I notice that after my computer has been returned to me after network tweaking by the IT Dept (upgraded of Network O/S from NT to Windows 2003), the system runs very slow. The IT personnel said it has something to do with the "user profile". Having doubt, I ran MSCONFIG and found there was an application newly added to the start-up list. But this application is invisible in the sense that only the box on the left is visible while the rest (description & location) can be seen. I ran Spybot, AdAware, CCleaner, CWShredder and AVG just to ensure that there's no malware. Results turned out negative - system is clean. But there seems to be no way of identifying what's that invisible start-up application is and the system is slow as hell. I can't delete the said invisible start-up application as it is in every workstation returned by the IT Dept and we have been told not to touch anything. Is there a way to discover the description of that invisible application (freeware would be the best choice)? Just want to make sure that whatever put into the computer is legit and not something the IT Dept put it for the sake of being "superior" to the rest of us users. Thanks.

I can only venture a guess, but I would highly suspect they have installed some kind of key-logger or similar device to monitor what their employees are doing. Unfortunately, it is a fact that the computer is legally theirs and they have the right to install anything they want. In fact, any attempt by you to terminate or remove the process can be "grounds for dismissal", and the courts will back them up. HiJackThis should be able to identify the process, but I would highly recommend against tampering with it if you value your job. _________________________ The internet is no longer a toy, it's a COMBAT ZONE!

cwyap, "...found there was an application newly added to the start-up list. But this application is invisible in the sense that only the box on the left is visible while the rest (description & location) can be seen." ^^First, that last part. Did you mean to say can't, instead of "can"? Which is it?? If not, then you could get some info/answers, from the files and folders described. Which OS, is on the computer, that you're talking about, thanks. With out knowing for sure, what is/isn't being seen...... You can go into the regis.... No, won't go there, just yet. Might not, go there at all. Just depends. "I can't delete the said invisible start-up application as it is in every workstation returned by the..." I guess, I could speculate. If it's on ALL, of the computers. It could, repeat could have been the software/program that was used. To either do/fix/clean/update/ect. That was/didn't clean up after itself properly. Or didn't set/name the value in the reg, when it was installed. Like I said, just speculating. y.w. S.T.A.R.

You said it's visible on the "box on the left" does that mean you can see it in Startup Item name on msconfig? If so, what's the name of it?

Thanks people for your comments. Yes, S.T.A.R, it was my punctuation mistake. The sentence should read as ""... this application is invisible in the sense that only the box on the left is visible while the rest (description & location) CAN'T be seen." I am not so much worried about removing the application. Or tampering with whatever it is. Just want to know what it is and what is it doing to the computer as before the so-call "upgrade" our computers were working at speed which I would say the norm. But now my workstation in the office (1.7GHz with 256MB running on Win98SE) is slower than the Celeron 500MHz with 128MB running on same OS which those IT guys have not "upgraded" yet. Just need to find some way to return the computers to their previous state (clean, uninfected & relatively fast).

Why don't you ask the IT person who worked on your computer?

Those IT guys were pretty evasive. The hierachy here seems pretty weird; we don't even know who they are answerable to. The senior management have asked but the reply given was very vague - that they need to monitor the electronic transactions. But as to whom they report all these transactions, no one knows! Serious.