Lost functions due to virus attack

[saints66]

I recently had a problem with multiple viruses and Defender really helped me
rectify this problem though some remain. In my haste to delete infected files
I may have gone too far as I have lost some functions.

- I cannot access the Control Panel via Settings (it is no longer there)
- I cannot access Properties to alter my desk top etc (System Administrator
has disabled this function)
- I have a VIRUS ALERT! warning next to my clock and I cannot alter this.
- I cannot access the Task Manager (once again System Administrator has
disabled this function)

Does Windows have some kind of 'refresher' package where I can access these
functions? Window seems to offer everything else so can someone offer any
advice?

 

[saints66]

I thought I'd add that I am using XP Pro service pack 3. Thanks

 

[Engel]

Hello saints66,

Have a look to this URLs provided by Dave M.

<http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction>
- - ---

<http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Overview>
-- - - -

<http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic34773.html>

Good luck
-=-

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Dave M has posted a part of the answers you need to another group here, I
believe:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921049

See if the above KB takes care of the desktop appearance part of the puzzle,
anyway.

And, you might either try updating Windows Defender to the newest defs--one
way is to go to the security portal

www.microsoft.com/security/portal

and download the 32-bit Defender defs from the right column.

and see whether a scan spots any remnants and is able to clean better.

Or--do a full-service scan at safety.live.com and see whether that will
reset things.

 

[Datanswer]

I recommend Malware Bytes .. it used to be a free download scan AND REPAIR
.... take it to "the Google" ... It worked for me.

Godspeed

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Malware Bytes is indeed a good resource. As it happens, advice given here
will change over time. Had I been writing a response to the original post
today, I would have susggested running Microsoft's Malicious Software
Removal tool, which we should all be running monthly as part of the monthly
security patch package anyway.

The November iteration of that program added programs which probably gave
rise to the issues in this thread to its target, and it has removed nearly a
million infections with that bug since it was distributed on the second
Tuesday of November.

The MSRT is cumulative--so it will go on removing that infection as found in
future months as well.

--