Untrue message - or is it ?

This a new one.

Just today we began receiving a message quite often when we clicked on "Start ".
The message "New Programs Installed" appeared.

And, no new programs are listed.

And non have been installed by me !

Here is the sequence of how it is working:

1. Open a program such as Windows Explorer. Close it.
2. Click Start - New program installed message.

3. Click Start as much as needed - no message !
(Until we run another program.)

4. Open a program such as Outlook Express. Close it.
5. Click Start - New program installed message.

That's it - strange.

Yes we ran AD-Aware and SpyBot and AVG Anti Virus and Avg Anti Spyware
and Norton Anti Viru and CCleaner - Deleted all cookies, temporary files and History files.
No new threats show up.


Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

Hello jbarker,

In All Programs, what "new" program is highlighted when you get this message?

You can shut off the notification in the properties dialog of the Start button > Customize > advanced tab.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi J

What operating system do you have? XP? XP Home? Other?

This seems to be an installer issue, but also could be malware (virus, spyware or adware) activity. We will check for this with a HiJakThis scan. Instructions at the bottom of this post.

First do the below:

Glad to see the AVG Spybot and Adaware and Norton and that you ran them. Hope they were all updated immediately before you ran them. You have done well on this.

You should go to add/remove programs in control panel and look closely for any programs you do not recognize or that you are sure you did not install.

If you see any and have questions post them back here.

You should run the Issues part of CCleaner. It is a safe Registry cleaner. Repeatedly until it comes up clean

Here are some additional cleanups to do:

ATF-Cleaner http://www.atribune.org/content/view/25/2/
When run check select all run twice or more until nothing else found.

Download install and run
http://www.xblock.com/download/xclean_micro.exe

This is an advanced cleaner that goes after (not everything) but only the worst most prolific and damaging malware and some viri.

Delete ALL it finds no exceptions, if after cleaning an incident, it advises a reboot, say no during the process, but do so when the program ends before continuing with next step below.

Many finds with this program, then reboot to Safe Mode and run it again. I use this as preclean before SpyBot and AdAware. Let us know if this program finds anything.

Now let's get a HJT scan.

Download HijackThis: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/file...ckthis_sfx.exe

Double-click hijackthis_sfx.exe, click Unzip

Close the window
HijackThis is installed in C:\Program Files\HijackThis, browse there and run it.

Click "Do a system scan and save a log fileâ€

When the log file opens then copy and paste into this thread.

Mike

 

Opps I am having problems with links lately. This did work!

Here it is:

http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/files/hijackthis_sfx.exe

Mike

 

Hi jbarker,

The reason I asked is because any "new" program will be highlighted in the all programs list.

Seeing what, if any, are highlighted would indicate what the problem may be. If they are legitimate apps, Mike's suggestion that its an installer issue is probably right.

Regards - Charles

 

You very well could be correct also Charles. As I reread I realized that I use Classic menus and have Intelimenus disabled so I am not used to this.

But it should not continue after a reboot tho should it?

Mike

 

Yes, but also the possibility that jbarker never reboots Lots of people that don't shut there system down.

Regards - Charles

 

10-4 on that!

Mike

 

Hi Mike,

Take it back - not a reboot issue

I'm working on my brand new laptop and installing my stuff and get the same thing - hovering over the Start button the message about having installed new programs comes up and they are highlighted in the All Programs menu.

Rebooting doesn't make it go away

Who knows how long that'll hang around.

Regards - Charles

 

Morning Charles

Hmmmm

One of the many reasons I prefer classic menu.

Mike