Spyware or error?

looks like spyware. any kind of windows info/fixes you need to download should be downloaded from the official windows site ONLY, or they should have links to another site on the official windows site.
 
Ok. Despite that this may look like a message from windows, it's more than likely spyware. It wouldn't hurt to run spybot, ad-aware, spyware doctor, avg, ewido or whatever. Just update them and run them in safe mode and let us know. Also dowload hijack this. Run a scan and save the log and copy it here. If it's a windows error, I think on XP you can run system file checker. Go to run, then type sfc. I know you can on win98 and 2000. With system file checker it will check all of your system files and restore them. The only downside is you need the windows disk and sometimes you can dowload them off of microsoft's website, depending on what the file is.

I'm leaning more towards spyware just for the simple fact that the picture you sent us occured when you were on the internet. Anyway let me know.
 
Since I will have very little time left on the machine, I'm going to put AVG, Spybot search and destroy, and microsoft anti spyware beta verison 1 on it. Also, I should update the computer with Windows updates, because it is still running SP1. Thanks for the help guys.
 
You guys are comedy! Im surprised no one caught this so far... Well to turn the messages off! just follow my insrtuctions...
Start--->settings---> control panels----->administrative tools --->services

Go down the the service called messenger, double click it and then select disable.
(messenger is a service to send messages across a lan to a workgroup computer. I bet you have a non-firewalled computer and are receiving them from the outside. i used to get them when on dialup... at my parents of course)

Anyway that should fix it.
 
Never knew you could do that. I live in dinosaur land (win 2000). I really haven't had a lot of time on XP, even though it's a million times better than this piece of just 2000. Thanks for teaching me something.
 
some people use messenger service on there netowrks. disabling the service will prevent any kind of messenger to work...not the smartest idea unless you know they don't need it.

many problems can be fixed by shutting down certain services, but that often leads to system failures and programs and such not working, because you've disabled essential services.
 
He's getting spammed via the messanger service, disabling it won't do any harm. In a corporate network environment, an administrator might use the messanger service ocassionally, but since spammers figured out how to use it, not many admins do. So, disable it, you'll get rid of the messages and have no serious side effects from it. :)
 
Byteman said:
He's getting spammed via the messanger service, disabling it won't do any harm. In a corporate network environment, an administrator might use the messanger service ocassionally, but since spammers figured out how to use it, not many admins do. So, disable it, you'll get rid of the messages and have no serious side effects from it. :)
Click to expand...

Definetly agree, just wanting to let him know disabling services left and right probably isn't the first thing to try. In this case though, if it's not used, it is the right approach. Hope i didn't confuse anyone :confused:
 
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