File Signature Verification

[Guest]

I have done as many file scans as i can with the File Signature Verification program in Windows XP Home Edition and have found 8199 unsigned files.I browsed through some files and opened them with notepad .I saw several files with symbols mixed with words in them dating back to the first days when I first owned the computer. Then I was too naive to have had an antivirus ,since I have Norton Antivirus 2004 . Would those words mixed with symbols be legitimate programs or virus or the suchlike? Symantecs website test removed 3 Sasser type D 's from the computer according to their report but I have since removed a certificate with a big yellow triangle and exclamation mark from the certificates. Can and should I do something with those symbols?Thankyouse

 

[Sharon F]

I have done as many file scans as i can with the File Signature
Verification program in Windows XP Home Edition and have found 8199
unsigned files.I browsed through some files and opened them with notepad
.I saw several files with symbols mixed with words in them dating
back to the first days when I first owned the computer. Then I was too
naive to have had an antivirus ,since I have Norton Antivirus 2004 .
Would those words mixed with symbols be legitimate programs or virus or
the suchlike? Symantecs website test removed 3 Sasser type D 's from the
computer according to their report but I have since removed a
certificate with a big yellow triangle and exclamation mark from the
certificates. Can and should I do something with those
symbols?Thankyouse

While I can understand the desire to make sure that files are what they
should be after a virus infection -- not all files are meant to be opened
by humans. Impossible to say if the mix of text and numbers is "okay" or
not but it's not unusual to see them if you do manage to open a program or
system file with Notepad.

I'm not sure I would use the file signature verification tool either. Not
all files, even Microsoft's, are digitally signed. Instead, I would use
System File Checker and re-apply updates.

Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker
(Sfc.exe)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310747

 

[Guest]

I have looked at Article kb310747 . Can you tell me are the 3 scans , sfc/scannow , sfc/scanonce and sfc/scanboot used the same way in the Check Disk as they would be used from the RUN Command ? And am I correct to think Check Disk would be used to replace corrupted files after having had an intrusion into the system?I had to remove a file reported as unvarified by Microsoft and did experience a sudden shutdown.

 

[Sharon F]

I have looked at Article kb310747 . Can you tell me are the 3 scans ,
sfc/scannow , sfc/scanonce and sfc/scanboot used the same way in the
Check Disk as they would be used from the RUN Command ? And am I correct
to think Check Disk would be used to replace corrupted files after
having had an intrusion into the system?I had to remove a file reported
as unvarified by Microsoft and did experience a sudden shutdown.

Open a command prompt window. Type
sfc /scannow

System File Checker will check the system files. Replace them if necessary.
You may be prompted during the process for your Windows CD.

If you run into a wall with the CD, direct SFC to the i386 folder. I have
Service Pack 1 installed on top of the original XP and sometimes get
prompted by SFC for the Service Pack files. When/if that happens, I select
(or type in the path to) C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles and click OK.

If SFC's progress flies by and it finishes without prompting you at all,
it's reasonably safe to assume that your core Windows files are fine.

 

[Guest]

I could not RUN sfc/scannow or RUN C:\Windows\Service Pack Files . And I tried putting the Windows CD Rom in the drive .Thankyou

 

[Sharon F]

I could not RUN sfc/scannow or RUN C:\Windows\Service Pack Files . And I
tried putting the Windows CD Rom in the drive .Thankyou

Put a space between sfc and /scannow:
sfc /scannow

Also, I forgot to mention before that you need to be logged on with an
account in the administrator group to use the SFC tool.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your advice. Since that I have reinstalled XP Home Edition because I had difficulty loading downloaded drivers.My last attempt appears to have been successful and the display is better than previous display appearances.And I do not think I had spaces between the sfc , the / , and the scannow . I hope I will remember if I need to try that RUN in the future , thankyou , Nicholas .

 

[Sharon F]

Thanks for your advice. Since that I have reinstalled XP Home Edition
because I had difficulty loading downloaded drivers.My last attempt
appears to have been successful and the display is better than previous
display appearances.And I do not think I had spaces between the sfc ,
the / , and the scannow . I hope I will remember if I need to try
that RUN in the future , thankyou , Nicholas .

You're most welcome, Nicholas. Good luck with your renewed setup.