# Odd, virus-like problem (but apparently, not a virus)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-virus-like-problem-but-apparently-not-a-virus/309712
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 24, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-virus-like-problem-but-apparently-not-a-virus/309712 "2005-06-24T19:03:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-virus-like-problem-but-apparently-not-a-virus/309712/1 "2005-06-24T19:03:54Z")
My friend has a laptop running Windows XP.
It recently began exhibiting a strange behavior: out of the blue, the Windows search utility will open and flash really fast, scrolling through various settings.
There’s no apparent precipitating behavior causing it – it seems to happen randomly. You can end the utility with the task manager, but another one always starts immediately. The only remedy is to reboot the machine.
As I said, I thought it might be a virus, but it still happens after I loaded anti-virus and anti-spyware software.
This laptop has been used as a stand-alone machine, so it hasn’t been online in a while. I’m thinking it needs a Windows update, and will try that tonight.
I’d appreciate any other thoughts on what it might be.
(I checked the sticky that contained a FAQ on computer questions, and didn’t see anything that I thought addressed this sufficiently. Apologies if I missed anything).
---
### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-virus-like-problem-but-apparently-not-a-virus/309712/2 "2005-06-24T19:24:27Z")
When you say you loaded the AV and Anti-Spyware software…did you first update it before you ran it to check for nasties?
See what this free virus scanner finds: [http://housecall.trendmicro.com](http://housecall.trendmicro.com)
---
### Author:  [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-virus-like-problem-but-apparently-not-a-virus/309712/3 "2005-06-24T19:54:52Z")
You sometimes get things like this due to hardware problems. XP thinks you’re pressing certain keys or clicking and moving the mouse. Is there a possibility of stuck or damaged keys? Gunged-up mouse?