[Ail]

My dad's computer is quite old but it has windows xp and it's been upgraded as far as the hard drive goes.
A few days ago he noticed that occasionally a small white square appeared right under the cursor. The square is about the size of the cursor itself but obviously a different shape. He also noticed that in his google toolbar, the part where you are supposed to type in your search, there is also a box lining the inside of the area where you type. His computer was a bit slow and it has gone a little faster but it is still slow. I am not sure if he noticed this using any other programs but when i went and looked at it, he was using Mozilla Firefox. He is concerened he has a virus, that is why i am on here consulting experts lol. Also his anti-virus scans at 3:30am each morning. It normally takes 20 minutes to do a certain number of files. Well when he checked this two days ago, it was the same number of files but it took an hour and a half to complete.

If anyone has any idea what is going on that would be great.
thanks.

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Open Task Manager and see how many running processes are listed. A lot of running processes can use a lot of resources causing a slow down in the system.

Try turning off/disabling unneeded services: http://www.blackvipe.../servicecfg.htm

Especially the "Indexing Service".

Does the computer stay on 24/7? If so, try rebooting every now and then.

You've run a virus scan, have you ran a spyware scan also?

Just a few suggestions.

[Kniht]

Open Task Manager and see how many running processes are listed. A lot of running processes can use a lot of resources causing a slow down in the system.

Try turning off/disabling unneeded services: http://www.blackvipe.../servicecfg.htm

Especially the "Indexing Service".

Does the computer stay on 24/7? If so, try rebooting every now and then.

You've run a virus scan, have you ran a spyware scan also?

Just a few suggestions.

[Neil Jones]

I was also about to say, if the computer's on permanently, the little white squares might be a temporary one-off problem that can be sorted by a simple reboot - this happens on occasion when a program malfunctions and closes abruptly.

[Ail]

Thanks.

but i am still worried about the little boxes.
they just all of a sudden appeared.
is there a way that google tracks your mouse or anything?
what could explain the little boxes?

[123Runner]

Google does not track mouse clicks or anything else.
It could be malware/ spyware.
You can get a clean bill of health by going to http://www.geekstogo...-Log-t2852.html .
In doing the preparation steps, if there is anything there, you will resolve most problems.
You can then post a HJT log if needed.