icon changing worm/virus/spyware/glitch?
 

lately something has been messing with the icons on my machine. not all of them, mind you, just those that are text or document related (.txt, .doc, .chm, etc.). when it happens, they get changed to other icons that are on the system. for example, the .txt icon might become a Kazaa icon, while .doc might become an mIRC icon. each time it happens, the icons to which they get switched are different. now, a reboot restores them to normal, but sooner or later, they seem to get mixed up again. I've updated and run my spyware apps (AdAware, Spybot S&D, Spysweeper) and come up empty. Ditto with my a/v program (AVG).

The only clue I have is that it SEEMS to occur when Im browsing or d/ling from Usenet groups. However, since I am a bit of a Usenet junkie and have my newsreader in use almost constantly, I can not say for sure if there is any real correlation there or if its just coincidence.

Also, I havent ever managed to catch the change immediately upon its occurence. I will discover the problem only after minimizing the reader app and notice that the 1/2 dozen or so text icons on my desktop have been changed.


any of you ever run into anything like this? Ive search this forum as well as Google and havent found anything that might help me figure it out.


pertinent info:

os: win98se
newsreader: Xnews

I don't know if this helps or not, but since I have been using Pest Patrol it has been finding things Adaware and Spybot never find. Its not free but it does a vastly better job in blocking, finding and deleting spyware. Something to consider especially with so much Usenet activity (are you running with a firewall? You didn't mention it but if you are not, you really, really, really, really should be.) Sorry, I couldn't be more help.

I'm not sure if this will work, but just for the hell of it, try Tweak UI. I'm using XP, but it should be similar in the 98 version. Go to Repair, select Rebuild Icons, and click Repair Now.

I'll second this advice.

I have seen the system icons get confused for no real reason and rebuilding the icons, solved this problem.

yes, I am behind a firewall (I may be dumb, but I aint stupid!). anyway, as I said, a reboot always fixes the problem, so I cant see the need (yet, anyway) for the Tweak repair. and its not really a problem, just an annoyance. mostly though, I want to be sure what is causing it, as I am VERY protective of my system security/privacy. if this is the result of some malicious script or code, I want to know about it.

thanks

The "tweak repair" is nothing really serious. The program Tweak UI is from the Microsoft website (although they don't officially support it). It won't do any harm to run it and do the repair. Worst case scenario, you'll have wasted 10 - 20 minutes downloading, installing, and running the program. Here's a link to download it from Microsoft's website: http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstati.../NTTweakUI.asp

update: I did finally download, install and run Tweak UI and it seems to have done the trick. Havent had any trouble with icons in over a week.

thanks for the suggestion.