Hidden Windows taskbar pops up without being asked to after boot [NBZ]

The bug/issue

  1. What you did: Booted up my computer normally
  2. What actually happened or you actually saw: Approximately 7-10 min. after every boot the Windows taskbar pops up, seemingly by itself. I have mine hidden, so I notice it. I opened Task Manager to check for a connection, and sure enough cpf.exe spikes at the exact moment it happens. This makes me think there’s a connection. Also, I just recently reformatted my PC, and this behavior didn’t exist until right after I installed Comodo Firewall and rebooted. And it now happens after every boot, like clockwork. This didn’t happen prior to version 5.
  3. What you expected to happen or see: I don’t expect to see the taskbar pop up.
  4. How you tried to fix it & what happened: The only fix I see would be to not have Comodo Firewall on my computer. I can’t see any change in the settings having any effect.
  5. If its an application compatibility problem have you tried the application fixes?: I thought at first that it was an Avira/Comodo problem, but after the reformat I installed Comodo Firewall before Avira (Avira wasn’t on my computer yet), and the problem happened. So it appears to be just Comodo related. In fact at this point I didn’t have anything else on my computer, just the Windows Updates. So that virtually eliminates the possibility of it being a compatibility conflict.
  6. Details (exact version) of any application involved with download link: Not applicable.
  7. Whether you can make the problem happen again, and if so exact steps to make it happen: All I have to do is reboot my computer. It happens every time I do.
  8. Any other information (eg your guess regarding the cause, with reasons): I honestly have no idea, but cpf.exe seems to be the culprit judging by the simultaneous spike when this occurs.

Files appended. (Please zip unless screenshots).

  1. Screenshots illustrating the bug: This wouldn’t serve much purpose, as it would simply be a screenshot of the Windows taskbar at the bottom of the screen, and spikes to cpf.exe can happen (as with all processes) randomly, whether one has their taskbar hidden or not.
  2. Screenshots of related event logs and the active processes list:
  3. A CIS config report or file.
  4. Crash or freeze dump file:

Your set-up

  1. CIS version, AV database version & configuration used: 5.0.162636.1135 (latest), Stealth Ports all/maximum defense w/leak protection, Avira Personal 10 (up to date)
  2. a) Have you updated (without uninstall) from CIS 3 or 4, if so b) have you tried reinstalling?:
  3. a) Have you imported a config from a previous version of CIS, if so b) have U tried a preset config?:
  4. Other major changes to the default config (eg ticked ‘block all unknown requests’, other egs here. )
  5. Defense+ and Sandbox OR Firewall security level: D+ = Safe Mode, Firewall = Custom Policy Mode, Sandbox = on, treat as Partially Limited, all boxes checked.
  6. OS version, service pack, no of bits, UAC setting, & account type: XP Pro SP3, 32-bit. Problem occurs in both Administrator & Limited User Accounts.
  7. Other security and utility software running: None real-time besides Comodo FW & Avira AV.
  8. Virtual machine used (Please do NOT use Virtual box): None

Thank you for the bug report.

Moving to format verified.

Dennis