It's quite strange.  There is a box right in the middle of my screen that will hold the image of the last window I opened.  For instance, if I minimize this window right now which I am entering this post on, my desktop will have the rectangular box in the middle of it with the text I am typing right now, including the "POST TOPIC" and blue bar at the top.  Same thing if I open any picture, webpage....ANY window.  What ever lies within the dimensions of the box on the desktop on the last window opened is displayed there when that window is minimized.

I have restarted, changed my wallpaper, changed display properties back and forth, and it is still there.  If I right click inside teh box, nothing happens.

It's like some message box that popped up at some point is leaving some residual part of itself there.

My laptop is operating normally otherwise...no problems that I have seen.

Any ideas on how to get rid of the damn thing?

Sounds like you have a process that hangs and freezes some video memory.

I suspect spyware.

Too many porn sites.

restart your computer,does it go away?

I'm screwing around with it some more and I highly suspect it has something to do with Norton Internet Security.  I remember a couple of days ago...last time I used my laptop...that it was running through its auto update and prompted me to restart my computer.  When I did...the things i normally have start automatically when I turn on my laptop arent happening...LIKE Norton.

I cant even get Norton to run at all now.  Every so often, this dam program turns into a major pain in the ass.  Grrrrrr....

Pull up the Task manager, and click on the Processes tab - see if any non-familiar processes are running, and end them. If you think it's Norton, try ending that as well. I've had similiar happen with a pop-up (annoying) program.

What's Task Manager say you have running as programs? any strange processes running away with CPU or memory in the processes tab?

You can always run HijackThis to analyze your registry startup keys to see what is launching on startup to narrow down the processes.

There are a TON of them in there.  What if I just "nuke" it and shut them all down?

Quoted: Pull up the Task manager, and click on the Processes tab - see if any non-familiar processes are running, and end them. If you think it's Norton, try ending that as well. I've had similiar happen with a pop-up (annoying) program.

Quoted: What's Task Manager say you have running as programs? any strange processes running away with CPU or memory in the processes tab? You can always run HijackThis to analyze your registry startup keys to see what is launching on startup to narrow down the processes.

Only program running right now is Explorer.  Norton will not start at all.

45 Processes

Quoted: There are a TON of them in there.  What if I just "nuke" it and shut them all down? Quoted: Pull up the Task manager, and click on the Processes tab - see if any non-familiar processes are running, and end them. If you think it's Norton, try ending that as well. I've had similiar happen with a pop-up (annoying) program.

Make sure you have saved anything you want to save, in case you step on a system critical one. i.e. Do not end iexplorer, svchost, etc. Easiest way is to turn off the ones that are not System or Network service owned. Worst case, the important ones will re-start if you re-boot.

If you kill the wrong process, the worst that can happen, is you'll have to reboot.  Start killing any that don't sound important :)  You'll never learn until you do.

Whatever it is, it loads on start-up.  Go to start->programs->startup.  Delete anythign in there that you don't want to start up when you boot your PC.  There are many other ways for a program to make itself start when windows does, but this is the easiest one to get rid of.  If it still does it, report back! :)

just a note --

iexplorer.exe is Internet Explorer.  If it is running, and you don't have IE up, you have spyware/malware.  Kill it if possible, then run Adaware (www.lavasoftusa.com).  

explorer.exe is the windows "Shell".  That's the program that essentially lets you run allt he other programs.  If you kill it, generally it will restart itself, but occasional, with some setups, it does nto, and you are forced to reboot.

The strange thing is that several programs I used to have in Startup are GONE!  Norton, Yahoo Instant Messenger, Weatherbug...all gone, gone gone.

I'm pretty sure everyting went to hell when Norton was doing its crap the other night.

Quoted: If you kill the wrong process, the worst that can happen, is you'll have to reboot.  Start killing any that don't sound important :)  You'll never learn until you do. Whatever it is, it loads on start-up.  Go to start->programs->startup.  Delete anythign in there that you don't want to start up when you boot your PC.  There are many other ways for a program to make itself start when windows does, but this is the easiest one to get rid of.  If it still does it, report back! :)

Did you download any new programs lately, like maybe an anonymous browser or something? Try removing that program. You may do well to revert your hard drive to a "safe" time, before the problem started. Be sure to update Norton after you revert, as the recent upgrades will most likely be gone.

If your Norton isn't working at all, get off the Internet until you are able to fix it, especially if you have a broadband connection.

I would also run Adaware or something like it.

Well, you will all be relieved to know that everything appears to be fine and wonderful in my little world again.  I started nuking the site from orbit and started ending processes left and right indiscriminately...then it wouldn't let me end anything any more.

I then went into add/remove programs to look for anything that appeared to be evil  I noticed one thing..."Futuremark Measurement Processses"

That sounded evil.  So I killed it.

Then I decided to restart my computer.  No response.

Tried to turn it off.  No response.

Oh...really?

So, pushed down on the power button and held it till she died.

Showed you, didn't I?

So, turned her back on...and all is fine.  No funny box. Miraculously, all the nice little programs I had in my Startup are "POOF" right back in there.  Norton works on startup.  Just like new.

I don't claim to be a genius as I obviously fixed this thing with all the grace of about a monkey pounding on a keyboard.  

It's as right as rain now, that's all I know.

"Futuremark Measurement Processes" appears to be the Devilspawn that was giving me the shitfits.

Time for a full system scan.

Mr Norton...have at it.

2 words...

well, 1 word and 1 acronym...

MAC OSX

www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/?111103

Futuremark seems to have something to do with 3D graphics measurement (performance?).

Quoted: 2 words... well, 1 word and 1 acronym... MAC OSX

typical

Quoted: www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/?111103 Futuremark seems to have something to do with 3D graphics measurement (performance?).

That would make sense. If his video card uses a 3d accelerator, the card might be going flaky, causing the process to hang. That would explain the patch of frozen video memory on the screen.

I'd have that video card checked out.

Try turning off your desktop background.

Okay, it appears that I spoke too soon and that everything is still all screwed up.


Norton still does not work.  When I open it up, I get the little window but there really isn't anything there.  Where all the controls SHOULD be are instead replaced by whatever was in the background when it opened.  It also yanks all the programs that I usually have in my startup menu taskbar.

WTF!?

Furthermore...it would appear that I cannnot turn off my computer.  Yep, you heard me right.  Even if I hold down the power button, it merely puts it into standby mode.  Shutting it down via the start buttton does not happen.

The only thing I can think of now is to put it back into standby mode via the power button and yanking the battery out of my laptop, and let it sit for awhile.

I am putting the blame on Norton here.  All this started a couple of days ago when it updated.

At least that annoying rectangle on my desktop is gone.

Any hints here?

uninstall the symantic brownware.


It sucks anyway...
it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/03/03/004215

<edit>

Then install the trial version of NOD32 and run a scan.

Quoted: 2 words... well, 1 word and 1 acronym... MAC OSX

Hot off the press.... today....


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1



                       National Cyber Alert System

               Technical Cyber Security Alert TA06-062A


Apple Mac Products are Affected by Multiple Vulnerabilities

  Original release date: March 3, 2006
  Last revised: --
  Source: US-CERT


Systems Affected

    * Apple Mac OS X version 10.3.9 (Panther) and version 10.4.5 (Tiger)
    * Apple Mac OS X Server version 10.3.9 and version 10.4.5
    * Apple Safari web browser

   Previous versions of Mac OS X may also be affected.Please see Apple
   Security Update 2006-001 for further information.


Overview

  Apple has released Security Update 2006-001 to correct multiple
  vulnerabilities affecting Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Safari web
  browser, and other products. The most serious of these vulnerabilities
  may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code. Impacts of
  other vulnerabilities include bypassing security restrictions and
  denial of service.


I. Description

  Apple Security Update 2006-001 resolves a number of vulnerabilities
  affecting Mac OS X, OS X Server, Safari web browser, and other
  products. Further details are available in the following Vulnerability
  Notes:

  VU#999708 - Apple Safari automatically executes arbitrary shell
  commands or code

  Apple Safari fails to properly determine file safety, allowing a
  remote unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands or code.
  (CVE-2006-0848)

  VU#351217 - Apple Safari WebKit component vulnerable to buffer
  overflow

  Apple Safari WebKit component is vulnerable to buffer overflow. This
  vulnerability may allow are remote attacker to execute arbitrary code
  or cause a denial-of-service condition.
  (CVE-2005-4504)

  VU#176732 - Apple Safari vulnerable to buffer overflow

  Apple Safari is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow. This
  vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on
  a vulnerable system.
  (CVE-2006-0387)

  Please note that Apple Security Update 2006-001 addresses additional
  vulnerabilities not described above. As further information becomes
  available, we will publish individual Vulnerability Notes. In
  addition, more information about VU#999708 is available in US-CERT
  Technical Cyber Security Alert TA06-053A.


II. Impact

  The impacts of these vulnerabilities vary. For information about
  specific impacts, please see the Vulnerability Notes. Potential
  consequences include remote execution of arbitrary code or commands,
  bypass of security restrictions, and denial of service.


III. Solution

Install an update

  Install the update as described in Apple Security Update 2006-001. In
  addition, this update is available via Apple Update.


Appendix A. References

    * US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#999708 -
      <http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/999708>

    * US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#351217 -
      <http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/351217>

    * US-CERT Vulnerability Note VU#176732 -
      <http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/176732>

    * US-CERT Technical Cyber Security Alert TA06-053A -
      <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-053A.html>

    * Securing Your Web Browser -
      <http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/securing_browser/#Safari>

    * Apple Security Update 2006-001 -
      <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303382>

    * Mac OS X: Updating your software -
      <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106704>


____________________________________________________________________

  The most recent version of this document can be found at:

    <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-062A.html>
____________________________________________________________________

  Feedback can be directed to US-CERT Technical Staff. Please send
  email to <[email protected]> with "TA06-062A Feedback VU#351217" in the
  subject.
____________________________________________________________________

  For instructions on subscribing to or unsubscribing from this
  mailing list, visit <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/signup.html>.
____________________________________________________________________

  Produced 2006 by US-CERT, a government organization.

  Terms of use:

    <http://www.us-cert.gov/legal.html>
____________________________________________________________________


Revision History

  March 3, 2006: Initial release
 

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