Can't find Adware in Windows Explorer

[Stro Asquith]

My question concerns finding files in order to delete
them. I have two adware files in my PC that I cannot find
to delete. I am familiar with Spybot Search and Destroy,
Ad-aware 6.0, CWShredder, SpywareGuard and SpywareBlaster
so please don't advise me to use these (I plan to utilize
them all). What I'm concerned with is my inability to
find files using Windows Explorer.

Here's what happened. Norton Anti-Virus 2004 detected two
adware files on my PC (Windows XP home, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB
hard drive, 2.17 GHz Althon 3000+ processor). These
adware files are Dc1.dll and Imgcboa.dll, both classified
as Adware.MainSearch by Symantec. NAV tried, but failed,
to delete these files. NAV did tell me the folder
location of these files, however. The trouble is I cannot
find the files in order to delete them!

The NAV web page on Adware.MainSearch files said to delete
them using Windows Explorer, and if that was not possible,
to boot up in Safe Mode and delete them. I'm familiar
with this process because I used it to delete two other
adware files a week ago. But the strange thing with the
two NAV identified adware files currently on my PC is that
I cannot find them. I used Windows Explorer' Search
feature to look for them, first in the folder specified by
NAV, then on the entire C: drive, but I cannot find them!
The Search for Hidden Files and Folders box is checked in
the Advanced Options search area. So how can I manually
delete these bad boys if I cannot even find them?

Is there a second Hidden Files & Folders check box
somewhere I need to click on? I seem to remember a second
hidden files/folders check box from my telephone session
with the Zone Alarm tech support fellow.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[Sadie]

Hello,

Control Panel>Tools>Folder options>view

Click on "show hidden files and folders" so that a green
dot appears inside the circle next to the listing.
Then,remove the tick/check from the box next to "hide
protected operating system..."
A warning box will appear,asking you to confirm this
action-click O.K.

Please post back to indicate whether this quest to remove
AdAware's "spy" dlls is a success,or indeed renders the
programme inoperable.

Sadie

 

[Guest]

Hi
I am having the same problem. I was able to locate the file that Norton Internet Security 2004 told me was adware. I then tried to delete it, but got an error message: "Cannot delete mshelper.dll: Access is denied

How do I get rid of it?

Thanks for the help

----- Sadie wrote: ----

Hello

Control Panel>Tools>Folder options>vie

Click on "show hidden files and folders" so that a green
dot appears inside the circle next to the listing
Then,remove the tick/check from the box next to "hide
protected operating system...
A warning box will appear,asking you to confirm this
action-click O.K

Please post back to indicate whether this quest to remove
AdAware's "spy" dlls is a success,or indeed renders the
programme inoperable

Sadi

 

[Stro]

Eric,
If you can find the Adware file using Windows Explorer,
but you cannot delete it because you get the "access
denied" message, the Norton Anti-Virus adware removal
instructions say to reboot your system in Safe Mode and
delete the adware file with Windows Explorer while in Safe
Mode. That approach was successful with me a few weeks
ago. See this Symantec web site
http://sarc.com/avcenter/expanded_threats/adware/

Regards,
Stro

-----Original Message-----
Hi.
I am having the same problem. I was able to locate the

file that Norton Internet Security 2004 told me was
adware. I then tried to delete it, but got an error
message: "Cannot delete mshelper.dll: Access is denied"