There’s a program called tp.exe that starts whenever my computer does. I can’t figure out what it is, or what program it’s related to. It’s been there for at least two years, so I guess it’s harmless, but I’ve been trying to figure out what it is this whole time, and it’s driving me nuts. It’s like having a light switch that doesn’t seem to be connected to anything.
I tried Google and Dejanews, but there was no info on tp.exe. I downloaded a program called Start/Stop that prevents other useless programs from starting, but it doesn’t see tp.exe. I downloaded ad-aware from grc.com, and it doesn’t see any spyware on my computer. My virus scanner can’t find any viruses. I also can’t find tp.exe anywhere on my hard drive, nor in the registry. Yet it starts each time I re-start my computer. Using ctrl-alt-del to close it works, but I’m wondering what this phantom program could possibly be.
Some programs, like IrXtransfer, when you run them once, they install themselves in the register or somewhere so they start every time. The way to get rid of them is to stop the program and then erase the entry that starts it. I have mentioned in several threads all the places from where a program can start. You might want to look there but most probably it is the register or the startup folder.
Also win.ini, system.ini (run and load lines). autoexec.bat and config.sys. Run msconfig.
Another program may be calling tp.exe. So foo.exe is in the registry Run list, and foo.exe calls tp.exe.
Find tp.exe (it really is there) and search for strings in it to find out who wrote it, and sometimes other useful info about the prog can be found. (I use “find”, “strings” and “grep”, don’t know what people without real utilities would use.)
The only tp.exe I ever came across was Turbo Pascal but that wouldn’t ever run at startup. Searching Google Newsgroups found some other stuff: games- turnpike, sims theme park, tei pei. A utility toliet paper to block backorifice. <-Hmmm.
Check the “properties” of the program and see what you can find out about it. I found sevral programs by that name. Wireless Keyboard point Pad Driver and others. Do a Net search and see which one it could be.
I always run tp.exe along with wipe.jpg and always right before flush.exe. I find that these applications come in useful after I close the files dump.ini and whiz.gif.