Could this be malware?

By devnulllore
in Microsoft (Windows)

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Grand Master

sc302 Veteran

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OK, lets look at dashost.exe.  It is found in windows\system32.  If you go into the file properties, Go do the details tab.  It should be microsoft copyrighted.  The version I have is 10.0.18362.1 with a date modified date of 3/19/2019.

 

With process explorer, you can further drill into that process and see what else is running with that.  Perhaps it isn't dashost.exe itself that is causing it and it is something else that is running with it.   You will have to double click on the process (explorer.exe) then double click again on the thread causing your pain in the threads tab.  Run Process Explorer as administrator, if it hasn't been said or is not known to do so.

Grand Master

sc302 Veteran

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OK then, in process monitor, doubleclick on dashost.exe and lets see what the stack looks like and see if we can't figure out what is in there that is causing your issue.  Double click on each one and see if there isn't one that is not microsoft related...it will either not show a company or it will show a 3rd party.  Not having a signed company could be suspect.  Not knowing which one in the stack is causing your issue is also difficult.  

 

 

Grand Master

sc302 Veteran

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Whatever it is could be jumping processes.  Looking at the stack and similarities between the two different stacks (explorer vs dashost) might give a lot of insight as to what is going on (malware/viruses/something else) but you would have to catch it as the individual process is spiking.

 

Grand Master

Jim K Global Moderator

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19 minutes ago, warwagon said:

Did we ever get your specs? Is this an OEM PC or home built? Which motherboard do you have? It's possible someone with your exact some part has already found a solution.

He has the ASUS Sabertooth Z77 with an i7-3770k ... same as me. I do not have, nor have I had, the issue(s) which he has encountered.

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eddman

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Are you installing all your third-party software after each windows clean install? If you do, stop. You're going to have a hard time pinpointing the issue if you keep installing random stuff. Why do you even use a third-party defragmenter? Do not install random things until you've made sure the stutter is not caused by a driver or windows itself.

 

Boot into Safe Mode and see if it stutters there too.

 

Also, list every program you have installed right now (except for games).

Edited by eddman
Grand Master

devnulllore

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4 hours ago, eddman said:

Are you installing all your third-party software after each windows clean install? If you do, stop. You're going to have a hard time pinpointing the issue if you keep installing random stuff. Why do you even use a third-party defragmenter? Do not install random things until you've made sure the stutter is not caused by a driver or windows itself.

 

Boot into Safe Mode and see if it stutters there too.

 

Also, list every program you have installed right now (except for games).

No the last time I did a complete reinstall I install only the Windows 10 updates and it was doing the same thing so we have eliminated most of what I had installed. Right now I have Chrome, Eset System Security, Acronis backup and Photoshop. I plan on doing my driver updates today.

Grand Master

devnulllore

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8 hours ago, Jim K said:

He has the ASUS Sabertooth Z77 with an i7-3770k ... same as me. I do not have, nor have I had, the issue(s) which he has encountered.

Yes what he said and 2 MX500 SSD's on the Intel controller, 16G Corsair memory, Gforce GTX 1660TI Ultra Graphics card. What else do you need

Grand Master

devnulllore

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So I opened my PC and cleaned it all out. Re-seated all my memory and video card. Checked all my cables and installed all the latest drivers. I am back to step one. Fresh Windows 10 x64 pro 1903 install and still suffering from stuttering. I read the latest Windows update introduced a conflict between Cortana and Nvidia drivers. Has anyone had this problem with Nvidia cards? Could this be video card related? Don't know where to go with this at this point.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

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4 hours ago, devnulllore said:

Can you point me to the software etc.. I need to do it?

I would not recommend using software to record the video as recording would be using resources on the computer we are trying to troubleshoot. It would also be software being installed on a clean install. Just use your cell phone.

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Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

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Lets be clear this "clean" install is just windows... Not 10 other things you don't think is the issue..

 

A clean install is just that - CLEAN!!!  No 3rd party anything, no browsers, no this no that.. no security software, etc. etc.  Clean!!  Just ###### from MS, nothing else.

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Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

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8 hours ago, devnulllore said:

installed all the latest drivers

That is not CLEAN either - we have no idea what you think is latest drivers.. Install it from windows... Pretty freaking sure MS will have drivers to get everything working, etc.  If something not working.. Then install the driver from the maker and LIST what you installed - exactly!!!  Don't go to some latestDrivers website, etc.

 

If X is not working that is not required for you to get a picture, keyboard and mouse and get on the internet - don't worry about it..

Grand Master

devnulllore

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Ok so since I have a backup anyway I did yet another clean install, yes CLEAN, no extra drivers software or anything but what Windows does automatically. The first thing I noticed is the system ran quite smoothly until Windows automatically installed the video drivers then the stuttering began. Right now WINVER reports Windows x64 Version 1903 (OS Build 18362.329) so it seems to be  introduced by a Windows update or the video drivers or something to do with both. What now?

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

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You sure?  It has no interface on back, might be covered with a plug..

 

Do you have a more specific model number?  When a discrete card is added, the onboard is normally disabled, look in your bios etc. for onboard video options.

 

It should have a display port and hdmi port - that is what the manual shows..

Grand Master

Matthew S.

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1 hour ago, devnulllore said:

Yes, my version has no integrated video

I don't recall there ever being different versions of the TUF Sabertooth z77 motherboard...

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