Random highlighting - kind of annoying...

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3743/highlighting.png

At first I thought it was just firefox that had stuff randomly highlighted but I saw it occur in Windows Firewall. Any clue what's going on? My laptop fell the other day but I don't think that would cause this. Would it?

Threat alert unrelated.

 

When I see a person web browser with 20 search bars like yours, I know he doesn't take any care of his system.

So, check for spyware, malware and virus - if anything was found, re-install windows. I'll assume it's reaching over such great amount of junk, that it would be simply faster to backup, and re-install windows (assuming you have a legit copy of Windows.. if you don't, then that explains your problem (and your thread alert))

 

Haven't got a clue what that screen shot is supposed to be showing?

I didn't see 20, but it's quite clear what you're saying.

 

Four toolbars is hardly close to twenty Mr Exaggerator, the screenshot was suppose to be showing that the term Binary File was being highlighted. Also the problem occurs fresh after reformat before any toolbars were installed and I do know what I am doing for the most part with computers and have not had a virus in years, so do not assume my computer intelligence is on par with the average computer user. The threat alert was because I shut off adblock plus and it was detecting that banner at the top as a threat. As I said this is a fresh install and I would agree with you on the toolbar thing if they were bull toolbars. But alas, I hardly consider my Norton Toolbar bull. If it were occuring just randomly I would assume a threat has breached my security and would take all the needed countermeasures but because it is occuring right out of the gate after I reformated I have to assume it's much more than that. So could that fall have caused a problem because if it's occuring between reformats I have to assume it's hardware related. At first I had assumed Firefox was the culprit but a Windows Firewall popup proved otherwise.

 

It seams that it can be a drivers related issue. Some additional software that comes with the drivers, plays in areas it should not play in the system memory. Why a driver? Because you said that it occurs on a french clean install of Windows without anything installed.

Ensure that you have the latest drivers for all of your devices, including mouse/keyboard (if any).

 

Will do, I installed my touchpad driver shortly after noticing the problem but it didn't fix it. But I will install some more and see if I can fix it. The first thing I installed was the latest Nvidia drivers for Win 7 after the reformat, could that be it? I do not know if it was occurring before that because I did not have Firefox installed yet. The only thing I really installed after both reformats was the Nvidia driver which is kind of a coincidence.

If it helps this is the driver that's installed.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/notebook_winvista_win7_195.62_whql.html

 

It's not the Nvidia drivers as I have them on 3 systems, and don't have the issue.

 

I just noticed same highlight happening on my work computer. Hard to say what it is, since there's only Win7 Enterprise itself, adobe flash, foxit reader, Office 2k7, Silverlight and Firefox 3.6 (with only adblock addon).

It doesn't happen on this laptop tho, it has lots more software installed.

 

When Windows 7 was released, I remember Logitech Webcam software that comes with the drivers (can be removed or not installed with the drivers, luckily), that when you run the program (or have it startup with Windows start (default behavior), Windows gadgets did not work (Sidebar.exe was crashing). Since there second revision of Windows 7 driver, which been quiet some time now, the problem is solved.

So on this affect, I am suspecting that it could be something similar. Use msconfig (or CCleaner) and disable all startup program, restart your computer and see if your problem is resolved. If it is, then you know where the problem is, and you can figure out, with patience, which one causes the issue.

 

I am posting this from my fathers laptop, which is running XP Pro and the same problem is occurring on this one and I did not install anything on here so clearly it must be an issue with a Firefox addon or something. The addons me and my father have in common are download statusbar, Greasemonkey, and Adblock Plus. KLF since you said you have Adblock it appears we all have Firefox 3.6 + Adblock in common.

Edit: I uninstalled Adblock plus from this system but the problem still occurs so it's not Adblock.

 

Odd, that's is a strange problem...

 

This is a photo of windows firewall which is having the same problem.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4869/highlite.png

 

I think goodbytes point was a good one, as you've now got two system monitors on there, which are are clearly giving different results, and now Threatfire, despite already having Norton on.

 

Honestly the only software on my computer that should be of concern is what is causing the problem. I appreciate your opinion but if you cannot offer help you have no reason to post in this thread.

 

Sorry GenPirate, it's just we are all pretty much perplex with all your software... choices. You know better your own system then all of us, you tell us it's fine, fair enough we trust you.

Ok let's play the rule out game. I don't like this game, because it's time consuming, but if it bugs you at that level, let's play it... you'll hate me for this:

Ok, do you have Windows 7 official disk, or are they recovery disks?

If they are official disk, try this:
- Install Windows 7 clean
- Install Firefox

DO NOT install anything else, not even drivers or windows updates.

Let's see what we have from there.

 

Considering you've installed things you don't really need, which we can see just from looking at two screen shots, it could be anything, and god only knows what other crap you've installed as well.

First of all, this is a public forum, so you have no right to be telling anyone where they can and can't post, secondly, we can see from your screen shots you've not done much to help yourself, and last of all, we are trying to offer help, but if you're unwilling to listen, there's not a right lot we can do.

 

I am willing to try that. I will post back when it's all said and done tomorrow.

 

I just noticed I'm also getting this random highlighting in Firefox (Don't know about Windows Firewall because it's disabled). Check the screenshot (also shows what add-ons are installed). I'm not bothered about it at all since it's not seen anywhere else but I'm curious to know what's causing this.

Also, no viruses or spyware here 100% sure. I keep my laptop very clean. I have Symantec Endpoint Protection (which is why Windows Firewall is disabled) and I do weekly scans just in case.



I can screenshot a list of installed software for you guys to see if there's anything that may rouse suspicion.

 

AHHHH I know why I don't have the problem.

My download dialog box is different from yours, because I have a download manager add-on with Firefox. If I disable it, then I get the same thing as you (with the highlighted text). But, I do NOT get the Windows firewall highlighted text.

The add-on I am using is downThemAll! download manager. Very useful when downloading large files, or files on slow servers.

Off Topic: Hey Wolf04 is in the same time zone as me!

 

Haha great, now there are two people online on NBR at 1 in the morning. Either way, how can I test if this happens with Windows Firewall. What I mean is that after turning it on, how can I block an application to get the pop-up?

 

Assuming your are using Windows default setting, when you connect a software for the first time to the net, you'll get that dialog box. In my case, i closed everything, then I open "Windows Firewall", then on the side column, I click on "Restore default", to clear everything, and I changed my router network name, and connected my laptop back to it (can't use desktop as it uses Ethernet) and open my IM program to see that message (and I'll get the same thing on all other software that accesses the internet). Alternatively, and more simple, just run a software or game that accesses the internet, that you never used before.

 

So I turned on Windows Firewall for a sec and sure enough, I get the same highlighted text. I don't know what could be causing this and didn't even notice it until now.

 

I think it is just Firefox. It is nice to have it highlighted so you can pay more attention to what type of file it is about to be saved or run.