"Add/Remove Programs" & other ControlPanel items don't work

[Guest]

"Add/Remove Programs" and a number of other ControlPanel items are no longer launching properly. Other CP items that don't work: "Date&Time" "AddHardware"

Some CP items that do work: "AdminTools" "Printers&Faxes

Every time I try to launch one that fails, I get an hourglass cursor for a few seconds and then nothing, but a new insntance of "Winupdate.exe" or "Winupd~1.exe" appears in the Processes list of the TaskManager. When I reboot 20 to 30 instances of "Winupdae.exe" are in the Processes list at startup. If I don't manually end them all the PC gradually runs out of virtual memory and slows right down

What I've tried so far
1 - D/L'd and ran the Sasser removal tool from Symantec. The worm was not found

2 - Added "[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Uninstall
"NoAddRemovePrograms"=dword:00000000" to the registry. That was the only remotely related item on http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm, but it didn't work

3 - Reinstalled & activated XP over my old install. That didn't correct the problem

4 - Curled up in the fetal position and cried..

Help!

 

[roger]

Hi,

"Add/Remove Programs" and a number of other ControlPanel items are no longer launching properly. Other CP items that don't work: "Date&Time" "AddHardware"

[...]
Run an online scan at one of the following:
Trend Micro HouseCall:
http://housecall.antivirus.com/pc_housecall/

Panda Active Scan:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan/

RAV AntiVirus Online Virus Scan
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

BitDefender Free Online Virus Scan
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

More info about parasites:
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Try downloading, installing and updating the
spyware removers from the links below. Run both of them.

Ad-aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

Spybot S&D
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download


Hope this helps.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Roger! The problem was an infection of Protoride.K. Winupdate.exe in my Startup directory was infected. NortonAntivirus 2003 didn't catch it - neither did the system scan that was part of NAV 2004's installation process.

 

[roger]

You're welcome, DaveO
Sometimes an antivirus won't catch a pest while others will.