[Artie5910]

I need serious help ... In the past two days, I have deleted more than 22,000 temp files. I was reading Steve Bass's article on page 186 from December 2007 "Jump-Start Disk Cleanup". I followed the instructions and that is when I found the first 17,700 files listed in C:documents and settings~local settingstemp. The names are "Ver450.tmp" through "Ver45F.tmp" and so on continuing the next series. Presently, what ever is doing it is creating 16 or more files per minute. The files are 0 K and identified as tmp files. I run Norton, I am behind both a hardware and software firewall. I have has PC Pitstop and Comcast scan neither found anything out of the ordinary. This is a XP Pro sp2. I am grinding to a hault. Someone please toss me a life ring - what can I do short of replacing the drive and starting over? I also use CClean regularly.
Message was edited by: Artie5910
Hello and thank you for your input to my problem. I tried both of your
suggestions ... the SuperAntiSpyware run took more than one hour and found 4
AdAware entries. The program suggested I delete the entries. The ATF Cleaner ran
in about 40 seconds and found nothing to delete. [[[Interestingly ... I run
Ad-Aware SE Personal ('cookie finder') as was suggested by PC World about 18
months ago ... when I ran that scan last night, the run took more than 2
hours to run - I deleted what they found and ... guess what --- im still
having a problem.]]]
I regularly (daily) run CCleaner and typically delete 30 to 100 megs of
"temp" stuff.
My ISP, Comcast, offers a scan based on MacFee (spelled wrong I know) it
found a half ton of stuff to delete and it did.
Comcast technical help was not any help - they suggested I contact my system
administrator which I did. That is why I keep a mirror on the desk - so I
can see my administrator when ever I want!!!!!!!!!!
PC Pitstop's scan took about 1 hour and there was some stuff to delete.
Since I got on this evening ... I have been deleting the files as previously
described, from the temp folder of both user profiles on this XP Pro
computer. (File name is "Ver2D0.tmp" and continues in serial fashion, ~d1~,
~d2~, etc., for as long as I am connected to the WWW at the rate of 17
files per minute. The size is 0 and of course the type is TMP File)
I can tell you that when I disable the network adapter, the files are not
created.
I run Network Magic Pro but that program will not tell me to whom (if
anyone) I am connected to. I can also tell you that the network icon in the
SYSTRAY area is ALWAYS LIT. When clicking on the status option, I can see
there IS a ton of information coming and going.
If you are interested or if it is of any help in answering my problem, I am
behind a hardware and software fire wall - my IP address is assigned
dynamically.
So, anything you have to offer will be appreciated.
If not resolved by Friday - I see a new hard drive in my future!
Thanks again ...
Art
I am new at this and having a difficult time following the proper procedure ...
Since I originally wrote, I have deleted another 30,000 files. Virus - trojan, what ever the name or form ... Someone please help?
Thanks
Art

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi Art :



"Viruses" are just about passe nowadays; now there are trojans, worms, keyloggers, Dialers,

rootkits and sometimes combination of these. You need better quality programs than Norton or PC

Pitstop and using an ISP Scan is just about worthless . I recommend you start by getting the FREE

version of "SUPERAntiSpyware" from www.superantispyware.com/ ; Update it, then run its

"Complete Scan" . Would also be wise to use the FREE "ATF Cleaner", developed by antiSPYWARE

Expert "ATribune" and available at his Site at [http://www.atribune.org/content/view/19/2/] .

Have you been getting any PopUps from other than your programs ? IF yes, give details .

Let us know how my 2 recommendations work on your situation .

[techie4fun]

I'm curious to know what websites you Visit when you are online, and also, do you frequently download things from the Internet?

[Artie5910]

Hi there and thank you for your response. Google is a regular (my home page). There is no particular category of site I visit these days. Hippo and PC Pitstop are regulars. Recently, garden equipment suppliers, electric euppliers, septic system are a few that come to mind.
As an update to earlier post ... I scanned all night last night - nothing was found. This monrning there were 17000 more empty files. This evening, I have deleted about 400 files but since supper, no new files have been created though I do note there is network activity as indicated by the icons on my systray.


Any Ideas? Im sure this is not over.

thanks again

art

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi Art :



From what you are saying, it appears your ISP ( Comcast !? ) is the cause of those many Tmp files !?

Would definitely talk to their Tech Support . Only other thing, other than referring you to an experienced,

trained, certified, VOLUNTEER Malware- Fighter, is to check for possible "rootkits" . As a Start, I usually

recommend using the FREE "RootkitRevealer" from www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/RootkitRevealer.mspx .

In order to use this program, you need to be able to "unzip" it, by using a program like WinZip, etc .

Also, to get the Best results, it is recommended to "Delete" ALL "Temporary Internet Files" ( does NOT

include the "Tmp" files you have been getting ) just PRIOR to running its "Scan" AND " Don't use your computer while RKR is scanning.
Start RKR, wait about 10 seconds, click Scan, then leave computer untouched until it completes. An idle machine will minimise the possibility of false positive reports caused by changes to the system during the scan. Background processes may still make intermittent changes, but resulting discrepancies tend to be obvious from their registry or filesystem branch; on a re-scan many may not recur. "