Kaelkitty
Posts: 84 +0
OK - I don't know who will be picking up this thread, but PLEASE pass on thanks to Bobbye for me for the help he gave me a few months ago. There may be remnants of stuff from his fix on this system because we hadn't quite completed the process when I was sidelined (bad health) for about three weeks, and when I came back the thread was closed so I let it go as it appeared the problem was remedied, but there are still probably some files in my system from that repair (due to the transferring of everything from my old system), as Bobbye had not done the final clean-up.
Now, onto my current difficulties!
About two weeks ago the motherboard died in my old computer, which was running XP (this was the one Bobbye was helping me with) I was quoted $600 to upgrade my old system, or $380 to replace it. Since I had to borrow the money as an advance payment from my Social Security benefits, I opted for the lower amount, which got me a more powerful system in any case. The new system originally had Vista installed but I really wanted to keep XP so the place I got the computer from tried to transfer everything directly from my old system to the new one and initially it seemed to work OK but then we ran into troubles.
I took it back and was advised that XP really wasn't suited to my new system and that I should upgrade to Vista which I did (reluctantly) - paying out another $50 for the "privilege"! This has given me many problems to sort through as I have fairly severe disability problems (I have fought and sweated to return my desktop appearance to match what I had before (a specially modified version of the Windows Classic theme which takes into account all of the visual peculiarities associated with my Asperger's Syndrome, Keratoconus, Astigmatism and extreme Myopia) I have since spoken with the computer supplier on numerous occasions, and HAD solved some of my difficulties - at least to the point where I felt I should stop imposing on the poor man. My plan was to take his advice and gradually work through all of the software on my system, update it, and remove anything I no longer used - in fact to give my computer and files a long overdue and very much needed clear up.
However I seemed to have stuffed up today, or something has gone majorly wrong. Yesterday, (about 8.30pm) I noticed that the Vista Service Pack 2 was available so I dutifully clicked on the System Tray icon and installed it - all seemed OK and I went off for the evening. This morning I was pursuing my program of "going through stuff" and I discovered the Problem Reports and Solutions tool in the Control Panel - I was somewhat annoyed to discover that this had been reporting stuff to Microsoft without my knowledge so I changed the permissions to ask me first and then (possibly stupidly) tried to make a shortcut to the tool by dragging to to my desktop (to be fair to me that's how I've always made shortcuts in the past). You can imagine my HORROR when I closed the Control Panel (it was running full-screen) only to find that most of my Icons (about 95%) had disappeared from my desktop!
I restarted the system and came back to find the Desktop still denuded of all my folders and files. I looked at the Desktop folder in Windows Explorer - still no files appeared, beyond those which matched the remaining icons on the desktop! This gave me the most horrible cold and clammy sensation and I was just about to panic completely when I remembered System Restore. I made a restore point of the "as was" (just in case going back made things worse) and used the most recent System Restore Point I could find which was one from last night. I am not sure if that has removed the Service Pack 2 upgrade or not, but I suspect it may well have done so. Anyway, coming back to the Desktop, I was much relieved to find things back as I had left them before all of the drama. What worries me, as it has done for a long time before I got this new machine, is that I don't know enough to get things how I need them to be, without making a mess of it.
What I am wondering is if someone here will have the patience and the ability to help me with MORE than just virus cure and prevention. I also really NEED help in fixing the customisation on my system as I suspect that at least some of the trouble I am having is due to my former XP based solutions NOT WORKING in Vista. I am afraid that Service Pack 2 also caused problems when it was installed last night.
Initially, I have (or had) the following problems
ON Thursday afternoon I was going through all of the Screensavers in the list in the computer, trying to find something acceptable to replace my beloved old "Starfield" - when I chose the option in between "Matrix Code" and "Mystify" This option was titled "mbt_ss_pc" - as soon as I clicked on it AVG went nuts and my whole computer froze up. I had to use Control/Alt/Del to back out, shut down and restart. Even after running AVG, TFC, and the MalwareBytes program - that option is still showing in my screensaver list - I find it very scary!
I can't cope with "Search" at all (I had problems with it in XP too, but not as bad) I have had to install a third party search tool (Superfinder XT) but I need to have it run at Startup and I'm not sure how to do that. There are also other (unwanted) entries in Startup that I need to remove - I have disabled them with RegCure but I need some hand holding to go through them and get rid of them for good.
I need to change several icons permanently viz, the Control Panel Icon, the Default Folder Icon, and the Icon I use for my DOS database program - I think it was rooting around on the Internet yesterday looking for solutions to this which may well have lead to my current virus problem. Actually, what I would REALLY prefer is to have my XP style icons back - I need to have the icons on my screen very small or they interfere with me reading the file and folder names, and the Vista Icons are very hard to see properly at very small sizes so they become non functional.
Also, I am not sure what function the "User" Icon on the Desktop serves for me as I am the ONLY person who touches this computer - if I don't need it, how can I get it off my screen, as it won't drag and drop? I find myself very confused by the changes between XP and Vista in terms of file permissions and which things should be placed where; I could really use some proper guidance in this area.
I can't get my "Wake Me Up" utility working and I need it for the Hourly chime. I get a message saying "Unable to execute file: c:\Program File\Wake Me Up\Wake Me Up.exe" "CreateProcess failed; code 740. The requested operation requires elevation." whatever that means! However, the bell Icon for it DOES appear in my System Tray, but when I click on it AVG says it is a virus?
Another small utility I use, "Date in Tray" is only appearing intermittently at Startup - sometimes the Icon is in the System Tray, sometimes it isn't!
I'm also having trouble with my taskbar clock - what I NEED is to be able to always see the seconds displayed as well as AM or PM ie 12:38:55pm - I'm currently using a really ugly clock skin for this but I need to change it as the "transparency" feature doesn't work right and it seems to become unstable if you change it back and forth a lot - what I would really prefer is that the system itself just displayed "12:38:55pm" in my normal font and colour scheme all the time - no matter WHAT skin I change this current thing to it remains ugly and obtrusive on my screen!
Anyway - that is more than enough to start with!
I am following the 8 Step Program from the beginning again:
Step 1/ Ran a complete scan with AVG Free - No Issues found
Step 2/ Downloaded and intalled a fresh instance of Malwarebytes. Updated and ran it
Found Adware.Dropper in C:\Users_2\Desktop\SetupPlaySushi.exe
Found Trojan.I.Stole.Windows in C:\Windows\Sysem32\antiwpa.dll
These were successfully removed - Here are the Log Contents:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46
www.malwarebytes.org
Database version: 5003
Windows 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1
Internet Explorer 7.0.6001.18000
31/10/2010 10:04:11 AM
mbam-log-2010-10-31 (10-04-11).txt
Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 148307
Time elapsed: 8 minute(s), 0 second(s)
Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 2
Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Files Infected:
C:\Users\User_2\Desktop\SetupPlaySushi.exe (Adware.Dropper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Windows\System32\antiwpa.dll (Trojan.I.Stole.Windows) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
I will come back and add the GMER log in my next post,
Yours Sincerely, Kaelkitty.
Now, onto my current difficulties!
About two weeks ago the motherboard died in my old computer, which was running XP (this was the one Bobbye was helping me with) I was quoted $600 to upgrade my old system, or $380 to replace it. Since I had to borrow the money as an advance payment from my Social Security benefits, I opted for the lower amount, which got me a more powerful system in any case. The new system originally had Vista installed but I really wanted to keep XP so the place I got the computer from tried to transfer everything directly from my old system to the new one and initially it seemed to work OK but then we ran into troubles.
I took it back and was advised that XP really wasn't suited to my new system and that I should upgrade to Vista which I did (reluctantly) - paying out another $50 for the "privilege"! This has given me many problems to sort through as I have fairly severe disability problems (I have fought and sweated to return my desktop appearance to match what I had before (a specially modified version of the Windows Classic theme which takes into account all of the visual peculiarities associated with my Asperger's Syndrome, Keratoconus, Astigmatism and extreme Myopia) I have since spoken with the computer supplier on numerous occasions, and HAD solved some of my difficulties - at least to the point where I felt I should stop imposing on the poor man. My plan was to take his advice and gradually work through all of the software on my system, update it, and remove anything I no longer used - in fact to give my computer and files a long overdue and very much needed clear up.
However I seemed to have stuffed up today, or something has gone majorly wrong. Yesterday, (about 8.30pm) I noticed that the Vista Service Pack 2 was available so I dutifully clicked on the System Tray icon and installed it - all seemed OK and I went off for the evening. This morning I was pursuing my program of "going through stuff" and I discovered the Problem Reports and Solutions tool in the Control Panel - I was somewhat annoyed to discover that this had been reporting stuff to Microsoft without my knowledge so I changed the permissions to ask me first and then (possibly stupidly) tried to make a shortcut to the tool by dragging to to my desktop (to be fair to me that's how I've always made shortcuts in the past). You can imagine my HORROR when I closed the Control Panel (it was running full-screen) only to find that most of my Icons (about 95%) had disappeared from my desktop!
I restarted the system and came back to find the Desktop still denuded of all my folders and files. I looked at the Desktop folder in Windows Explorer - still no files appeared, beyond those which matched the remaining icons on the desktop! This gave me the most horrible cold and clammy sensation and I was just about to panic completely when I remembered System Restore. I made a restore point of the "as was" (just in case going back made things worse) and used the most recent System Restore Point I could find which was one from last night. I am not sure if that has removed the Service Pack 2 upgrade or not, but I suspect it may well have done so. Anyway, coming back to the Desktop, I was much relieved to find things back as I had left them before all of the drama. What worries me, as it has done for a long time before I got this new machine, is that I don't know enough to get things how I need them to be, without making a mess of it.
What I am wondering is if someone here will have the patience and the ability to help me with MORE than just virus cure and prevention. I also really NEED help in fixing the customisation on my system as I suspect that at least some of the trouble I am having is due to my former XP based solutions NOT WORKING in Vista. I am afraid that Service Pack 2 also caused problems when it was installed last night.
Initially, I have (or had) the following problems
ON Thursday afternoon I was going through all of the Screensavers in the list in the computer, trying to find something acceptable to replace my beloved old "Starfield" - when I chose the option in between "Matrix Code" and "Mystify" This option was titled "mbt_ss_pc" - as soon as I clicked on it AVG went nuts and my whole computer froze up. I had to use Control/Alt/Del to back out, shut down and restart. Even after running AVG, TFC, and the MalwareBytes program - that option is still showing in my screensaver list - I find it very scary!
I can't cope with "Search" at all (I had problems with it in XP too, but not as bad) I have had to install a third party search tool (Superfinder XT) but I need to have it run at Startup and I'm not sure how to do that. There are also other (unwanted) entries in Startup that I need to remove - I have disabled them with RegCure but I need some hand holding to go through them and get rid of them for good.
I need to change several icons permanently viz, the Control Panel Icon, the Default Folder Icon, and the Icon I use for my DOS database program - I think it was rooting around on the Internet yesterday looking for solutions to this which may well have lead to my current virus problem. Actually, what I would REALLY prefer is to have my XP style icons back - I need to have the icons on my screen very small or they interfere with me reading the file and folder names, and the Vista Icons are very hard to see properly at very small sizes so they become non functional.
Also, I am not sure what function the "User" Icon on the Desktop serves for me as I am the ONLY person who touches this computer - if I don't need it, how can I get it off my screen, as it won't drag and drop? I find myself very confused by the changes between XP and Vista in terms of file permissions and which things should be placed where; I could really use some proper guidance in this area.
I can't get my "Wake Me Up" utility working and I need it for the Hourly chime. I get a message saying "Unable to execute file: c:\Program File\Wake Me Up\Wake Me Up.exe" "CreateProcess failed; code 740. The requested operation requires elevation." whatever that means! However, the bell Icon for it DOES appear in my System Tray, but when I click on it AVG says it is a virus?
Another small utility I use, "Date in Tray" is only appearing intermittently at Startup - sometimes the Icon is in the System Tray, sometimes it isn't!
I'm also having trouble with my taskbar clock - what I NEED is to be able to always see the seconds displayed as well as AM or PM ie 12:38:55pm - I'm currently using a really ugly clock skin for this but I need to change it as the "transparency" feature doesn't work right and it seems to become unstable if you change it back and forth a lot - what I would really prefer is that the system itself just displayed "12:38:55pm" in my normal font and colour scheme all the time - no matter WHAT skin I change this current thing to it remains ugly and obtrusive on my screen!
Anyway - that is more than enough to start with!
I am following the 8 Step Program from the beginning again:
Step 1/ Ran a complete scan with AVG Free - No Issues found
Step 2/ Downloaded and intalled a fresh instance of Malwarebytes. Updated and ran it
Found Adware.Dropper in C:\Users_2\Desktop\SetupPlaySushi.exe
Found Trojan.I.Stole.Windows in C:\Windows\Sysem32\antiwpa.dll
These were successfully removed - Here are the Log Contents:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46
www.malwarebytes.org
Database version: 5003
Windows 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1
Internet Explorer 7.0.6001.18000
31/10/2010 10:04:11 AM
mbam-log-2010-10-31 (10-04-11).txt
Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 148307
Time elapsed: 8 minute(s), 0 second(s)
Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 2
Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Files Infected:
C:\Users\User_2\Desktop\SetupPlaySushi.exe (Adware.Dropper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Windows\System32\antiwpa.dll (Trojan.I.Stole.Windows) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
I will come back and add the GMER log in my next post,
Yours Sincerely, Kaelkitty.
