Why does "core" empty window appear on my desktop from time to time?

[Davidc2]

Why does "core" empty window appear on my desktop from time to time?

From time to time, unpredictably, I get a small empty window appearing on my desktop with the word "core" in the top left corner. You can see the window in the attached files.

Checking in task manager, "coresync" seems to be using 100% of memory

I have to shut the computer down to get rid of the process. I believe it may have something to do with Adobe's Creative Cloud desktop app but I don't what it is. My CC version is 2.0.0.74 (the latest). I am using CC's File Sync.

I am running Windows 7 Pro 64bit OS on my machine and the system appears stable. I am using Photoshop CC 2014 64bit and Dreamweaver CS3. My machine specs are:
CPU 3770K ; an Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe motherboard; 32Gb Crucial DDR memory; a Crucial 256Gb SSD for the OS and programs; x2 Samsung 512Gb 840 Pro SSDs for data; an Asus GTX660 graphics card.

The problem just started out of the blue. I am not aware of changing anything. I have researched this in Adobe's forums and Googling have not been able to find an answer.

Can anyone help me with this please? What does it mean if an empty window appears?

Thanks

 

[ICIT2LOL]

David if you haven't already run these in safe mode
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html < if necessary include the /f and /r in the command line as per Option2
then it might be worth a trot with these
http://www.superantispyware.com/
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
ADW download from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans
(NB If one is running Kaspersky security it may rant about ADW - just ignore it or disable Kaspersky while the ADW is being used)

 

[margrave]

And while running in safe-mode, look in these places. This will tell you what program puts up that CORE window, and will tell you how it gets executed in the first place.

In the registry, look in these two places:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

In the file system, look in these two places:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\Users\<YOUR-USER-NAME>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

 

[ICIT2LOL]

In the file system, look in these two places:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\Users\<YOUR-USER-NAME>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Just wondering margrave what should be in there? mine comes up with a string odf variables for APPDATA and to be honest am not sure of what I see in any of them.

A Google come up with refs to malwares which I think with the sfc and chkdsk I would like to see first. Ideas??

 

[Davidc2]

Just to report that on a hunch, I removed "Nvidia Experience" from my pc a few days ago and have not seen the empty "core" window since. Too early to tell if this is just a coincidence but it is encouraging.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

That's a start at least let us know how it goes.

 

[Davidc2]

spoke too soon...

I spoke too soon. The "core" empty window came back with this morning's boot. It's definitely related to Adobe CC because for a moment after I killed the application in Task Manager I saw words like "the creative service has stopped" or something like that. So I'm back in the market for help...thanks for any other ideas.

David​

 

[ICIT2LOL]

David just to humour me can you run those scans I posted earlier as I did see some refs to malware and well Adobe isn't known for its infallibility for want of a better term.

Plus it might just be the system a little out of whack.

 

[Davidc2]

Thanks ICI2LOL. I ran file checker and disk checker. The file checker found some problems - screenshots attached. I cannot open the CBS text file ("access denied"). So I don't know where I go with this.

I also ran malwarebytes - no problems found.

What next?

 

[Davidc2]

I copied the CBS log file to the Desktop and now can read the file. It is massive and incomprehensible to me. I can't see any references to corrupted files that could not be fixed - but I lost the will to live after reading down through the first 3ft of the log.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes David I know what you mean it is a vast area that is a mystery to me too one needs to be a programmer to know what all that gear is see this https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/928228

Now I was rather hoping the chkdsk with the /f and /r switches would correct any corruption and that is what it seems like to me. Try it if you haven't already and if there is still a problem or two then we might need to ask for help.

The other alternative is to save your data and then reinstall or you could try this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html I know it says start up repair for non booting machines but it might just fix whatever it missing on yours.

 

[Davidc2]

Thanks. Where do the /f and /r switches live and what do I do with them? I may end up with a clean install of the whole installation but this could make the cure worse than the illness. In the past I've never had much luck with Windows repairing itself. I am weighing up whether I might hang on till Windows 10 but that might just carry over whatever the problem is. Equally, an updated Adobe CC desktop installation might do the trick but I don't know when the next update will be. Next time I get the phantom "core" empty window, I'll try to track down the errant application using regedit. This is the first problem I've had for some time.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

David just follow the tutorial -
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html < if necessary include the /f and /r in the command line as per Option2 - I use the option 2 because I prefer that way.

Now when the command prompt after typing cmd is opened make sure you run it as admin (right click) .

 

[AddRAM]

Just don`t let this Adobe CC to run at startup, I`ll bet the windows never pops up again.

Your sfc comes up bad because you installed a bad update, this is my list of updates I do not install and my sfc is perfect.

Updates not to Install

KB2876229 SKYPE
KB2923545
KB2970228
KB2977728
KB2978092
KB2994023
KB3022345
KB3035583
KB2990214
KB3021917
KB2952664

There are many threads in updates and activation about it, read up over there

Start by removing KB3022345, then run sfc again.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Just don`t let this Adobe CC to run at startup, I`ll bet the windows never pops up again.

Your sfc comes up bad because you installed a bad update, this is my list of updates I do not install and my sfc is perfect.

Updates not to Install

KB2876229 SKYPE
KB2923545
KB2970228
KB2977728
KB2978092
KB2994023
KB3022345
KB3035583
KB2990214
KB3021917
KB2952664

There are many threads in updates and activation about it, read up over there

Start by removing KB3022345, then run sfc again.

for me too - good advice. Oh and look at what you are starting up in msconfig > Start up tab see pic (I keep mine all unticked)

 

[Davidc2]

Just don`t let this Adobe CC to run at startup, I`ll bet the windows never pops up again.

Your sfc comes up bad because you installed a bad update, this is my list of updates I do not install and my sfc is perfect.

Updates not to Install

KB2876229 SKYPE
KB2923545
KB2970228
KB2977728
KB2978092
KB2994023
KB3022345
KB3035583
KB2990214
KB3021917
KB2952664

There are many threads in updates and activation about it, read up over there

Start by removing KB3022345, then run sfc again.

Thanks. That worked. No corrupted files found now...

 

[Davidc2]

Just don`t let this Adobe CC to run at startup, I`ll bet the windows never pops up again.

The problem with stopping CC at start up is that Photoshop CC runs on a subscription and I think this is checked every month so stopping CC might break the validation process. But I am still not really sure what the "core" refers to. There is no "core" or "coresync" running at startup. Next time the core window appears I will try to track its origin down using regedit.

 

[kingscurate]

Just don`t let this Adobe CC to run at startup, I`ll bet the windows never pops up again.

The problem with stopping CC at start up is that Photoshop CC runs on a subscription and I think this is checked every month so stopping CC might break the validation process. But I am still not really sure what the "core" refers to. There is no "core" or "coresync" running at startup. Next time the core window appears I will try to track its origin down using regedit.

When you open Photoshop, it should call "home", so stopping it in start up shouldn't cause an issue. But this Adobe you are dealing with lol

 

[Davidc2]

Removing the Windows Update has led to much slower boot ups - hanging on the black Windows splash screen. Will go back to the errant update I think.

 

[Davidc2]

Just don`t let this Adobe CC to run at startup, I`ll bet the windows never pops up again.

But this Adobe you are dealing with lol

Here is the thread on this I started in the relevant (I think) Adobe forum -

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1838073