desktop picture has **** added somehow

Hello All,

I'm running Windows XP Home edition v5.1. I am the system administrator with a total of 4 family members using the computer.

My son (I'm not kidding) has somehow downloaded a **** image that has attached itself to his desktop. He runs Kazaa a lot and I think this may be where he got it from.

Any ideas on how to remove this little addition? I have tried changing the desktop image but the **** picture attaches itself to each new desktop. The **** image does NOT show up in the properties dialogue box for the desktop.

I wish I could tell you more but there's not much more to say. I don't think it is an active program although I'm not sure.

Thanks for any help!!

Siestakey

 

That is really very little to go on.

Any right-click options to the image?

Try running: msconfig
See if there is anything in the startup that looks suspicious. If it is independent of the wallpaper, it is probably a running program.

Can you describe the image? Does it mention a particular website?

If you are not very familiar with the normal running programs that XP uses at start, you could run this program and post back (it will be large) the list of all startups so we can look through them for you:

http://www.wilders.org/HTMLobj-1576/startuplist.zip

 

And if the lad has been using Kazaa, your PC is loaded with spyware so downloading, updating and running Ad-aware then Spybot and after both have finished cleaning stuff, run the "immunize" feature of Spybot (just a matter of clicking an icon). Running the programs will remove your current crop of spyware/malware and Immunize will prevent lots of it from reaching the PC in the future..

Might also be a good idea to have him use an application that does what Kazaa does but without stuffing lots of spyware/malware on your PC - assuming, of course, that you approve of his stealing material in the first place.

BTW - spyware/infoware/malware is not considered viral and anti-virus programs don't even notice it.

 

I once had this problem along time ago (when I still ran Windows 95)

I think I just ran "regedit" and killed programs one at a time in the Run and RunOnce then rebooted till it was gone!

Remember to back up and the whole registry and don't try this unless you know what your doing! I've killed many PCs by thinking I was king of the registry!

Also, why don't you give your son a few bob for a magazine every week! Alot less trouble (and mobile)!

Cheers

 

Thats a computer related magazine I presume ?.

 

LOL! yes we need graphic details of what you are seeing please...

 

LOL. I realized that sounded kind of funny, but I was more interested in how large, was it a link, etc. than in having a picture drawn.

 

wow, Abraxas, talk about digging the hole deeper! <g>

i'm just having fun, sorry for breaking in on an intelligent discussion.

hopefully the problem is only spyware and not a trojan or virus.

i don't think we heard anything about the poster's AV program, updated defs, recent scans, etc, did we?

going to grab a free evaluation copy of TrojanHunter might not be such a bad idea.... along with Newt's very valid suggestions for Spybot and Ad-aware.



mark

 

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I had tried many of them to no avail. The picture (for those with prurient interests) was of a young lady... oops she was no lady... on her knees with a fellow standing in front of her. Not a stitch of clothes to be seen. She had a hold of his... yeah... that's enough of that.

I did find the solution. I couldn't find it again if you paid me... but it was somewhere in the XP settings, a check box with a URL link to an image on a **** site. By deleting the check box then the link the image went away...

I DID get Ad-aware (spelling?) as well as one other spyware detection program. There is good stuff from friendly, knowledgeable folks like you out there!

Thanks again!

Siestakey