iexplore.exe running each time I reboot

[alegator]

Each time I reboot my PC the task "iexplore.exe" is running in the background forcing me to terminate it from Task Manager. My computer is free from any kind of malware (virus, trojans, spyware, etc), I fully scanned it with at least 3 major antivirus/antispyware products. Once ended from Task Manager the task "iexplore.exe" won't reappear unless of course I use Internet Explorer. How can I fix this? Thanks.

[deckard8]

Check where it's starting from when you boot up and delete the entry.

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

[alegator]

Check where it's starting from when you boot up and delete the entry.

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Thanks for that cool tool. Unfortunately there's no reference whatsoever to "iexplore.exe" in any of the startup sections. I also checked msconfig/Startup and no reference either. I wonder what's causing this.

[deckard8]

Do a search for "IEXPLORE.EXE" and if they are any in the system files folders then it's probably a virus or malware. Should only be in 'Program Files\Internet Explorer' of course.

[alegator]

These are the instances of "iexplore.exe" in C:\Windows and subfolders:

[TooLFooL]

Should only be in 'Program Files\Internet Explorer' of course.

not entirely true.. here's my search results..


i'd try earching the registry to find why exactly ie is launching

[alegator]

I searched the registry for "iexplore.exe" and there are many lines making reference to it, but I have no idea which one might be causing this behavior.

[redwudz]

Here's a method to make IE launch at startup. You might take a look with regedit at those registry locations and see if you have something similar. If IE.exe is there, delete it. It should not be in that file. I would also worry that IE is launching and 'Phoning home' to someplace it shouldn't.

Launch Programs at Login Without Using the Startup Folder
This tweak allows a program to be launched when the user logs onto the computer. It can be set to run minimized and there is no trace of the executable in the Startup folder on the Start Menu nor in the Documents and Settings folder accessible via Windows Explorer.


[Start] [Run] [Regedit]
Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run
Modify/Create the Value Data Type(s) and Value Name(s) as detailed below.
Data Type: REG_SZ [String Value] // Value Name: [Enter the Name of Program Executable]
Value Data: [Enter the Path to the Program Executable]
Exit Registry and Reboot

[RabidDog]

When did this start?? Think back... now what is the most recent program/demo/webpage you installed? Now uninstall this program. Has it gone away??
Or possibly you have asked for some page(s) to be made available offline, and ie is firing up to get them from the web on boot.

[alegator]

Here's a method to make IE launch at startup. You might take a look with regedit at those registry locations and see if you have something similar. If IE.exe is there, delete it. It should not be in that file. I would also worry that IE is launching and 'Phoning home' to someplace it shouldn't.

Launch Programs at Login Without Using the Startup Folder
This tweak allows a program to be launched when the user logs onto the computer. It can be set to run minimized and there is no trace of the executable in the Startup folder on the Start Menu nor in the Documents and Settings folder accessible via Windows Explorer.


[Start] [Run] [Regedit]
Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run
Modify/Create the Value Data Type(s) and Value Name(s) as detailed below.
Data Type: REG_SZ [String Value] // Value Name: [Enter the Name of Program Executable]
Value Data: [Enter the Path to the Program Executable]
Exit Registry and Reboot

I went to the registry location "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run" but there's no reference to Internet Explorer or iexplore.exe.
What do you mean by:"I would also worry that IE is launching and 'Phoning home' to someplace it shouldn't. "?
I would assume that if I end the iexplore.exe process from Task Manager as soon as I finish the reboot then there won't be any malicious consequences?

[gadgetguy]

If IE is your default browser any number of programs may be using it at boot up to check for updates, etc. Use startupCPL to identify and remove everything from startup. If the reboot comes up clean, then start adding them back one at a time and identify which one (or more) is causing it.

[lordsmurf]

WinPatrol

[redwudz]

alegator, if you shut off the browser quickly, likely no problem. It just makes me suspicious that something changed in your computer enough to be able launch IE on boot without your consent.

In my experience, that describes something a malware program might do, so I would be cautious until you find the cause or can eliminate the problem.

I agree, many programs can launch a web browser. And maybe that's all there is to this. Sorry the cure wasn't a simple one.

[alegator]

But I run a full scan with Norton Antivirus, ESET Nod, Spyware Doctor, Webroot SpySweeper, Spybot S&D, Adaware, none of them report any malware! So it must be some new malware not in their definitions....

[redwudz]

At this point I would just try to get IE from 'butting in' when you don't want it. There are some types of malware that are very hard to locate and destroy. I had a rootkit a while back that gave me problems and none of my software even noticed it. I din't notice it for a week until I started wondering why the computer took so long to shut down.

But that is unusual. Unless you see other problems like the computer running slower, or similar, you may be OK.

Always good advice for any computer, back up all data that you can't afford to lose.

[alegator]

I forgot to add that I'm still using IE6. If I upgrade to IE7, will this be fixed?
Also, as I said above once I end iexplore.exe from Task Manager it does not reappear. Does this mean that the assumed malware is not running anymore once I end the iexplore.exe task?
If I can't find a fix to this then I might consider a fresh install of WinXP, but I want to avoid it because it's a time consuming task, specially given all the applications I currently have installed.
Also, what if I rename "iexplore.exe" to "iexplore.bak" for example (the one in C:\Program Files|Internet Explorer). The I reboot, and maybe whatever program might be prompting iexplore.exe to open won't find it and I might get a Windows Message saying which is such a program...

[gadgetguy]

It's worth a try, (and a good idea), but you may only get an error that iexplore.exe can't be found.
Another option would be to disconnect your internet cable and see what happens. Maybe iexplorer is just running a setup routine after boot and isn't connecting to the internet at all.