Can't figure this out!!

[Agnafl]

This has nothing to do with real estate or web design. As a last ditched effort I decided to throw this question out here, at the forum, just in case anyone else has seen this. I have a computer that I bought from Dell just a few weeks ago and every hour or so there is an application that runs in the background called uriviurl.exe. It takes up 99% of the CPU's resources and prevents me from doing anything on the computer for about 15 minutes or so, sometimes longer. The computer has 2G of RAM and this app completely immobilizes me. I can't end the process because it says that it is a system program and it resides in the WINDOWS/system32 folder. There is no information on it and if you Google it there are no results. Does anyone know what the heck this thing is???

Matt

[Malok]

uriviurl.exe

Just from a purely layman's point of view - I broke that word up into 2 words:
urivi URL - and searched, and a lot of foreign stuff pulled up.


Dunno if that helps you or not.

[BrandonSternfield]

I would run a search on your computer, or in some way locate where on your computer the uriviurl.exe is located. Maybe the folder name will give a better name that could be googled.

Though I must admit, I've NEVER seen a process that isn't on google at least once.

[Agnafl]

I know, me too. I have already searched it and it is in C:\WINDOWS\system32

No information that tells me anything in the folder.

[REW Christian]

I would think that it's malware or something. Just a guess though. Given that it is taking up huge resources and doesn't want you to turn it off.

[NealRM]

have you tried Dell customer support. If it is only a few weeks only, then it is still under warrenty.

[REW Reed]

What do you have for antivirus? Spyware removal? If not, get some. I use AVG for antivirus because it is still good and free, and I use Lavasoft Adaware or Spybot Search and Destroy for spyware removal. Once you have both of those on your computer, use the following procedure to do a clean sweep to see if you have anything nasty on your system: (Read all steps before starting.)

Step one: Go to Start->Run, then type 'msconfig'. In the first tab called 'General', select 'Diagnostic Startup' and click OK. You will be prompted to Restart or Exit Without Restart. Save everything and restart.

Step Two: When your system gets back from restarting, install the programs I mentioned before if you haven't already done so. Run a full scan of the antivirus (make sure the virus definitions are completely up to date) and inoculate as necessary.

Step Three: Restart the system again if you are not prompted to do so by your antivirus. You should notice that these two restarts are the fastest your system has every restarted. This is because we have disabled most of the junk that is loaded when the system starts.

Step Four: Run the spyware removal and get rid of identified problems where appropriate. Restart again.

Step Five: Go to Start->Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs. Now this is usually going to take some willpower, but you can do it! Go through the list and uninstall EVERYTHING that you realistically won't use at least once a week or have paid for the full version of. Of note, keep the antivirus and spyware removal software. Anything that says 'driver' is usually best to leave there as well. ANYTHING that says 'trial' should be removed with prejudice!

Step Six: Open 'msconfig' again (same step as above) and select 'Selective Startup'. Don't click OK yet. Click on the Startup Tab and you will see a list with checkboxes. These are all of the non-system programs that Windows will run when you start your system. As an example, you should probably only have less than 10 items checked off. On my system at work, I have Kaspersky Antivirus, Ultramon Multi-monitor software, Google Desktop, MSN Messenger, another inter-office IM client, a few RunDLL.exe's (these are the control panels in the task bar like volume control or display control), an Uninterruptible Power Supply control program, and Thunderbird for email. I disable anything in there by Quicktime, iTunes, Adobe, HP (usually printer stuff), and Microsoft Office. Select only those you want to open at startup (nothing here except maybe antivirus is necessary). Click OK and restart the system.

If you are still having troubles with this program, contact Dell and see if they have anything in their knowledge base.

Disclaimer: REW does not warrant the procedure above to clear any problems with your computer, your mom's computer, your work computer, a stranger's computer, or any computer. Read all of the steps before starting. If you do not feel comfortable performing one step or part thereof, do not do ANY of the steps. We don't want you to mess anything up.

[webmaster]

And by We, he means Reed - If this blows up your computer sue Reed, not REW haha

[Homesurfer]

Call up Dell.

If your warranty is limited to hardware, then you ask to pay the additional fee for unlimited customer support for a year. That allows you to talk about software, startup menus, and anything you want -- plus you speak to a higher caliber of support. Then call that special number, ask your question, and let them search your system via remote and figure it out.

[jlknauff]

Run AdAware (it's free and you can get it from cnet.com). It's probably the best program out there for finding and fixing that sort of problem (ad ware, mal ware, viruses, etc.).

Let us know if you get it sorted out.