Computer advice needed please
Posted by: NB on 12 October 2004
Is there anywhere on my computer where I can find out what hardware has been installed on my computer?
When I swithed my PC on this morning my computer automatically installed a new piece of hardware. The strange thing is that I havn't added anything to my PC.
My concearn is that someone has entered my office overnight and installed something possibly to spy on me.
How can I find out whether something has been installed?
Regards
NB
When I swithed my PC on this morning my computer automatically installed a new piece of hardware. The strange thing is that I havn't added anything to my PC.
My concearn is that someone has entered my office overnight and installed something possibly to spy on me.
How can I find out whether something has been installed?
Regards
NB
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by pingu
Hi NB
I presume that its a Windows XP machine. If it is, then you can get the message "New Hardware Detected" even if its just a service pack that has been installed. For example a new microport network driver is treated as "hardware" even though its a program that has been modified.
Did you set the PC to automatically install service packs?
As regards what hardware is installed. Go to the control Panel in "classic view" mode and click on system, followed by devices. You can expand each category.
cheers
cj
I presume that its a Windows XP machine. If it is, then you can get the message "New Hardware Detected" even if its just a service pack that has been installed. For example a new microport network driver is treated as "hardware" even though its a program that has been modified.
Did you set the PC to automatically install service packs?
As regards what hardware is installed. Go to the control Panel in "classic view" mode and click on system, followed by devices. You can expand each category.
cheers
cj
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by Roy T
quote:
My concearn is that someone has entered my office overnight and installed something possibly to spy on me.
They might have been removing the bug.
If you are using WIndows and have the required authority then a quick visit to Control Panel | System | Hardware | Device Manager should show what hardware is on you machine.
Do you know what was on the machine yestrday?
Must say Pingu has the rigfht idea and can type faster than I.
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by NB
CJ,
I have windows ME on my pc and as far as I know I havn't got automatic update of service packs. I do that manually and I didn't download anything yesterday.
Regards
NB
I have windows ME on my pc and as far as I know I havn't got automatic update of service packs. I do that manually and I didn't download anything yesterday.
Regards
NB
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by NB
Roy,
No I don't know what was on the machine yesterday. I don't know that much about computers. I have had a look at the device manager and that states original configuration.
I have never added anything to my PC not even a printer. I do manually update the service packs but I have never seen the new device software come up on starting,
Its a strange one!
Regards
NB
No I don't know what was on the machine yesterday. I don't know that much about computers. I have had a look at the device manager and that states original configuration.
I have never added anything to my PC not even a printer. I do manually update the service packs but I have never seen the new device software come up on starting,
Its a strange one!
Regards
NB
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by NB
I have done a restore to yesterday and nothing seems to have changed.
Regards
NB
Regards
NB
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by David Stewart
I've had this problem crop up several times with Win98SE and never been able to trace any reason for it. Likely it's just some sort of system bug which occurs if there's an anomaly in the boot-up routine. If your systems running OK and you can account for all the items showing in device manager you probably don't need to worry about it. Mine commonly tells me it's installing a new printer, I just cancel it and it seems to be OK.
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by stevie d
NB
Are you on a network? If so then there could have been a small patch upgrade your IT team could have done overnight when everybody had logged off so that it was installed when everybody came in the following morning. I tend to get them on my work PC at least once a month.
If you are not on a network then I'm not 100% sure it would be (sorry)
Steve
Are you on a network? If so then there could have been a small patch upgrade your IT team could have done overnight when everybody had logged off so that it was installed when everybody came in the following morning. I tend to get them on my work PC at least once a month.
If you are not on a network then I'm not 100% sure it would be (sorry)
Steve
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by NB
Its the first time it has ever happened to me. I am not on a network, it is a stand alone pc.
The reason I am so concearned is that my partner and I have been under the watch of a PI for the last two years.
The guy in question has broken into my partners old house and been on her house a couple of times. I think the last time was to remive something from her computer. My partners ex has read all our private e-mails heard all our private conversations and knows our financial status.
I woud like to think that what happened this morning was just a glitch but I have a nagging feeling it's not.
Regards
NB
The reason I am so concearned is that my partner and I have been under the watch of a PI for the last two years.
The guy in question has broken into my partners old house and been on her house a couple of times. I think the last time was to remive something from her computer. My partners ex has read all our private e-mails heard all our private conversations and knows our financial status.
I woud like to think that what happened this morning was just a glitch but I have a nagging feeling it's not.
Regards
NB
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by Mike Hughes
NB,
All the advice thusfar is solid but... it is not unknown for a hardware device to die in use during a session but sit there unnoticed until your next session when you logon and find a reinstall taking place.
Happens with all versions of Windows post 3x. My W2k system in work frequently re-detects (is that a word?) my Kyocera network printer. My XP Pro PC at home sometimes does the same with a HP printer and my W98SE PC at home does the same from time to time with a Canon printer or a HP scanner after a crash. Spot the pattern?
Now, that isn't to say that this couldn't be something more serious. There are plenty of sites out there that could help you check for spy ware, keystroke loggers and so on.
I would also run sfc (System File Checker) via Start and Run (I seem to recall it is part of ME)as that can throw up anomolies and run a Windows update to make sure you are fully patched.
Good luck.
Mike
All the advice thusfar is solid but... it is not unknown for a hardware device to die in use during a session but sit there unnoticed until your next session when you logon and find a reinstall taking place.
Happens with all versions of Windows post 3x. My W2k system in work frequently re-detects (is that a word?) my Kyocera network printer. My XP Pro PC at home sometimes does the same with a HP printer and my W98SE PC at home does the same from time to time with a Canon printer or a HP scanner after a crash. Spot the pattern?
Now, that isn't to say that this couldn't be something more serious. There are plenty of sites out there that could help you check for spy ware, keystroke loggers and so on.
I would also run sfc (System File Checker) via Start and Run (I seem to recall it is part of ME)as that can throw up anomolies and run a Windows update to make sure you are fully patched.
Good luck.
Mike
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by NB
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the advice, I have looked for system file checker through start and run but as from there I am lost.
Any idea which program the system file checker is in?
Regards
NB
Thanks for the advice, I have looked for system file checker through start and run but as from there I am lost.
Any idea which program the system file checker is in?
Regards
NB
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by Roy T
NB,
I would think that you may know of some IT types in the local community that would only be too glad to offer advice to you (might have to pay) about the way you use IT in you office. It might be an idea to ask about an audit of all things PC related prehaps concentrating upon PC security, backing up data, keeping safe while surfing the net and any other risks that could bite you in the bum and stop you earning if they were to go badly wrong. A lot companies do this all the time, so maybe have a think about it for yourself.
What about the physical security of your office, your PC and paper data and you? If at all worried have a chat with plod (crime prevention) and get your fears recorded, you never know when you might need an official note of what has happened.
You may well be a good accountant but a poor PC person, it might be an idea not to fiddle with things you do not understand all that well and seek some expert advice (pay for it and you have someone to sue if things don't work).
I would think that you may know of some IT types in the local community that would only be too glad to offer advice to you (might have to pay) about the way you use IT in you office. It might be an idea to ask about an audit of all things PC related prehaps concentrating upon PC security, backing up data, keeping safe while surfing the net and any other risks that could bite you in the bum and stop you earning if they were to go badly wrong. A lot companies do this all the time, so maybe have a think about it for yourself.
What about the physical security of your office, your PC and paper data and you? If at all worried have a chat with plod (crime prevention) and get your fears recorded, you never know when you might need an official note of what has happened.
You may well be a good accountant but a poor PC person, it might be an idea not to fiddle with things you do not understand all that well and seek some expert advice (pay for it and you have someone to sue if things don't work).
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by NB:
I have had a look at the device manager and that states original configuration.
NB,
that's not of any help to you.
The computer can have several "confurations", which is normally of use for laptops, which may run either attached to a docking station (and mouse, monitor, keyboard, blah, blah) or disconnected.
This would probably have a "docked" config & an "undocked".
Your one config just means that you aren't running a dual personality machine.
Within that config, new hardware can be installed or removed at will. If you plugged a new USB device into the machine it would be auto-detected, the drivers installed, and all within the "original config".
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.
Posted on: 12 October 2004 by Mike Hughes
NB,
Doh, brain now engaged, SFC is not included in ME. I do apologise. Apart from that I stick to my original suggestions. Run Windows update and check for spy ware etc. in that order.
Maybe also run MSCONFIG.exe and see if anything has been added to any of the files recently that you don't recognise. Actually, it's late and that might be MSCONFIG32.exe.
Maybe best to not listen to me.
Mike
Doh, brain now engaged, SFC is not included in ME. I do apologise. Apart from that I stick to my original suggestions. Run Windows update and check for spy ware etc. in that order.
Maybe also run MSCONFIG.exe and see if anything has been added to any of the files recently that you don't recognise. Actually, it's late and that might be MSCONFIG32.exe.
Maybe best to not listen to me.
Mike
Posted on: 13 October 2004 by NB
Morning Mike,
I have run MSCONFIG.exe and nothing has come up. However I have found something interesting.
My printer has been set-up to print to the internet modem. I find this strange as I have never had a printer connected to my PC.
I know the printer could have been set as default when the machine was made however I don't beleive an internet modem would have been set as default.
As a precaution I have removed the printer default.
Regards
NB
I have run MSCONFIG.exe and nothing has come up. However I have found something interesting.
My printer has been set-up to print to the internet modem. I find this strange as I have never had a printer connected to my PC.
I know the printer could have been set as default when the machine was made however I don't beleive an internet modem would have been set as default.
As a precaution I have removed the printer default.
Regards
NB