[Newuser12345215]

So I started my computer, about 5 minutes later, a command window opened, then closed by itself.

I didn't do anything at the time, it just came out of no where, I was wondering if anyone knows what can cause this?

Just in case, I scanned for Rootkits using F-secure Blacklight(nothing detected), currently running every other scanning program I have but anyone know what can cause the command window to open then close out of no where?

[lunarlander]

Sometimes some program's 'auto-update' feature may run a command prompt to do something to update itself, although that is rare.

[mrss]

After doing a windows update to XP service pack 3 this week, my PC tossed out two command windows on the first reboot. Didn't happen again though.

[superbeast5]

Its a Batch file. Batch files allow MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows users to create a lists of commands to run in sequence once the batch file has been executed. For example, a batch file could be used to run frequently run commands, deleting a series of files, moving files, etc.

Another example of a very well known batch file is the autoexec.bat, which is a simple boot file loaded each time the computer is loaded on MS-DOS and early Windows computers. So don't fret i expect that is all it is, But be warned, batch files are very very scary, NEVER download them from any unknown website, never extract a .zip file that contains one, and if somone on a forum that you frequently go to posts a .bat make sure they are well known to the community and have many as in 5000+ posts, all though i say that, that does not make it safe. Most of the time batch files are opened using a .exe though, .bat files are very powerful which you can probably imagine.

[Newuser12345215]

Thanks for info everyone.

I have Windows XP, I haven't updated to SP3 yet(waiting till it seems stable enough).

I haven't downloaded any batch files or any zips with batch files.

After running scan of everything, all the scanners say I'm clean. Though can anti-virus/spyware/adware software detect malicious batch files or malicious things done by command/batch files?

[superbeast5]

i wouldn't think so, see batch files are like macros, they open your command prompt and type in a command, im not exactly sure how virus scanners work, but the only way i think they could detect a bad batch file is if they made it detect the name of it rather than the actual program.

[Gizzy]

They can catch batch files,

if you look at some av test websites you'll see that most of them are quite good at macro and/or script viruses,

they have other ways of detecting them than just their name for one there's the heuristics.

[superbeast5]

Thanks gizzy i didnt know that, like i said i dont know the mechanics of a antivirus.

[Gizzy]

no problem,

I don't really know the inner workings either I only know that they detect them.