Hello all,
Yes, I got the Upgrade version of XP instead of the Full version. I did this because: #1. I am eligible since I had Windows 98 SE. #2. It's half the cost of the Full version.
I reinstalled 98 and then XP because I wanted a clean install. Microsoft suggests that before installing XP you run a virus scan but I decided why not really insure there's nothing harmful by just reformatting and reinstalling 98.
I assume Lee is correct that I could have just reformatted and installed XP without reinstalling 98 but that's water under the bridge and doesn't really bother me. I had a lot of time this past weekend and knew my method would suffice.
Back to my problem:
kcnychief and perris, I've checked Task Manager and as you have guessed ei40MfDX isn't listed and it's not immediately apparent which process it's running under, if any. I am going to shut down the processes one by one as you have suggested and see what happens.
I have gone into msconfig and am quite certain ei40MfDX is not a part of Startup as I only have one box checked for Startup. (But thanks for informing me I can expand the columns. I wasn't aware of that and it is helpful.)
I've posted a hijackthis log on another message board and I'll post it here but I'm fairly certain there's nothing to be found in it.
(Incidentally, I have posed my question to two other message boards. All three have come up with different solutions. Let's see who solves it first.)
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Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 12:46:23 AM, on 8/2/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1154225977\ee\services\sscFirewallPlugin\ver1_205_1_1\aolavupd.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\ANTIVI~1\mcshield.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1154225977\ee\aolsoftware.exe
c:\program files\common files\aol\1154225977\ee\services\sscAntiSpywarePlugin\ver1_205_1_1\AOLSP Scheduler.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\shellmon.exe
c:\program files\common files\aol\1154225977\ee\aolssc.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\Michael\My Documents\Programs\Hijackthis\hijackthis.exe
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =
http://www.yahoo.com/
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\blank.htm
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [sscRun] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1154225977\ee\services\sscFirewallPlugin\ver1_205_1_1\SSCRun.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar search - res://C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll/SEARCH.HTML
O9 - Extra button: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{DC94D72B-B144-4B6C-97D6-566F80015B09}: NameServer = 205.188.146.145
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - America Online - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
O23 - Service: AOL TopSpeed Monitor (AOL TopSpeedMonitor) - America Online, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
O23 - Service: AOL Antivirus Update Service (aolavupd) - America Online - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1154225977\ee\services\sscFirewallPlugin\ver1_205_1_1\aolavupd.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee McShield (McShield) - McAfee Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\ANTIVI~1\mcshield.exe