Why do I get a "Run As" dialog box at logon?

[Relztrah]

We have a small computer classroom where I work that we use to teach computer classes to the public. All machines have XP Pro and all have an identical setup with an Admin (unrestricted) logon and password which I only know and a Student (restricted) logon and password that others use.

Somehow one of our students either inadvertantly or deliberately changed the settings on one machine so that now the following dialog box pops upon logging on as Student:

http://i33.tinypic.com/2pqntwz.jpg

This only happens with one of nine machines and is a recent development. I often log on as student just to see how the machines are running and I've never seen this box before.

I can just click OK or Cancel and use the computer normally, but it confuses the newbies (not to mention the instructors) and I'd like to get rid of it.

I'll drop another ten bucks in the PCGuide tip jar if somebody can walk me through getting rid of this so that the box doesn't appear when I log on as a student.

[Paul Komski]

It's not obvious from your post which program is asking for this.

Basically you first need a shortcut to an executable. Say go to Accessories and Right Click on Notepad and then choose Send to Desktop (create shortcut).

Now Right Click on the shortcut and choose Properties and then the Advanced button and Enable the option to "Run with different credentials" and click OK.

Now when you use that particular shortcut you should be prompted - just as in your screenshot. If you now copy/drag the shortcut to the Startup group from the Start button you should get that prompt at each start up and which is probably what is happening at each start up. If it is then just delete it from there or run msconfig and disable it.

[Relztrah]

It's taken me nearly a month to get back to this situation, but I looked at the computer in question today and there is nothing in the Startup group. I took a look at msconfig under the Startup tab but I wasn't sure what item to uncheck. Apparently there is no way to know what program is causing the Run As dialog box.

http://i33.tinypic.com/2pqntwz.jpg

[Paul Komski]

For starters what icons do you have in Start >> All Programs >> StartUp?

Those as well as other ways of starting programs automatically can be prevented from starting from Start >> Run >> msconfig >> Startup Tab. Then check/uncheck as many or all the enabled programs till you discover the culprit.

[agenlu]

You can see what programs are being configured to start in your comuter, just use:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

[Relztrah]

I am reviving this thread because a new session of classes has begun, and again, this one machine pops that annoying Run As dialog box when a student logs on using the restricted (student) log-on. As I mentioned above, this does not occur when I log on as Administrator, and it only occurs with one machine. The other eight machines have identical win.ini, boot.ini, services, and startup when I run msconfig on them.

I deselected everything in the startup tab after running msconfig as Administrator...

http://i42.tinypic.com/2e51fdi.jpg


...and still the Run As dialog box pops.

At the risk of repeating myself, when I go to Start>All Programs>Startup the folder is empty. This is true whether I log on as a student or Administrator.

I downloaded and ran the Autoruns program, and it provides a wealth of information. But I'm not sure what I'm looking for here.

Thanks for the advice so far. I'm still open to suggestions.

[mjc]

Post a HijackThis log...this machine is either seriously misconfigured or it is infected with something (possibly even a rootkit, since what is wanting to run wants Admin privileges ).

[Relztrah]

Thanks for the help. Here's the log:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 12:15:59 PM, on 3/16/2010
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16981)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgchsvx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgrsx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgnsx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG9\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\downloads\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgssie.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxtray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxpers] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxhkcmd] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG9_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG9\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-839522115-343818398-682003330-1003\..\Run: [SUPERAntiSpyware] C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe (User 'user')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-839522115-343818398-682003330-1003\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background (User 'user')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-839522115-343818398-682003330-1003\..\Run: [BearShareInstall] C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\BearShareInstallLau ncher.exe /Launch='"C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\NSW31T~1.EXE" /N' (User 'user')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-839522115-343818398-682003330-1003\..\Run: [BitTorrent DNA] "C:\Documents and Settings\user\Program Files\DNA\btdna.exe" (User 'user')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-839522115-343818398-682003330-1003\..\Run: [swg] "C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNo tifier.exe" (User 'user')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'Default user')
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1212521013484
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgpp.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: avgrsstarter - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\avgrsstx.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Free WatchDog (avg9wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgwdsvc.exe

--
End of file - 4784 bytes

[Relztrah]

I'll drop another ten bucks in the tip jar if somebody has a suggestion here.

Thanks

[mjc]

Do you use the Windows Narrator?

There should be a control panel setting (somewhere to shut it off...it is listed as a 'Run Once' item, but it looks to be trying to run all the time).

Also run MBAM and post the log...

How to run a scan with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Here (http://www.besttechie.net/tools/mbam-setup.exe) or Here (http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Anti-Malware_d5756.html)

Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
Make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
Once the program has loaded, select "Perform Quick Scan", then click Scan.
The scan may take some time to finish,so please be patient.
When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart. (See Note)
The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
Note:
If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts.
Click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process.
If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately.[/QUOTE]

[Relztrah]

Back to this issue after a brief hiatus.

I unchecked all featues in Narrator. Also, Malwarebytes found no infections:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.45
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 3944

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13

4/1/2010 3:41:05 PM
mbam-log-2010-04-01 (15-41-05).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 112600
Time elapsed: 6 minute(s), 50 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Also, I found this (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/294676) Knowledge Base article about how to enable the Run As feature, and when I got to step 5, set it to disabled instead of automatic. So that should have taken care of it, right?

Wrong. That stupid box still pops when I log on as a student. Well, I guess it's not really harming anything, and I'll just live with the annoyance. I'll still drop $10 in the tip jar for your effort.

[mjc]

Which user account did you run the scan under?