Image-named DDRQTZ32.EXE uses 100% of the CPU

I'm trying to troubleshoot a Win-XP HOME-edition system, which
has an image named 'ddrqtz32.exe' (located in the /WINDOWS sub-tree)
that is burning up 100% of the CPU.

Anyone know what this image's job is?

(What's weird is that my own Win-XP-Pro system does NOT
even have an image/executable of that name. So, I question even
whether this is a legitimate image from Microsoft!?!? Also,
the system exhibiting this 100%-CPU problem has been
recently plagued by 'spyware' infestation. I've cleaned the various
spywares off the system using a variety of the spyware-cleaning
programs, but a few of these spyware-things keep popping back
into existence after rebooting following the spyware cleanings.)

But, my gut-feeling is that the spyware re-appearances may not
be of any real concern. The 100%-CPU symptom seems to be
the 'killer' symptom.

All ideas welscome.

Cheers...

Dave

David Cook wrote:
I'm trying to troubleshoot a Win-XP HOME-edition system, which
has an image named 'ddrqtz32.exe' (located in the /WINDOWS sub-tree)
that is burning up 100% of the CPU.

Anyone know what this image's job is?

(What's weird is that my own Win-XP-Pro system does NOT
even have an image/executable of that name. So, I question even
whether this is a legitimate image from Microsoft!?!? Also,
the system exhibiting this 100%-CPU problem has been
recently plagued by 'spyware' infestation. I've cleaned the various
spywares off the system using a variety of the spyware-cleaning
programs, but a few of these spyware-things keep popping back
into existence after rebooting following the spyware cleanings.)

But, my gut-feeling is that the spyware re-appearances may not
be of any real concern. The 100%-CPU symptom seems to be
the 'killer' symptom.

Sounds like a Virus.
Use one of the Free scanner/AntiVirus apps out there to scan and eliminate
it.
Also note that an increase in popups/spyware/adware is a concern - always -
especially since you can use the tools like Spybot Search and Destroy and
SpywareBlaster to "immunize" your computer from these threats as well as
eliminate them (in Spybot Search and Destroy's case anyway.)

First, deal with the probably virus threat:

AVG Free Edition:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Don't like what you see, well, might I suggest avast! 4 Home edition:
http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1016.html
Still not doing it for you? There is Panda ActiveScan - a free ONLINE
scanner, but that doesn't "protect you", more like cleanup after the fact:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
No? There is also Trend Micro's Housecall Online
scanner. It's also not a protection thing, but can help you cleanup a mess:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/hous...start_corp.asp

Yes - the last two install from the web - but they are safe.
If none of those Free Options do it for you, look into Symantec AntiVirus.
In my opinion, it is one of the best ones out there. Or you can look at the
pay versions of the free products I listed above.


Then take the advice that has worked for most other
spyware/adware/hijackers:

You may have spyware/adware infesting your machine, follow the
appropriate section for that, making sure you use at least
THREE of the tools I list to scan and clean your machine AFTER
updating them. Cleaning up spyware/adware/malware usually
solves home page hijackers as well.


Make sure you have all the updates (critical) installed from:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
(Scan for updates, Review and Install)


Get rid of the spy/ad/mal-ware..
(Yes - using MORE than one of these..
I recommend at least the first three. Also..
UPDATE the definitions for them before using.)

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.net/

Lavasoft AdAware
http://www.lavasoft.de

CWSShredder
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Hijack This!
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/

I also like "The Cleaner" and "SpywareBlaster" and "SpywareGuard".
- http://www.moosoft.com/
- http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

The first is a PAY product, but useable for 30 days - it has found and
eliminated problems in the past the others did not. The latter two are
prevention mechanisms. I like SpywareGuard for those with enough processor
to have something running like antivirus software - and it prevents browser
hijacking quite well. SpywareBlaster is a FANTASTIC free product, I suggest
getting this after you cleanup and keeping it updated as well....

And Assortment of Others:
http://spywareinfo.com/

Once clean, please IMMUNIZE using Spybot Search and Destroy and
SpywareBlaster.


Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to about
80 to 120MB (seems to be an optimal size for the normal user)

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS - Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section,
do the following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the
"Amount of disk space to use:" to something between 80MB
and 120MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to
"Delete all offline contents" (the checkbox) and click
OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 minutes or
more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer
- Re-open Internet Explorer.


Uninstall any software you do not use often/ever. (If you have something
installed but never use it, uninstall it.) If you go through Control
Panel - Add/Remove Programs and see things you seldom if ever use, it is to
your advantage to remove it.


Also, if you are tired of Web Page Pop-Ups/Unders.. You could try the
Google Toolbar.
http://toolbar.google.com/


Stop loading applications at logon.. run MSCONFIG and look under the startup
tab for things you DON'T want to startup! Search the Internet with Google
to discover what things are safe to remove and what things may even be
malware infecting your computer.


Better control your email and lessen the amount of time you spend dealing
with SPAM:
SpamBayes
http://sourceforge.net/projects/spambayes/
or
Spamihilator.
http://www.spamihilator.com


Hope that helps...

--
- Shenan -
--

This system has a currently-updated copy of Norton/Symantec Anti-virus,
and my complete scan comes up virus-free. (Ditto for running 3 or 4 or the
various
spyware-cleaning tools...updated all their signature stuff and ran them,
too.)

Yet, this image named DDRQTZ32.EXE is still present and is still consuming
vast
amounts of CPU-utilization. Any other ideas about where this image comes
from and what functionality it provides to a WinXP system? Is it a
Microsoft-provided
image?

TIA...

Dave




"Shenan Stanley" wrote in message
...
David Cook wrote:
I'm trying to troubleshoot a Win-XP HOME-edition system, which
has an image named 'ddrqtz32.exe' (located in the /WINDOWS sub-tree)
that is burning up 100% of the CPU.

Anyone know what this image's job is?

(What's weird is that my own Win-XP-Pro system does NOT
even have an image/executable of that name. So, I question even
whether this is a legitimate image from Microsoft!?!? Also,
the system exhibiting this 100%-CPU problem has been
recently plagued by 'spyware' infestation. I've cleaned the various
spywares off the system using a variety of the spyware-cleaning
programs, but a few of these spyware-things keep popping back
into existence after rebooting following the spyware cleanings.)

But, my gut-feeling is that the spyware re-appearances may not
be of any real concern. The 100%-CPU symptom seems to be
the 'killer' symptom.

Sounds like a Virus.
Use one of the Free scanner/AntiVirus apps out there to scan and eliminate
it.
Also note that an increase in popups/spyware/adware is a concern -
always -
especially since you can use the tools like Spybot Search and Destroy and
SpywareBlaster to "immunize" your computer from these threats as well as
eliminate them (in Spybot Search and Destroy's case anyway.)

First, deal with the probably virus threat:

AVG Free Edition:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Don't like what you see, well, might I suggest avast! 4 Home edition:
http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1016.html
Still not doing it for you? There is Panda ActiveScan - a free ONLINE
scanner, but that doesn't "protect you", more like cleanup after the fact:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
No? There is also Trend Micro's Housecall Online
scanner. It's also not a protection thing, but can help you cleanup a
mess:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/hous...start_corp.asp

Yes - the last two install from the web - but they are safe.
If none of those Free Options do it for you, look into Symantec AntiVirus.
In my opinion, it is one of the best ones out there. Or you can look at
the
pay versions of the free products I listed above.


Then take the advice that has worked for most other
spyware/adware/hijackers:

You may have spyware/adware infesting your machine, follow the
appropriate section for that, making sure you use at least
THREE of the tools I list to scan and clean your machine AFTER
updating them. Cleaning up spyware/adware/malware usually
solves home page hijackers as well.


Make sure you have all the updates (critical) installed from:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
(Scan for updates, Review and Install)


Get rid of the spy/ad/mal-ware..
(Yes - using MORE than one of these..
I recommend at least the first three. Also..
UPDATE the definitions for them before using.)

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.net/

Lavasoft AdAware
http://www.lavasoft.de

CWSShredder
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Hijack This!
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/

I also like "The Cleaner" and "SpywareBlaster" and "SpywareGuard".
- http://www.moosoft.com/
- http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

The first is a PAY product, but useable for 30 days - it has found and
eliminated problems in the past the others did not. The latter two are
prevention mechanisms. I like SpywareGuard for those with enough
processor
to have something running like antivirus software - and it prevents
browser
hijacking quite well. SpywareBlaster is a FANTASTIC free product, I
suggest
getting this after you cleanup and keeping it updated as well....

And Assortment of Others:
http://spywareinfo.com/

Once clean, please IMMUNIZE using Spybot Search and Destroy and
SpywareBlaster.


Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to about
80 to 120MB (seems to be an optimal size for the normal user)

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS - Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section,
do the following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the
"Amount of disk space to use:" to something between 80MB
and 120MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to
"Delete all offline contents" (the checkbox) and click
OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 minutes or
more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer
- Re-open Internet Explorer.


Uninstall any software you do not use often/ever. (If you have something
installed but never use it, uninstall it.) If you go through Control
Panel - Add/Remove Programs and see things you seldom if ever use, it is
to
your advantage to remove it.


Also, if you are tired of Web Page Pop-Ups/Unders.. You could try the
Google Toolbar.
http://toolbar.google.com/


Stop loading applications at logon.. run MSCONFIG and look under the
startup
tab for things you DON'T want to startup! Search the Internet with Google
to discover what things are safe to remove and what things may even be
malware infecting your computer.


Better control your email and lessen the amount of time you spend dealing
with SPAM:
SpamBayes
http://sourceforge.net/projects/spambayes/
or
Spamihilator.
http://www.spamihilator.com


Hope that helps...

--
- Shenan -
--