Unusual problem, Spyware guys sent me here

The computer is a laptop (Dell Inspiron 5160) that was massively infected. P4 With 1GB Ram running WinXP Pro. I have cleaned everything I can find, and the HJT logs look good to two different sites I posted them. The guys here on the spyware discussion say it is not malware-related. Here's the continuing problem.

Randomly and periodically, whatever program I have running will begin to open multiple sessions of its "Help" window. If I'm on the Internet the IE Help Center will begin to open multiple windows/sessions; if nothing particular is open then the Windows Help Center begins to do this. There seems to be no pattern to when it happens. I might go several days before an event, or it might happen four or five times in one evening. Doesn't relate to internet activity (often I'm not even connected to the cable).

When this begins it opens sessions at the rate of three or four times a SECOND, and continues until I reboot. Rebooting seems to end the process for an indefinite period of time.

I can't even find anyone else who's ever heard of this problem. Hoping someone here can help.

 

what about a sticking key? it could be possible that the "F1" key could be activating it? have you ever spilt anything on your keyboard? anyway, just some input. - sos

 

Good thought but not the problem. For instance, the most recent event occurred while running Ewido scan. I had booted and opened the program then started the scan, then left the laptop to work online on my desktop. Had not even touched the laptop in over 20 minutes when the problem started.

 

Maybe the keyboard is malfunctioning or overheating, causing the f1 button to be toggled on repeatedly.

 

Have you looked in msconfig startup for anything weird?

 

>>anything listed in the Event Logs at the time of these events?

How do I view the event logs?

>>Maybe the keyboard is malfunctioning or overheating

someone else recently suggested this: I'm going to try hooking up a separate keyboard, to see if it makes any diff.

>>Have you looked in msconfig startup for anything weird?

No, but I will tomorrow. Not sure I'd recognize 'anything weird', tho. We'll see.

 

Have you opened your task manager when this is occuring and selected the Processes Tab, sorted by Mem Usage and possibly identifed the process responsible? Possibly a silly idea but maybe there is a process in there you don't recognise that may be responsible for this erratic behaviour.

You can find info on most of your processes at:

http://www.answersthatwork.com/

and check your processes in their TASKS LIST. Possibly a silly approach but just trying to think outside the square for such an unusual problem.

 

Right-click My Computer, and select manage. They are under Event Viewer.

 

Update on this issue. Hooked up an external keyboard, no problems with help files (automatically disables laptop keyboard). Of course, it was only a periodic problem so it was hard to be sure it was gone permanently.

Went back to laptop keyboard and repeatedly tapped f1 key several times, before and after boot. Have now run for several hours and several boots without a repeat. Appears the f1 key was either sticking or inadvertently signalling. Anyway, the problem seems now to have resolved.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

Just in case your interested here are some excellent links in case you feel the need to disassemble your laptop, whether for cleaning or replacing parts. You can note the host implies that they can be used generically, I did with ours (PC2 below) and gave it a good clean and TIM refresh.