My machine was doing a lot of thrashing on the hard drive and not doing much while I was trying to log on, so I hit the ol' 3-finger salute (Ctrl-Alt-Del) to see what it was running.  Everything looked normal except an app called Windows Media Encoding Agent.  I killed the app, and the thrashing stopped, and everything else is now running normally.

My anti-virus says I'm clean, and I just got an update, but I seem to recall that Windows Media had a security flaw.  I've gotten the most recent update, and installed it, but the machine hangs now more than ever (Windows Me, and I can't go back to my 98SE -long story, don't ask. Grrrrr[pissed]).

Do I need to run to the store to get more tinfoil, or is there a new bug out there?

Yeah.  I HATE "WinMe".  I am a Linux guy, but am going to have to wait until I get a new machine to upgrade.  This box will then be a Linux server, and the new machine will be my dual-purpose box until we get cable internet access, and I can dump Windoze all together.  Right now, I have to run AOL under Windoze.  Grrrrrrrrrrr[pissed]

Windows ME and AOL ... hahaha!

[url]http://www.microsoft.com/msagent/[/url]

Sure sounds like something I don't need.

Windows Media Encoding Agent.  Feels like it is a BIG hole.  Methinks I'm getting my new box sooner, rather than later.

Edited to add that I MUCH PREFER LINUX, BUT AM IN A SITUATION THAT USING IT FOR NET ACCESS IS NOT FEASIBLE!!!  AND YES, I [b]-AM-[/b] YELLING!!!!!!!!