msmsgs.exe
12 Nov 2005 5:25:14 UTC
Topic 190156
(moderation:
Why is boinc causing msmgs.exe to run at full blast on my Windows XP system?
I am using 5.2.7 AND it's not even RUNNING?
This has happened with at least two of the previous versions.
I have selected the screensaver to OFF.
Really! The boinc/e@h programs are not running at this time but the CPU is reporting msmsgs.exe running at 99%? If I uninstall the programs then all returns to normal.
msmsgs.exe
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Michael,
If Boinc/Einstein isn't even running, what leads you to believe that the problem lies with Einstein? Think about it for a minute.
Done? OK. Now, this isn't the place to solve virus/worm problems. You DO have some kind of AV, I hope. Here's your problem. You have somwhere along the line opened an email that you shouldn't have, and even worse, you opened an attachment in that email, and now your computer is infected by a worm, that's what msmgs.exe is, and it's spread via email. Google msmgs and learn about it, and while you're at it, please try to be more security-conscious. You can hardly afford to be out on the net with insufficient protection. I personally recommend NOD32 AV. It scans quickly, uses extremely little of your computer resources, has resident protection for email, and has the best record for detecting and stopping virii in the business.
I hope this information is of some help to you.
Regards,
Michael
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK
Michael, Further bad news.
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Michael,
Further bad news. If you really meant msmsgs.exe as in the thread title, rather than msmgs.exe as in the text of your post, there is a duality problem. Msmsgs.exe is a legitimate Windows program, Windows Messenger. Unfortunately, there is also a worm that the wily bastards have made to install itself as an identically named file, obviously for reasons of confusion. If you are not using the Windows Messenger service fulltime, that indicates that you have the malicious file. The main ways to distinguish between the two are in their size and their location. The legitimate file (size 1.61MB)resides in C/Program files/Messenger folder, while the bogus malware version resides in C/Windows/System32 folder. It characteristically makes registry changes to make it run on Windows startup. It also has been known to alter your computer's host file, blocking antivirus/antispyware apps from updating.
No matter which worm you have, msmsgs.exe or msmgs.exe, it is doing more than just monopolizing your CPU usage. That activity is not benign - it sends itself out to your email contacts, reports your computer usage to 3rd parties, may report sensitive personal info to 3rd parties, steal identity, etc.
Google the name of the process and read a dozen or more of the entries, and you'll find description and eventually removal information. Registry editing, which is an extremely delicate operation, will probably be necessary, and if you are not experienced in it, is to be left to an expert.
Now, for the good news - .................................................sorry, none here, other than to affirm that the problem is completely unrelated to either Einstein or Boinc.
Regards,
Michael
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK
Thanks for your input! I
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Thanks for your input!
I have been checking things and I did make a typo. The process that is running amock is msmsgs.exe not the other.
The file appears to be in the right location and after a Norton Virus scan all appears to be OK. I manually checked some of the registry looking for signs that I had been infected with the worm you were talking about. Nothing.
The reason I suspect that boinc is causing the issue is that the prcocess only starts to hang(become unresponsive) and start using all the CPU cycles when boinc is running. After I stop boinc and exit the program the msmsgs.exe process continues and the only way to get it to stop is to reboot.
All is well after the reboot. I start boinc and leave the system to crunch for the night I come back and msmsgs.exe has hung again and I have to repeat the process.
Not saying that boinc is the problem, just that it does not happen any other time.
Regards,
Michael
Someone might have a program
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Someone might have a program (trojen or virus) that might be trying to infect your MS Messenger. I personally uninstall and not allow it to run on my systems. There are some third party softwares that are a little safer that can connect to MS Messenger with less threats to your system.
Thanks for your input Pooh
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Thanks for your input Pooh Bear!
I have disabled MSN Messenger and have not had any other problems.
For your help I'll bring you a:
Shrubbery! With a path, a path!,,,Ni!
RE: Thanks for your input
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Michael, it's not MSN messenger, but Windows Messenger. MSN Messenger is msnmsge.exe, whereas Windows Messenger is msmsgr.exe. You can disable it in Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services. While you're in Services, I suggest you also disable messenger (a legacy program and common cause for popups).
Michael
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK
Yes, I did mean Windows
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Yes, I did mean Windows Messenger. I was also tired this AM when I said MSN. Either way, they both bug the heck out of me.
Good to hear you are running correctly, and good luck on all future endevors!
RE: You can disable it in
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I would advice to also Stop it after you disabled it, or the service will continue to run until you reboot. If you only reboot once a week...
RE: RE: You can disable
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Jord,
I neglected to add the "Stop" part, thanks for covering it. And thank you for returning to aid in the MBs. Don't let the ... CafeSeti sociopaths get you down, and don't think for a minute that I was cowed by FHN, I only elected to invite her outside for the fight, rather than continue it in a post about beta. ;-)
Michael
(edit) BTW, a good friend of mine lives just around the corner from you, in Maastricht.
microcraft
"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice" - MLK