Outside Windows

Hi, I am just curious as to whether an .exe file can open a program that can exist and/or run outside of the windows environment, ie; DOS or memory. I downloaded something and when I opened it, a DOS or command window flashed on the screen for a quick second and then dissappeared and nothing else happened. Norton AV 05' didn't pick anything up as far as virus activity. I have seen this before and not given it much thought until now. I am OK with windows and general hardware/software issues, but not very confident past that, so this may sound rediculous to an expert, but I have a funny way of thinking so it makes sense to me to be possible. If so, how could I find out what is going on and if anything, get rid of it?

 

You could always run HijackThis to see what entries are in the Windows Startup to see if it did placed anything, but if you haven't noticed anything wrong with your system more than likely it was either not valid executable for the Windows environment so even though it might have appeared like it did run, no changes were made to files or registry. Then again may be it did run but since it was not meant to run in Windows its actions were nullified.ignore.
What was the executable? Where did you d/l it from? You shouldn't be running any executable if you don't know what they are for and my advise next time scan it first before running...
If you are curious reboot your system, open up the Task Manager while TM is up, click on the 'Processes' windows then click on the executable to see if any new processes appear on the list and even stick around...then you could google it perhaps?

 

Thanx Turk, I seem 2 B ok in TM and msconfig is right, but something is bogging shutdown/startup. I have to run HJT 4 Chas for something else so hopefully find out there. I know I shouldn't do stuff like this, but I like 2 experiment

 

No worries, Chas is great and should be able to help you with that other thing you mentioned. If you have any questions that I could help with, feel free to re-post and let me know.

Btw, some people like to experiement and that could be very educational even though there are some dangers that comes with the curiousity (just ask the cat). But seriously, if it wasn't for the human curiousity and imagination this world would be a very lame place...

 

Hi, just wanted to post a follow up to let evryone know that all my problems have been solved by the wonderful people who help us all out in here. I have been free and clean since just after my last post here and have been following safety precautions and all is well. I have also learned a great deal from these posts and intend to fight malware to the end of my computing days. I'm strapped right now but as soon as possible I will make any contributions to the cause that I can, both here and to the freeware vendors and I would encourage anyone who has the means to do so to help out as well as we need more people and programs to fight this crap. Maybe someday the scumbags will give up if we all fight as hard as we can.