Self-Rebooting Computer's Browser Likes tttttttttt

I'm hoping that someone here might be able to assist me.  My wifes computer (running Japanese Windows XP) has recently started displaying some strange characteristics.  Within the last week it has started to reboot itself occassionally (growing in frequency), insists on repeating the letter tttttttttttt whenever something is typed in the address bar, search engine, etc....., and today has stopped booting correctly.  It will stall halfway in the boot, pause for a while, and then release an unrelenting high-pitched beep until I hit the F1 key...at which time it will finish the boot.  I have checked the keyboard for dirt/grime under the keys, etc...., I've played around with msconfig, logged in as admin under safe mode, done a system recovery, etc....yet all problems remain.  Does anyone know if this is some form of virus?....a hard disk problem?.....or have any other ideas which might help me rid the computer of these annoyances?  Thanks.

John

[Moderator]

A quick way to rule out viruses & spyware.

Free online virus scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm
Free online spyware scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/spyxposer/com/spyxposer_principal.htm

[Moderator]

Does it type that tttttttt right to left or left to right?

Does it emit a strange green light?

It types the ttttttttt from left to right, just like someone were sitting there with their finger holding the "t" key down.  Sorry Raptor, no green lights...at least not that I have noticed anyway.

I'd still call for an excorism.

Virus scanners
AVG Free
-- Anti virus scanner
Trend Micro Housecall
-- Online anti virus scanner.

Anti spy/malware
Microsoft Antispyware
-- Anti spyware scanner. Windows XP Home and Professional only.
Spybot Search & Destroy
-- Anti spyware scanner
Adaware SE Personal
-- Anti spyware scanner

Firewalls
Use both a hardware and software firewall.
Be advised as dual software firewalls may cause problems

ZoneAlarm Free
-- Free firewall - more user friendly
Sygate Personal
-- Free firewall - more configuration options

Removal tools
The following files are not substitutes for the ones described above.
They are either diagnostic tools or removal tools for malware of a certain kind

HijackThis
-- Manual malware remover. Post the HijackThis log generated only if requested!
McAfee Stinger
-- Virus removal tool. No substitute for a fully functional virus scanner!
CWshredder
-- CoolWebSearch removal tool. Widely known and persistant Hijacker.

[Moderator]

butlerbach
Can we rule out viruses yet?

So far I've used Norton, McAffee, Trend Micro Housecall,
Spybot S&D, and I've looked up every application running in the Task Manager....nothing....the problem remains....  This is getting really old now.  I've seen other posts around the internet with the same symptoms, but nobody seems to have any information.

[R.I.P.]

butlerbach.....How about running a hijackthis scan and posting it here ..it may show something .
http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html


dl65  

OK...below is the hijackthis log....anyone see anything unusual....(remember....it is running Japanese XP)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 22:49:39, on 2005/10/03
Platform: Windows XP  (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (6.00.2600.0000)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\pctspk.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Avsynmgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apntex.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\conime.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Hanada\Local Settings\Temp\hijackthis[1].zip ‚̈ꎞƒfƒBƒŒƒNƒgƒŠ 1\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: ƒ‰ƒWƒI(&R) - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IMJPMIG8.1] C:\WINDOWS\IME\imjp8_1\IMJPMIG.EXE /Spoil /RemAdvDef /Migration32
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002ASync] C:\WINDOWS\System32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /SYNC
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] C:\WINDOWS\System32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCTVOICE] pctspk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [{262CF15F-287A-4D26-8EAF-3B28BF7F018F}_UserSetup] C:\PROGRA~1\SHARP\PAGEDE~1\UserInit.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DialApp] C:\Program Files\SHARP\mt\3.1\bin\DialMng.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: SHARP ‚Ø‚½‚Á?I–|–ó - res://C:\Program Files\Sharp\PowerEJ\BIN\QuickTrans.ocx/234
O9 - Extra button: Related - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINDOWS\web\related.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINDOWS\web\related.htm
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.spacetown.ne.jp/
O16 - DPF: {04E214E5-63AF-4236-83C6-A7ADCBF9BD02} (HouseCall Control) - http://housecall60.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan60.cab
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (³²Ù½ÊÞ½À° On-Line Scan) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2004061001/housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O23 - Service: AVSync Manager (AvSynMgr) - Network Associates, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Avsynmgr.exe
O23 - Service: McShield - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Network Associates\McShield\Mcshield.exe

[R.I.P.]

butlerbach.....  Well before I get into checking your log....I notice that the pc in question doesnt have the latest M/S updates , in fact it doesn't appear to have even SP1 ............
The first thing I would do is get it current as far as updates are concerned ...it's a way out of date .......


dl65  

[Moderator]

A good reformat ought to teach it a lesson!

[Moderator]

Disable Automatic Reboot on System Failure.

A good reformat ought to teach it a lesson!

Gets my vote everytime. If you are an amateur and you screwed up your PC, the Windows fairy isn't going to play nice.

And why should it? The reason famine exists is probably because of your extreme negligence. Hence having to reformat.

[Moderator]

Replace the keyboard...

patio.  

Replace the keyboard...

patio.  

Before you spend money on a new keyboard, take the one you have into the shower with you. (okay, okay, so you don't have to actually jump into the shower with it, but ensure the water is flowing fast and furious, and hold the keyboard so that the keys face the source of water.) Soak it down good. No soap required. Wash all those nasties away!!!

When finished, shake any excess water out of it and hang to dry. Let it sit overnight even, and reconnect it the next day to see if there's any improvement.

You might be surprised.

RayG

[Moderator]

What would you think about a quick romp in the dryer as well?

What would you think about a quick romp in the dryer as well?

 

Nawwww... too much knocking about. A hair dryer might be helpful though. I've cleaned a couple of keyboards by using the shower method, and they've worked like a charm afterwards.

(It's a lot cheaper than buying a whole new keyboard too!)  

RayG

[Moderator]

Alcohol bath and good scrubbing can help too, but it burns some areas of your body---OUCH!