Very wierd, Programs opening on own

[danthom11]

This is very wierd, from the get-go when i purchased my sony vaio i would leave my laptop on and just put the top down with the wifi on. When i would lift the top back up everything is larger, like i mean the desktop items were huge! There would only be room for about 6 items they were soo big. This also applies to Internet Explorer. ( it looks like when hold Ctrl down and scroll down with the mouse wheel)

Also, programs would open on their own. I sometimes play a game called counter-strike. I had just installed the game and left for the afternoon when i came back it was open and it had said i had played for half an hour.......

I dont belive i have a hacker, im on a secure home network. I have the windows firewall up, with norton internet security running. Im very cautious about what i download looking for spyware, and viruses. I run the live update quite frequently and scan for viruses/spyware at least once a week.

Now, is there a way that i can check to see if i have a hacker or something???

p.s As a side note, when i put the top down and the wifi is shut off when i reopen the top everything was the way i left it. Also, nothing happens when the top is up and im using it, wierd stuff only happends when the top is down (not on stand-by).

Let me know what you think.

 

[Moose11]

Sony Vaio

Hey Danthom,

Well, it is nice to hear that we are not alone with this issue. We haven't noticed the change in icon size so much, but our laptop opens up several (sometimes up to 20) programs while not in use and while the lid is closed. My wife thinks she remembers this occuring once with the WiFi turned off, but every time I have dealt with it, the WiFi was on.

This actually started the very first day we had the laptop. First time it was connected to the internet, it was on a secure network at my office. We also have a secure network at home with a non-broadcasting SSID. So, unless we had a hacker who really knew what they were doing, they would have had a difficult time finding a way into our network. We also have Norton Anti-Virus Software, and it has been on the machine since the first day when we booted it up and replaced the default Anti-Virus Software.

We have been in contact with Vaio support several times, and they have tried an image restore, spyware screen, and everything else that they could think of. To be honest, they have been less than helpful and frustrating since each time we call, they try the same things even though I have told them that some other support technician had already done it. They don't typically listen too terribly well.

My wife just had a breakthrough today though (after 10 months...). She asked a very simple question. She said that she was displeased with the quality of the laptop we had received, and she wanted to know how we would go about getting it replaced. Surprisingly enough, the Vaio support tech. gave us a phone number to call. We have to wait until Monday to see what can be done, but this might be worth a try. After several discussions with Sony, we are pretty fed up with this issue, so like I said to start... it is good to hear that we are not the only ones dealing with this.

Good luck!

 

[DustSailor]

Keep in mind this post originally was created near a year ago, and moose might not even be around any longer. But in your case, You might try my methods

I have the windows firewall up, with norton internet security running.

We also have Norton Anti-Virus Software, and it has been on the machine since the first day when we booted it up and replaced the default Anti-Virus Software.

So you both have the same antivirus program? :sarc:

I recommend uninstalling norton via this method, and then installing another antivirus (BUT if you like norton, by all means keep it).

When you uninstalled your last antivirus program, did you use an uninstall AV Tool to do it or just through control panel?

Microsoft Security Essentials is a great and free antivirus program recommended by many experts here. There are others, but this one seems to be easier to install, keep up to date, and more user friendly.

Update through windows updates. That has a lot of compatability updates you may be able to use for your system

 

[Angela874]

I am having this same issue. It started with Google Chrome just opening on its own. Removed Google Chrome and 2 weeks later, started in MS Outlook. I have done SpyBot, MalwareBytes, Avast, CCleaner, Rootkit scans, everything negative. Removed Outlook last night and now this morning, it is my AOL software going haywire.

Any ideas? I'm ready to wipe the machine, which will be a big headache as I have programs that I use for work and will have to use their tech support to re-install them.

 

[DustSailor]

Angela,

Please don't use CCleaner unless you know more about the registry. Try an SFC scannow and see what that does. I also would recommend MSE over Avast (If you choose MSE, you will need to uninstall Avast via an Avast uninstall tool to keep the system from corrupting). Only use 1 antivirus at a time, but malwarebytes and virus scanners are fine, as well as a few other programs. Programs are opening automatically for you? Might try this if the scannow doesn't work: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

What is listed in your startup folder? Found by clicking start>all programs>startup

:info: During bootup of computer, press the function key "F8" to get the "safe mode" boot option.

 

[marsmimar]

Hello Angela and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might consider troubleshooting application conflicts by trying a Clean Startup (AKA Clean Boot.)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

 

[Angela874]

Thank you so much, Dusty. I am going to get started right now on the SFC scannow. Yes, my programs are opening automatically and won't stop even if I cancel them out.

 

[Angela874]

I will try this as well, marsmimar! Thank you so much, you guys are wonderful!

 

[marsmimar]

Please post back to let us know if anything helped. If nothing worked, we can probably find a few more things to try.

If you did find a solution, posting back may help others in the future.

 

[seavixen32]

Don't worry about Sony "technicians", Angela. The good people on these forums will help you with a factory restore should you need it.

View Document

http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/documentLink.do?externalId=C196685

 

[Angela874]

Okay so far, the SFC scannow did not work. I tried method 1 and 2 and both resulted in "window resource protection could not start the repair service".

I just rebooted on a clean boot and was going to go through the process, but am coming back to report in. I forgot to mention earlier the reason for Avast is that the company I work for, I had a choice of Norton, McAfee or Avast. Being that I had issues with the first 2 before, I chose Avast.

I thought I would try the clean boot and see if there are conflicts, and if not, then go back to the other suggestion Dusty made. Does that sound kosher? I don't want to take things out of sync here.

I would show you what is in startup, but I just changed that with the clean boot before checking in here

 

[marsmimar]

I think I'd try the SFC again but this time I'd disconnect from the internet and temporarily disable Avast. Since all system files are self contained in Windows 7 (unlike XP which would ask you to insert a disc if damaged/corrupt files were found) there's no need to be connected to the internet and therefore no need to have an active security suite.

If the SFC still doesn't help then I'd try the Clean Startup.

 

[marsmimar]

I also thought of another "repair your computer" possibility using Advanced Boot Options.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html

 

[Angela874]

Will do...thank you again!

 

[Angela874]

I'm a little confused. The scannow does it on reboot, so I am disconnected from Avast and the internet, correct? I did just go in and try it after booting at the cmd level, after turning off the internet and Avast and this is what I got:

sfc /scannow
sfc /verifyfile=c:\windows\system32\kermel132.dll
sfc /scanfile=d:\windows\system32\kernel132.dll /offbootdir=d\ / offwin
r=d:\windows
sfc /verifyonly

I also went in to do the advanced boot option and the only thing it said was that if I had attached recently an MP3 player or camera to the system, unattach it. I have not done that. I only have my keyboard, mouse, printer, foot pedal and my dongle for the voice file program that I have.

Am I making any sense at all?

 

[marsmimar]

Just for confirmation, was the SFC referring to kernel132.dll or kernel32.dll? (Don't know that there is a 132.) The kernel32.dll is kinda the main kernel for the operating system. Definitely would not want to mess with it.

What is Kernel32.dll?

I'd go ahead and reconnect to the internet and enable your Avast. Then try the Clean Startup to see if there are any conflicts.

 

[Angela874]

It definitely was kernel132.dll, I double checked it as I have heard about the kernel.

I will start in on the clean startup next

 

[DustSailor]

I also went in to do the advanced boot option and the only thing it said was that if I had attached recently an MP3 player or camera to the system, unattach it. I have not done that. I only have my keyboard, mouse, printer, foot pedal and my dongle for the voice file program that I have.

Am I making any sense at all?

I recommend, if you can, temporarily removing all devices except the mouse, keyboard, and monitor.

I'm a little confused. The scannow does it on reboot, so I am disconnected from Avast and the internet, correct? I did just go in and try it after booting at the cmd level, after turning off the internet and Avast and this is what I got:

sfc /scannow
sfc /verifyfile=c:\windows\system32\kermel132.dll
sfc /scanfile=d:\windows\system32\kernel132.dll /offbootdir=d\ / offwin
r=d:\windows
sfc /verifyonly

So after you right click the command prompt and click "run as administrator", this is what you get? You then type sfc /scannow and hit the enter key, yes? Here is an example of mine:


The startup repair may help, you'll need to do it 3 times

Ps. doesn't anyone get any sleep around here?

 

[seavixen32]

Just a reminder: when you carry out the startup repair, you need to reboot after each one.

 

[Angela874]

No, that isn't what I'm getting when I try to run the scan. The first time running it on restart is:

Okay so far, the SFC scannow did not work. I tried method 1 and 2 and both resulted in "window resource protection could not start the repair service".

The second time, I tried turning off Avast and internet as Marsmimar suggested and I got:

sfc /scannow
sfc /verifyfile=c:\windows\system32\kermel132.dll
sfc /scanfile=d:\windows\system32\kernel132.dll /offbootdir=d\ / offwin
r=d:\windows
sfc /verifyonly

What on earth am I doing wrong? And sleep is over-rated, LOL.