Weird Problem Here.

[chirs3]

So, about a week ago, my computer started doing something strange.

 

One every few minutes (generally 3-5), whatever I'm currently doing... well, it's hard to describe... here are some examples...

 

If I'm typing in a window (like I'm doing right now), the text cursor will disappear and the top of the browser (Firefox) will go from Dark Blue to Light Blue - this is what normally happens if you start interacting with something OTHER than Firefox, like if I brought up Winamp or something. Trouble is, I didn't do anything like that.

 

If I try to play a game, every 3-5 minutes it gets minimized and I'm taken back out to Desktop. Games do this if something happens on Desktop, like a popup or an AIM message coming in - but nothing is happening. My game minimizes, I'm taken to desktop, and there's nothing.

 

Every 3-5 minutes, no matter what I'm doing, whatever is currently active just gets deselected, for lack of a better term. My computer is acting like something keeps interrupting whatever program I'm running, but as far as I can see, nothing actually is interrupting the programs.

 

Anyone know what this is, or how to fix it?

[Guest Fook]

I'm guessing you do have some sort of program (maybe spyware) running in the background that's doing this.

 

Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up the task manager and click the Processes tab. If anything there is unusual, then that would probably be your problem.

 

Otherwise just run Ad-Aware or something and see if anything comes up.

[Carnival]

No don't some sort of spyware or adware.

 

Spyware Doctor works great for me. Finds the stuff Adaware doesn't get rid of.

[chirs3]

Holy hell.

 

Spyware Doctor found 22,000+ Infections.

 

I knew spyware was a problem, but goddamn.

[Jobber of the Week]

May want to give antivirus a try, too.

 

For something simple you can run in a web browser window, use HouseCall. For something to install on your hard drive for later times, use Avast! Both are free.