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Recently, when I turn on my computer, a little window has been popping under my taskbar, near the clock. It rises when the curser touches it, and seems to be some kinda search function.

There is no exit on the window, so the only way to remove it is by going to Task Manager and Ending Program. It calls itself Desktop Search, and when I check the Processes Running option under XP's Task Manager, it seems to list itself as desktop.exe. At least, that's the one that's there when it's running, and gone when I've End Tasked the sucker.

So.. what is this and how do I get rid of it permanently?

I've had that one myself. I have no clue what it does or where I got it. It seems to be benign however. Spybot should be able to get rid of it, or how about simply searching for and deleting desktop.exe? I can assure you that there is no such file in a regular Winblows installation so there's no risk of getting the wrong one.

Google makes a desktop search

Compare your and those screenshots

oogles search can be uninstalled through add/remove programs

Faram wrote:Google makes a desktop search

Compare your and those screenshots

oogles search can be uninstalled through add/remove programs

Nope, not google search, Faram. This is a single-line box hiding behind the taskbar itself, barely peeking over the edge.

I'll try your suggestion, Bats. Hopefully it'll work.

This is weird. I know I saw that listing in the Task Manager: Processes list before I endtasked the program... but the only thing a Search of My Computer finds is AOLondesktop.exe

could it be the same thing?

Sounds like the iSearch Desktop Search hijacker. The second post here has removal instructions.

Executor32 wrote:Sounds like the iSearch Desktop Search hijacker. The second post here has removal instructions.

Sounds like an Apple program

LadyTevar wrote:This is weird. I know I saw that listing in the Task Manager: Processes list before I endtasked the program... but the only thing a Search of My Computer finds is AOLondesktop.exe

could it be the same thing?

soundslike it.

The Yosemite Bear wrote:

LadyTevar wrote:This is weird. I know I saw that listing in the Task Manager: Processes list before I endtasked the program... but the only thing a Search of My Computer finds is AOLondesktop.exe
could it be the same thing?

soundslike it.

Err-no, I'm afraid. While removing AOL stuff is usually a smart move, if Task Manager DID list a desktop.exe, that means there WAS a desktop.exe. So either that file is still there but hidden or was removed in the meantime.
Have you tried looking for hidden/system files, my Lady?

I'm 99.99% certain that it's iSearch. It's a real bitch to get rid of if you have it. The second post in the thread I linked to in my previous post has the rather lengthy removal instructions.

I had that. I got rid of it with a system restore.