Okay I'm running XP on a broadband account so i'm used to everything being very close to "instant."
Normally when i click internet explorer my start page appears instantly without hesitation. Today when i clicked it there was a 20 second wait and a pop up from passionup.com then my start page loaded (this took approx 20 seconds). My Windows Task Manager is clear except for one file 9cpamk.exe which i can not find any information on anywhere. My brother swears by Mozilla so i downloaded the Mozilla browser and the same thing happens when i click the Mozilla shortcut. there is a 20 second delay.
My computer will not restore to any previous restore points and while sitting idle on a web page for any length of time the web page will automatically change to various websites which i have never heard of or have the need to go to.
Like i said the only "shadey" file i have found is in my windows task manager and it's titled 9cpamk and it is located in C:\windows\prefetch and if i remove it it comes back time after time. Virus scans pick up nothing. Since i am a true believer that violence and technology are not good bed partners i hope someone can help my situation or at the very least tell me what 9cpamk.exe is.

Welcome To PCFH.

Can you download hijack this below in my signature, and save it to my document's.. Open it up and clickscan and save log..Save the log as a .txt file and upload it on your next reply.. Also can you download cleanup in my signature as well and run the program before posting a log.. And here is a couple more things to do so we can get to the root of the problem..


Before using Hijack This Can you please do this for me:


Show hidden files and folders:


For XP:

1.On the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options.
2.Click the View tab.
3.Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.
4.If you see a warning message, click Yes.
5.Click Apply.
6.Click OK.





Then disable system restore to prevent re-infection.
(if you have/use it.)
(you can turn it back on when youre pc is clean).


How to disable system restore:

WinXP.

Click the Start button.
Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
On the System Restore tab, check Turn off System Restore or Turn off System Restore on all drives.