install BHODemon (you can get it here) This program will scan your system for BHO's (browser helper objects) and if you leave it running, as it uses next to no resources, will alert you everytime a BHO program tries to install itself. These BHO's, although in many cases put on your system by legitimate programs, slow it down by eating into resources.
Both programs are free and recommended. You say you have AdAware, make sure your definitions are up to date. and scan after you have installed spywareblaster.
Let us know how you get on, so we can advise you futher should you require it.

Regards

[vonkiser]

I have same problem with 98....seems something is always running and cant play any games that use a lot of cpu space, etc. Move the mouse around and it "skips". Checked for any running processes and nuthin. no spyware, etcviruses no. just keeps skipping.....and I cant access some programs from my start menu or on the desktop. Was using netscape but I cant get into it now at all unless I use IE and access thru that...

[Alan]

Click on this link to another post and then on the next link. It will help you identify your running processes. When you have been re-directed to the website, open your task manager and see what processes are running them look them up. It may help you track down what is eating your resources.