Autoexec.nt missing on reboot

[David]

When I manually create autoexec.nt (with Notebook, being careful to save
with correct extension) then restart computer, autoexec.nt is no longer in
the system32 folder (or anywhere - searching the entire drive gets no
results). Any ideas?
Thanks in avdance!
David

 

[Patti MacLeod]

Hi David,

Have a look at the information here, provided courtesy of Kelly Theriot:

MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program Error Message
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm#16bit



Regards,

 

[Malke]

When I manually create autoexec.nt (with Notebook, being careful to
save with correct extension) then restart computer, autoexec.nt is no
longer in the system32 folder (or anywhere - searching the entire
drive gets no results). Any ideas?
Thanks in avdance!
David

Problems with autoexec.nt can be caused by a virus. What does a scan
with your current av (version not earlier than 2003) using updated
definitions show?

Malke

 

[David]

Symantec Antivirus 9.0 with virus definition file 12/22/2004 rev. 16 says
it's all good.
Thanks for the post. Any other thoughts?
D

 

[David]

Thanks for the link. It describes my problem exactly, but the solution
didn't resolve: only two registry values contained "windupdate" and deleting
them didn't help. After restoring autoexec.nt then restarting, file was
missing again! I even removed all security permissions from the file except
for the Domain Admins group and autoexec.nt still got deleted! How can that
be?!

 

[Patti MacLeod]

See if making the file Read Only stops it from being deleted.



Regards,

 

[Malke]

Symantec Antivirus 9.0 with virus definition file 12/22/2004 rev. 16
says it's all good.
Thanks for the post. Any other thoughts?
D

Nope, except that if you haven't run scans for non-viral malware in Safe
Mode, I'd do that. Post back if you need details as to how, links, etc.

Malke

 

[David]

Haven't done anything like that. How-to details would be much appreciated!
DE

 

[Malke]

Haven't done anything like that. How-to details would be much
appreciated! DE

Here you go. Make sure all tools are updated and all scans are done in
Safe Mode:

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke

 

[David]

Wow, that did it! Thank you so much! Now I wonder what was removing the
file...

 

[Patti MacLeod]

You're very welcome

When you deleted the registry entries for windupdate, did you also check
C:\Program Files for a Windupdate folder? If not, check for that folder and
delete if found (also you may want to do another "scan" of your registry to
see if the windupdate references returned).

If not windupdate, I would suspect that it may be other malware that is
involved. D/load, install and run either (or both) Spybot Search and Destroy
and AdAware.




Regards,

 

[David]

Searched but found no instances of files or folders named "windupdate". Will
install and run ad/malware-killers next. Thanks again!
DE