Stupid ping.exe!!! (help me disable)...

Docaroo

Docaroo

Docaroo

Soldato
Joined
27 Jun 2005
Posts
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Location
Aberdeen, Scotland
Hi guys,

Now and again ping.exe starts up on my computer of its own free will - not a massive problem UNLESS it occurrs when I am playing Oblivion, which alt-tabs me out and crashes the game as it doesn't like this and won't work when I alt-tab back.

How can I disable ping.exe or ban it from running? I know there's a command you can type in "run" to get a config box up but I can't remember it!

Thanks guys!
 
I have searched more and it seems it could possibly be the AV killer Trojan.Win32.Killav.bk...


EDIT: But I have just searched and have none of the files associated with this virus on my PC... so it's back to the problem!
 
Last edited:
How can I disable ping.exe or ban it from running? I know there's a command you can type in "run" to get a config box up but I can't remember it!
Click to expand...

Start > run then type cmd.

I don't think it can start by itself.
If you type ping/? at the > (ping help)..

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\user>ping/?

Usage: ping [-t] [-a] [-n count] [-l size] [-f] [-i TTL] [-v TOS]
[-r count] [-s count] [[-j host-list] | [-k host-list]]
[-w timeout] target_name

Options:
-t Ping the specified host until stopped.
To see statistics and continue - type Control-Break;
To stop - type Control-C.
-a Resolve addresses to hostnames.
-n count Number of echo requests to send.
-l size Send buffer size.
-f Set Don't Fragment flag in packet.
-i TTL Time To Live.
-v TOS Type Of Service.
-r count Record route for count hops.
-s count Timestamp for count hops.
-j host-list Loose source route along host-list.
-k host-list Strict source route along host-list.
-w timeout Timeout in milliseconds to wait for each reply.


C:\Documents and Settings\user>
 
I did a sweep recently (while the problem happened) and it came up blank.... I found one article somewhere that said explorer.exe can run ping.exe then ping.exe can run itself so "disabling" ping.exe won't stop it running the first time but that is all it said!


It hasn't happened since I posted, it appears to be random but it could be controlled by some other service running in the background... I usually kill these useless services before starting Obliv but maybe I miss one sometimes and that runs ping??

Such a strange problem! argh!
 
I'd definately say spyware, there'd be no other reason / software that would require a ping request to run at random intervals.
 
If you're that worried about ping.exe running, the simplest thing to do would be to rename it.

HOWEVER, as mentioned I'd be far more concerned as to WHY ping.exe is being launched in the first place. Do a proper cleanse of your system.
 
Unluckyalf said:
Cant you just rename ping.exe as a temporary fix??
At least this way whatever is calling it may flag up an error
Click to expand...


dont do that! that is just silly.

Clearly you have a problem with your system, ping starting up on it's own is merely a symptom of your problem.

Use some of the vast abundance of freely available security tools and get your system clean.

If they aren't helping then by all means post a HiJackThis log and I will take a look for you. (www.merijn.org).
 
The_KiD said:
dont do that! that is just silly.

Clearly you have a problem with your system, ping starting up on it's own is merely a symptom of your problem.

Use some of the vast abundance of freely available security tools and get your system clean.

If they aren't helping then by all means post a HiJackThis log and I will take a look for you. (www.merijn.org).
Click to expand...

Why is that silly? If none of your AV/Spyware stuff picks up the problem then surely renaming ping as part of the troubleshooting process would be a logical step.
If there is an app on the system that is calling for ping and the ping command is no longer there then the app may give you an error on screen.
 
Is there nothing showing up in your event logs? Maybe use Ethereal to sniff your network to see if anything untoward is happening when ping starts..? Are there >1 boxes on your local network?
 
Unluckyalf said:
Why is that silly? If none of your AV/Spyware stuff picks up the problem then surely renaming ping as part of the troubleshooting process would be a logical step.
If there is an app on the system that is calling for ping and the ping command is no longer there then the app may give you an error on screen.
Click to expand...

It would be silly due to the fact the computer clearly has some issue, renaming ping will not fix the issue only compound it.

Also have you tried renaming ping.exe before? you quickly find that windows restores ping.exe as quickly as you rename it.

So it is a much better idea to find the route of the problem.

HiJackThis logs will aid you in this process.
 
The_KiD said:
dont do that! that is just silly.

Clearly you have a problem with your system, ping starting up on it's own is merely a symptom of your problem.

Use some of the vast abundance of freely available security tools and get your system clean.

If they aren't helping then by all means post a HiJackThis log and I will take a look for you. (www.merijn.org).
Click to expand...
Try downloading hitman pro for spyware removal aswell.
 
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