I'm currently at work troubleshooting a computer that has been having problems with hanging up. The first thing I did was check the task manager for any processes that looked suspicious. I found SQLSERVER.EXE, which I cannot figure out for the life of me why that would be on a desktop workstation. So I checked it out, and it looks like it could possibly be a trojan called "MerryX.A", yet Norton I-Net Security and Panda Active-Scan neither one detected it. Trend-micro keeps timing out, so that's not an option. Here's the gist of my question: Is there a legitimate instance of SQL Server that runs on XP, or am I better off to assume that it is malware?

Download Ewido Security Suite then set it up this way Ewido Setup Instructions reboot into Safe Mode and run Ewido When the scan has completed, Ewido will create a report.txt file. Click the "Save Report" button on the bottom of the screen and save the log to your desktop in case you need it later. Please reboot into normal mode and post the ewido log.

No, SQL Server should not be on an XP workstation. Some user may have been messing around, or it may be a virus, but for whatever reason it doesn't belong there. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime; Then industry pollutes the water and kills all the fish.