When shutting down my laptop i get two End Program dialogues trying to end the program "sample"

there is no process called sample or any other program relating to it. I have tried to identify which process may be connected with it, without success

Any ideas would be greatly apprciated - this is a real pain in the ...

Thanks in advance

Murf

run spybot and adaware to see if you have a spyware infection.

Use scanreg /restore to go back to before this started happening by restoring a older registry.

Hello, I had exactly the same problem and believe me you arent the only one...
HOWEVER, I found two solutions, the first of which fixed my computer.

You also may have been expeiriencing annoying slow shutdowns, I certaintly was.

This sample.exe issue is usually caused after the Intel PROset has been installed, this is supposed to be a program made for configuring Intel PRO wireless network cards and I believe that most people install it while troubleshooting a problem in their wireless network.
To stop sample.exe "End Program" messages on logoff/shutdown and improve system performance, the intelPRO set must be installed.

Click start --> Control Panel --> Add/Remove Programs

and run the uninstallation of the Intel PROset.

If you are 100% sure that you do not have the Intel PROset installed then chances are you have a virus named either W32.Nimda.E@mm or W32.Nimda.A@mm either way they are quite dangerous and have the ability to allow access to your files from a hackers computer and degrade your computers performance dramatically.

I recommend running these two symantec fixes by clicking the "To fix this problem get the removal tool button."
They are located at --->>

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.nimda.e@mm.html

and --->>

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.nimda.a@mm.html

If this does not help then this is probably caused by some other program on your computer and may require some research.

I hope this helps...

Cheers

---- Luke ----