Utorrent Disappearing when Minimized

[mattdevney]

Hi people, hope you can help:

Been using uTorrent for quite a few months now without an issue. Without warning, about a week ago this issue started appearing. If I reboot, or if I minimise uTorrent, it 'disappears'. I can no longer see it in the systray, it is not in the Applications list in Task manager, alt+tab does not show it, and when I run it from the exe, it does not come up. However, I know that is is running (and working) as I can see the downloaded files (and the part downloaded files increasing in size) and the process is there in task manager.

I reinstalled it (latest version, from this website) and the program appeared again, but another reboot later it had disappeared.

Searching these forums for similar issues a member called moogly asked for a HJT log to be posted for another guy who had this issue. So I'll post mine here. Apologies for the size:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2

Scan saved at 17:31:01, on 08/06/2009

Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)

MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16827)

Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\csrss.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\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe

C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE

C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe

C:\Program Files\BT Auto Backup\VaultClientTray.exe

C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe

C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe

C:\Program Files\BT Broadband Desktop Help\btbb\BTHelpNotifier.exe

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\WMPNSCFG.exe

C:\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe

C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe

C:\Program Files\PeerGuardian2\pg2.exe

C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\wcescomm.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\rapimgr.exe

C:\Program Files\Digital Line Detect\DLG.exe

C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe

C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\ObjectDock.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\Program Files\a-squared\Anti-Dialer\a2service.exe

C:\Program Files\a-squared\Free\a2service.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe

C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe

C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\iaantmon.exe

C:\Program Files\McAfee\SiteAdvisor\McSACore.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Motive\McciCMService.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe

c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe

c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe

C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\tcpsvcs.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\snmp.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\Program Files\BT Auto Backup\VaultClientSRV.exe

C:\Program Files\BT Auto Backup\VaultClientUpgrade.exe

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\WMPNetwk.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchIndexer.exe

C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\alg.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe

C:\program files\mozilla firefox\firefox.exe

C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe

C:\WINDOWS\hh.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchProtocolHost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem\wmiprvse.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe

C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell.co.uk/myway

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://uk.red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/btyahoo/defaults/sb/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/info/bt_side.html

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://uk.red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/btyahoo/defaults/sp/*http://uk.search.yahoo.com/

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank

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://uk.red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/btyahoo/defaults/su/*http://uk.search.yahoo.com/

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://uk.red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/btyahoo/defaults/sb/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/info/bt_side.html

R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://uk.red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/btyahoo/defaults/su/*http://uk.search.yahoo.com/

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/cd_redirects/wanadoohome

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Internet Explorer

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = 127.0.0.1;*.local

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)

O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll

O2 - BHO: AskBar BHO - {201f27d4-3704-41d6-89c1-aa35e39143ed} - C:\Program Files\AskBarDis\bar\bin\askBar.dll (file missing)

O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll

O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveShellExtensions.dll

O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll

O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - C:\Program Files\McAfee\VirusScan\scriptsn.dll

O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.1.1309.3572\swg.dll

O2 - BHO: McAfee SiteAdvisor BHO - {B164E929-A1B6-4A06-B104-2CD0E90A88FF} - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll

O2 - BHO: Acro Software CutePDF Filler Browser Helper Object Class - {D41289F2-69C6-417B-897E-C653D677CBAF} - C:\Program Files\Acro Software\CutePDF Form Filler\CPFillerCoE.dll

O2 - BHO: SidebarAutoLaunch Class - {F2AA9440-6328-4933-B7C9-A6CCDF9CBF6D} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\browser\YSidebarIEBHO.dll (file missing)

O3 - Toolbar: Dictionary.com Toolbar - {3041d03e-fd4b-44e0-b742-2d9b88305f98} - C:\Program Files\AskBarDis\bar\bin\askBar.dll (file missing)

O3 - Toolbar: McAfee SiteAdvisor Toolbar - {0EBBBE48-BAD4-4B4C-8E5A-516ABECAE064} - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DLBUCATS] rundll32 C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\DLBUtime.dll,_RunDLLEntry@16

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe" -hide

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TrayStartup] C:\Program Files\BT Auto Backup\VaultClientTray.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mcagent_exe] "C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe" /runkey

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iSUSPM Startup] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\INSTAL~1\UPDATE~1\ISUSPM.exe -startup

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DellSupportCenter] "C:\Program Files\Dell Support Center\bin\sprtcmd.exe" /P DellSupportCenter

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [btbb_McciTrayApp] "C:\Program Files\BT Broadband Desktop Help\btbb\BTHelpNotifier.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [bootSkin Startup Jobs] "C:\Program Files\Stardock\WinCustomize\BootSkin\BootSkin.exe" /StartupJobs

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Ad-Watch] C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWTray.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [a-squared] "C:\Program Files\a-squared\Anti-Dialer\a2adguard.exe"

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WMPNSCFG] C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\WMPNSCFG.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [uTorrent] "C:\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe"

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PeerGuardian] C:\Program Files\PeerGuardian2\pg2.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [H/PC Connection Agent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\wcescomm.exe"

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')

O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')

O4 - Startup: ERUNT AutoBackup.lnk = C:\Program Files\ERUNT\AUTOBACK.EXE

O4 - Startup: Stardock ObjectDock.lnk = C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\ObjectDock.exe

O4 - Global Startup: Digital Line Detect.lnk = ?

O4 - Global Startup: uTorrent.lnk = C:\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe

O4 - Global Startup: Windows Search.lnk = C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe

O8 - Extra context menu item: &ieSpell Options - res://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll/SPELLOPTION.HTM

O8 - Extra context menu item: Check &Spelling - res://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll/SPELLCHECK.HTM

O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000

O8 - Extra context menu item: Lookup on Merriam Webster - file://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\Merriam Webster.HTM

O8 - Extra context menu item: Lookup on Wikipedia - file://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\wikipedia.HTM

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll

O9 - Extra button: ieSpell - {0E17D5B7-9F5D-4fee-9DF6-CA6EE38B68A8} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ieSpell - {0E17D5B7-9F5D-4fee-9DF6-CA6EE38B68A8} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {1606D6F9-9D3B-4aea-A025-ED5B2FD488E7} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ieSpell Options - {1606D6F9-9D3B-4aea-A025-ED5B2FD488E7} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll

O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll

O9 - Extra button: Create Mobile Favorite - {2EAF5BB1-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\INetRepl.dll

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\INetRepl.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Create Mobile Favorite... - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\INetRepl.dll

O9 - Extra button: Run WinHTTrack - {36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040} - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Launch WinHTTrack - {36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040} - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll

O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)

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: {01A88BB1-1174-41EC-ACCB-963509EAE56B} (SysProWmi Class) - http://support.euro.dell.com/systemprofiler/SysPro.CAB

O16 - DPF: {2BC66F54-93A8-11D3-BEB6-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec AntiVirus scanner) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/vc/bin/AvSniff.cab

O16 - DPF: {4C39376E-FA9D-4349-BACC-D305C1750EF3} (EPUImageControl Class) - http://tools.ebayimg.com/eps/wl/activex/eBay_Enhanced_Picture_Control_v1-0-3-30.cab

O16 - DPF: {5F8469B4-B055-49DD-83F7-62B522420ECC} (Facebook Photo Uploader Control) - http://upload.facebook.com/controls/FacebookPhotoUploader.cab

O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1125695466562

O16 - DPF: {644E432F-49D3-41A1-8DD5-E099162EEEC5} (Symantec RuFSI Utility Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/common/bin/cabsa.cab

O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1128299979468

O16 - DPF: {71057C18-0507-4747-86BC-E11CE7512C5F} (mailhelper Class) - https://register.btinternet.com/templates/btmailcontrol013.cab

O16 - DPF: {A8F2B9BD-A6A0-486A-9744-18920D898429} (ScorchPlugin Class) - http://www.sibelius.com/download/software/win/ActiveXPlugin.cab

O16 - DPF: {C606BA60-AB76-48B6-96A7-2C4D5C386F70} (PreQualifier Class) - http://help.broadbandassist.com/bbdesktop/PreQual/files/MotivePreQual.cab

O16 - DPF: {CE28D5D2-60CF-4C7D-9FE8-0F47A3308078} - http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/asa/ctrl/SymAData.cab

O16 - DPF: {E856B973-45FD-4559-8F82-EAB539144667} (Dell PC Checkup Installer Control) - http://pccheckup.dellfix.com/en/10/install/gtdownde.cab

O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveSystemServices.dll

O18 - Protocol: sacore - {5513F07E-936B-4E52-9B00-067394E91CC5} - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll

O23 - Service: a-squared Anti-Dialer Service (a2AntiDialer) - Emsi Software GmbH - C:\Program Files\a-squared\Anti-Dialer\a2service.exe

O23 - Service: a-squared Free Service (a2free) - Emsi Software GmbH - C:\Program Files\a-squared\Free\a2service.exe

O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe

O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe

O23 - Service: BootScreen - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\vidstub.sys

O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.EXE

O23 - Service: dlbu_device - Dell - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dlbucoms.exe

O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe

O23 - Service: Intel® Matrix Storage Event Monitor (IAANTMon) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\iaantmon.exe

O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe

O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe

O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee SiteAdvisor Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\McAfee\SiteAdvisor\McSACore.exe

O23 - Service: McciCMService - Motive Communications, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Motive\McciCMService.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (MpfService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe

O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe

O23 - Service: BT Auto Backup Service (VaultClientSRV) - BT - C:\Program Files\BT Auto Backup\VaultClientSRV.exe

O23 - Service: BT Auto Backup Upgrade Service (VaultClientUpgrade) - BT - C:\Program Files\BT Auto Backup\VaultClientUpgrade.exe

--

End of file - 16132 bytes

All help gratefully received! Thanks!

Matt

[Firon]

Have you excluded uTorrent from McAfee? The firewall, proxy service, email scanner and so on.

[mattdevney]

Hi Firon, thanks for looking. In answer to your questions:

Firewall has uTorrent listed for full access.

SystemGuard has uTorrent trusted

Proxy Service, Scanner and Realtime Scanner have no configurable settings for trusts - they take them from SystemGuard and the firewall settings.

Plus, uTorrent works - I just can't see it working!

Really puzzled! Please let me know if you have any more questions, or indeed, suggestions! Thanks again for your interest.

[DreadWingKnight]

What about with stardock off?

[mattdevney]

Hi DWK - thanks for looking. I've looked at my stardock programs:

Quitting objectdock didn't have any effect. I'll do a reboot with it disabled and see what happens. Bootskin is pretty simple so I'd be surprised if it's that but I'll uninstall it and reboot. Hang on!

... one reboot later...

Well, if that isn't just the weirdest thing. uTorrent there all present and correct. What made you think of Stardock (probably objectdock to be honest) as the culprit? And do you have any suggestions for reintroducing objectdock without it knacking up on me again?

Thanks for solving my uTorrent issue though - most appreciated. Now all I need to do is fix my 30 minute boot up process *sigh*

[Ultima]

ObjectDock has been known to cause other weird problems.

[mattdevney]

Well, I didn't search the FAQ very well did I!? TBH, I context searched for systray, and didn't think to search for GUI *d'oh*

Never mind. One thing that does make me think is that the latest version of uTorrent should be ok with ObjectDock - and I downloaded the latest stable build from here and it didn't help... Should one be installed before the other? Or is it more complex than that? Cheers for all your help (all three of you)!

[Ultima]

It's not a problem of installation order -- it's a problem with the way ObjectDock interacts with some applications (like µTorrent). Exactly why it's behaving the way it does, I don't know. There should be other free dock softwares out there -- perhaps you can give them a try instead?

[mattdevney]

yep - I'll be trying yzdock I think. thanks for all the help!