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eggster34

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pc types strange commands by itself %systemroot%/system32/cmd.exe del eq echo open etc.

I'm having this exact problem but haven't found how to fix it. pls help.

http://www.techtalkz.com/windows-xp/148412-pc-typed-itself-systemroot-system32-cmd-exe-del-eq-echo-open.html
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aleghart
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Wipe the computer and re-install.  You obviously have an infection and haven't found a cure.

What answer are you looking for?   I see people all the time asking how they can do anything to avoid having a clean computer.

Fighting malware doesn't give you a clean computer.  You have no idea what else it has done to comprimise your system.

If you format the drive & re-install everything from clean/legal installation media, there aren't any problems.
Possible that the "infection" is screen sharing software or VNC that you installed, allowing someone else to control remotely.  But, like I said, you don't know what else they've done.  And...possibly are stealing your personal files/data while you remain connected to the internet.

Disconnect from the network & backup your data while you can.  Don't worry about trying to save your Windows installation.  Worry about your data and safety first.
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eggster34

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I'd like to know the name of the virus and a way to remove it if possible, rather than general and not very useful advice; I'm smart enough to figure out that if I wipe everything and reinstall the OS from scratch, the issue will go away; I would not have consulted EE if this was my intention; any idiot can wipe his hard drive and reinstall things from installation media, it's the smart guy who can clean the infection and get on with his life rather than spending 12 hours he doesn't have on it, so if you don't know the answer, please just hold your thoughts to yourself so that others can have a chance to look at this question and offer their opinion. thank you.
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aleghart
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Launch TaskMgr and kill any VNC app/process that's running.

Find the installation directory \Program Files\xxxVNC
type in the command line using the name of the VNC executable, for example:  WinVNC.exe -remove
I'm not running VNC. Why did you assume I was?
The same symptom show up on users with Windows, OS X, and Linux.  OS X users reported turning on their remote control (VNC server) software before the commands began.  VNC server can also be dropped into a Windows installation as part of malware payload.  It's very small and consumes little memory.

Many flavors already have a stealth mode built-in.

If it's VNC backdoor, remote commands are received via internet, so disconnecting from internet (disable all network interfaces) and rebooting should result in no more commands received/executed.  Connecting to internet would show symptoms again.

Not sure of the connection requirements...remote commands used to require direct connect to the internet (thus having a hardware firewall/router would stop the attack.
I formatted my PC, but your comments are valid and I thank you for helping me. I believe this would help others with a similar problem looking for a solution.
Thanks.  I understand it would have been less time-consuming to nip the problem in the bud.  At least your computer will be running good-as-new, and 100% clean.
The idea of having a secret vnc server running without my knowledge was quite scary so I chose to format it, thanks again.