I have an unknown icon that was downloaded when I rebooted my computer. (I did not knowingly download anything) When I rebooted the computer message said to wait while it updated my configuration files. Now this icon is on my bottom tool bar. It is an eightsided metal looking icon with a wavy line through the middle. This line starts with the color yellow and turns to red from the middle to its' end (left to right). When I pass the mouse over it, it does not give a description of what it is nor does anything happen when I right click or left click on it. I don't see anything out of the ordinary in the startup menu or in the add/remove program file. Can anyone tell me what this is and how to remove it please? Thanks for the help.

PS I have ME for my OS

I'm not sure what that is. But you can look in the msconfig startup items for suspicious programs. Also you could try this ProcessScanner from ProcessLibrary.com

See if you can find the icon in the sys32 folder. Or download WinPatrol.exe, install and allow it to determine what files are loading. Look for that icon. Have Scotty kill it if necessary.

If it is an icon, most likely it has the *.jpg or *.cur extension. Change the extension to .txt and save, then open it up as a text file or only have a partial extention like jump.dl_ This works for most any file which you do not know the extension for. You are not interested in anything but the top lines of script where the whole name of the complete file will be found. I just opened a *.jpg and found "'File written by Adobe Photoshop¨ 4.0" and since it was an image file, look to Adobe for extension hints.

Then go to google and insert a search for that file...that will refer you to the program...if it is a safe prog, deal with it at your level, if it is a hitch-hiker find a good delete program.

eg. maple.cu_ -> change to maple.txt and open it up...you will find maple.cur in the first line of script at the top.

Let me know if you are still facing the same issue, if not then I will give you a tool to get rid of that unwanted icon.

Thank you for trying to help, but when I tried downloading Process Library program it said I had to have NT 5.0 or higher. However the second reply to my cry for help suggested Winpatrol. It showed that the icon was SwHelper_1020023.exe - shockwave from Adobe systems. I was able to use Scotty to kill it and the icon has now disappeared. I am no whiz at this computer stuff by any means and I would never have known. I shall keep you in my Favorites!

Your Winpatrol did the trick! What a great tool. Thank you so much!!

Thank you for your reply. Winpatrol took care of the problem like a breeze. I am so glad I came across this forum. You guys are da bomb!

I have the same problem and ran Process Explorer. Found the Swhelper.
Question, since the PE does not display any help pages, do I just select the Swhelper and select 'Kill Process'?
I had seen on another site that you have to be careful using 'kill'. Just a little freaked out about clicking it.
Thanks in advance.

I can not answer your specific question, but I used WinPatrol and it is a very good tool. When I had Scotty "Kill", it removed the icon from my lower tool bar. However when I rebooted the icon reappeared. WinPatrol shows you where the suspect program is and I was able to go and delete it altogether from my C drive. Haven't had a recurrence since! Good Luck!