Unknown program running

[camioneur]

Every 15 minutes or so a program of some sort starts, lasts about 1 second and then stops. In the task bar the tab that appears is blank and when I have managed to click on it before it goes, nothing happens. It doesn't do anything in the main window, just the taskbar. Is there a way to find out what it is so that I can stop it. I only really noticed it because it interupts my screensaver but it doesn't last long enough to investigate. Any ideas anyone please?

[badlad.biz]

Open the Task Manager and check to see what programs are running. In XP its Alt/Contol-Delete

[camioneur]

oh i wish it was that easy biz but when it only runs for about a second there's not a hope in hell but thanks for the sugestion

[Ralph]

Something must be starting it, programs can't start themselves. Check to see what services are running that you don't recognise. Liberal use of Google may be necessary.

To open up the services, right-click on the My Computer icon on the desktop (or in Windows Explorer) and choose Manage. Click the + beside Services and Applications, then choose Services. See which ones start automatically, are currently running and which probably shouldn't be there.

[Garamond]

Try this. Start - Run and in the dialogue box type msconfig, then click ok. Click the Startup tab and that'll show you everything that'll start with Windows. Obviously most of them you'll need but if there's any you know you don't, delete the tick. Returning you'll be asked to reboot.