Ad-Aware cleaned some WinXP OS files

[Bill]

On my most recent use of Ad-Aware 6.0 it apparently
cleaned up some of the OS files. It cleaned enough that I
cannot even get the Product ID to get help from MS.
Start button and task bar are missing, IE will not run.

Re-installing XP Pro as "upgrade" does not fix it. How
do I recover (no I do not have a current System Restore
Point to simplify things).

Thanks.

 

[Chris F]

Your question here Bill I hope will get some interesting replies. Somebody
correct me if I'm wrong, during a clean [ raw ] installation of XP
Professional one of those informative highlights of your new installation of
XP tells you that XP now incorporates this new Windows File Protection
system that prevents changes and deletion of important system files. Bill,
you have a case.. sue Microsoft, they lied.. then again, what's new. Backup
your files/documents etc, wipe your hard drive with a full format, kill the
partition and reinstall XP from scratch.

 

[Bob Knowlden]

A few things to try:

1) If you can run AdAware, use the restore feature in the program. (The
removed stuff is retained in the Quarantine folder.)

2) Use the XP System File Checker

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310747&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

"Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker
(Sfc.exe)"

3) Do a repair install

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

"How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP"

It sounds like you've already tried #3, which sounds really odd; it should
have fixed things (at the cost of losing everything that you've installed
via Windows Update). Did you actually do a repair install, which would
require booting from the CD?

You don't have the 25 character product code needed to install XP? How'd you
do a repair installation?

Good luck.

Bob Knowlden

Spam dodger may be in use. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

 

[theone]

-----Original Message-----
Your question here Bill I hope will get some interesting replies. Somebody
correct me if I'm wrong, during a clean [ raw ] installation of XP
Professional one of those informative highlights of your new installation of
XP tells you that XP now incorporates this new Windows File Protection
system that prevents changes and deletion of important system files. Bill,
you have a case.. sue Microsoft, they lied.. then again, what's new. Backup
your files/documents etc, wipe your hard drive with a full format, kill the
partition and reinstall XP from scratch.

On my most recent use of Ad-Aware 6.0 it apparently
cleaned up some of the OS files. It cleaned enough that I
cannot even get the Product ID to get help from MS.
Start button and task bar are missing, IE will not run.

Re-installing XP Pro as "upgrade" does not fix it. How
do I recover (no I do not have a current System Restore
Point to simplify things).

Thanks.

chris f

to say you are a moron is understating the case.

to the original poster ,spyware or viruses are the cause
of your problems not microsoft and not adaware.i have
never known adaware to delete system files,spybot is more
agressive and i have seen it cause a few issues.

neither adaware or microsoft are the problem here.

chris f. you nauseate me and i am sure i am not alone.

 

[reggie]

-----Original Message-----
On my most recent use of Ad-Aware 6.0 it apparently
cleaned up some of the OS files. It cleaned enough that I
cannot even get the Product ID to get help from MS.
Start button and task bar are missing, IE will not run.

Re-installing XP Pro as "upgrade" does not fix it. How
do I recover (no I do not have a current System Restore
Point to simplify things).

Thanks.
.
after trying the other posters response,try a new

install starting from the desktop, enter to setup xp
f8 agree license,esc fresh install,leave current file
system intact,l overwrite windows folder.

your issue sounds like a virus to me.

 

[Kevin Bean]

Bill, can you list (a few of) the system files that you believe were
removed ?

I have never heard anyone else experience AdAware removing system files,
and, along with the other problems you are experiencing, the cause may be
completey unrelated to AdAware.


Kevin.

 

[Bill]

I believed that some system files were missing when I was
attempting to use the Help and Support system to get to
the Product ID. One response I received was something
like "windows management files are missing" (I'm not
certain of the exact message because I can only get to
that from the help and support which requires the start
button which is now missing from all my user profiles).
Specifically what those files are I do not know.

Previously when using Ad-Aware, it had found a list
of "tracking cookies". On the last time I ran it, it also
found some "processes" and I think one of them was called
RegHance. Most of the tracking cookies were identified as
low risk. There were at least two processes identified as
high risk. I cleaned them and that's when the problems
started. In subsequent actions, I uninstalled Norton
SystemWorks and removed the quarantine list. This
apparently also removed the Ad-Aware quarantine list.

Lately (this morning), when loading one of the user
profiles on the PC, I saw a download dialog box wanting to
open a file called "SaddamSetup13_np.exe". Now I'm
beginning to believe that maybe I am dealing with a virus.

Thanks for all the posts. I'm off to try another re-
install.

Bill

 

[Mike Burgess]

Bill,

"wanting to open a file called "SaddamSetup13_np.exe"

Run an online scan at Trend Micro HouseCall:
http://housecall.antivirus.com/pc_housecall/
[or]
Panda Active Scan:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/active...guage=2&Country=63&Partner=1&Ref=EN-PR-AS-107
--
Go to: http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/
Download "Hijack This!" [freeware] or download direct (below):
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/hijackthis.zip

Unzip, double-click "HijackThis.exe" and Press "Scan".

When the scan is finished, the "Scan" button will change into a "Save Log"
button.
Click: "Save Log" (generates: "hijackthis.log")

Next, go to the below location:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

Sign in, go to the "Spyware and Hijackware Removal" section.
Press "New Topic", copy and paste hijackthis.log into your new message.
_______________________________________
Mike Burgess http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 8-07-03]
Please post replies to this Newsgroup, email address is invalid
--

 

[Maureen Goldman]

Lately (this morning), when loading one of the user
profiles on the PC, I saw a download dialog box wanting to
open a file called "SaddamSetup13_np.exe". Now I'm
beginning to believe that maybe I am dealing with a virus.

SaddamSetup13_np.exe?!! I'll have to give them full marks for
subtlety.

 

[Mark Ronning]

Use Spy Bot

Ad Aware Sucks....

Mark

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

Use Spy Bot

Ad Aware Sucks....

it didn't last time I used it. It also kept all the changes it made in a
reversible 'backup' file, so you could undo them, if necessary.