Is it a brand new install of Vista?

It's probably malware (virus). You can try running a malware scan.

Well, it doesn't seem to be affecting the operation of my laptop. I've been online all day, listening to music, watching youtube videos, checking email, downloading and saving and everything appears fine so maybe it's nothing I need be concerned about.

At least until my laptop begins to spit up.

Check msconfig for un-necessary Services and Startup processes. Press and hold the "windows key" + R to open the "Run dialog" and just type msconfig. Run a Google search to learn what services and Startup items can be removed. If HideCmd.exe is in the Startup tab, simply un-check it and... problem fixed. Hopefully.

If the issue persists, I would check into a possible virus issue.

If it's a clean install of the OS, it isn't a virus or malware or spyware or anything.
Sounds like a file got missed during the install which could have happened due to a dirty cd/dvd or a scratch or any other number or reasons.
Since it's a new install, I would just do it over again.

Yeah, Kim, that's what I was thinking, it's a brand new OS install, very first time for this hard drive, brand new right out of the box. Couldn't be a virus because when you get a virus, it is in the hard drive, not the circuit boards, right?

I'm wondering if perhaps I should use a different Vista OS disc set and just reinstall the OS.

I have another set of Vista OS discs but they came with a different model of Toshiba laptop and a tech guy at a warranty repair place told me that I can't use an OS install disc set for a Toshiba A205 on a Toshiba A135 and vice-versa.

I think he's full of it because both OS disc sets are Vista, the same OS! So it's a different model of laptop, that's hardware! Why would it make any difference?

It really depends on if the disks are strictly OS install disks, or really recovery disks.
If they just have the OS on them, they should work fine.
If they are recovery disks, which install the OS plus drivers that are specific to the model that the disks are made for, you could have problems.

Ah, that may be the difference. Okay, thanks Kim.

doylesoft, I did the msconfig but didn't find anything close to it in the startup list. Thanks for the idea, though. I never would've thought to do that.

I think I'll just do a complete OS reinstall and maybe that'll take care of it. If not, I've always wanted to make a youtube video of someone smashing a perfectly good (well, almost) laptop with a baseball bat...then I'll go out and buy a Mac (like I should've done in the first place) and upload the video to youtube...

Right, Mike, my discs were each labeled for the respective Toshiba laptops, so they're probably not just the OS but also include the restore, too.

I'm just going to do a reinstall. I've got nothing but time...(rolling eyes.)

Thanks everyone.

if you restart it with the vista install CD, you should be able to choose recovery options. I believe there is a startup repair option (going from memory here) that may assist you.

Damen, there is, I tried that but, same thing. I'll just do a complete reinstall. That should take care of it.

Thanks people!

Well, I reinstalled the Vista OS, the entrie thing not just the apps and drivers, and no change. That stupid prompt still comes up at start up about SYSPREP.

I don't know what's the problem with this thing, but it's running okay, so what the heck. I'm going to buy a new laptop soon anyway, so I'm not going to worry about it.

I tried Googling the error message and MS knowledge base and got no results, sorry.

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I Googled "SYSPREP" with quotes and quite a lot of info comes up.
I didn't read it all but it seems to relate to the way windows deploys.
I'm fairly certain Doylesoft is on the right track. Its on the startup
somewhere. It just might be a part of something else.

Tom

SYSPREP is part of Microsoft Windows, but I don't think hidecmd.exe is. I also wanted to mention that even on new hard drives, and new shrink wrapped software, there still exists a possibility that a virus or trojan could be delivered. The source of the software or hardware would have to be compromised, but just check your recent news headlines, it's happened before.

Not too long ago there were digital photoframes that were sent from the factory already infected with malicious code. Similar accidents have shown up for diskette and CD-ROM software that is still in the unopened original packaging. So don't count out the idea (even if it is a remote occurrence) that a virus or trojan was delivered to you.

Did some more searching because this was bothering me, but here is a reference to hidecmd.exe for a piece of document processor software called Lyx.

lyx: os_win32.cpp Source File

Below is an excerpt.

So I still believe this is part of a customized program to run some process in the background. I cannot find any documentation about hidecmd.exe being part of Microsoft Windows. If anybody finds it, please post some updates to this thread. Thank you.

Thank you for that! I'm going back to Office Depot and have a talk with the manager about swapping this HD for another new one. I believe this one is infected and could possibly be swiping passwords and other critical info.

I've already went into all my financials on my other laptop and changed the passwords. Haven't noticed anything amiss, though, so not sure that's what it's doing. Everything is running fine, but I still don't like it.

Thanks again for the info, people!

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