Log On Problems

[Guest]

In the never ending quest to get my computer running at full speed, I
seem to have done too much.
My computer starts up fine and i click my user name and log in. As
the system signs me in, I see my desktop and then i get an error message
saying something to the extent that "..Windows/system32/AUTOEXEC.NT cannot
initialize MS-DOS..". I click either the Ignore button or the Cancel button
three times and the message goes away and doesnt return.
If I switch users i get all the same results except...after i click
the Ignore/Cancel button three times, another Error message appears stating
that"...MediaAccK.exe could not be initialized...". I try to cancel it out
but it continues to pop-up and cannot be closed until it drains all memory
and the computer freezes. At which point all i can do is move the mouse on
the desktop ,but, clicking on anything yields no result. usually by this
point I'm forced to hold in the start button and restart.
I have tried everything i can think of to fix the problem. I removed
all programs that are new to the system, tried to do a system restore but i
fails to complete nomatter what date i pick, If i start and run the
computer in safemode the problem goes away.
Any thoughts on the problem would be most appreciated.

 

[Malke]

In the never ending quest to get my computer running at full speed,
I
seem to have done too much.
My computer starts up fine and i click my user name and log in.
As
the system signs me in, I see my desktop and then i get an error
message saying something to the extent that
"..Windows/system32/AUTOEXEC.NT cannot
initialize MS-DOS..". I click either the Ignore button or the Cancel
button three times and the message goes away and doesnt return.
If I switch users i get all the same results except...after i
click
the Ignore/Cancel button three times, another Error message appears
stating
that"...MediaAccK.exe could not be initialized...". I try to cancel
it out but it continues to pop-up and cannot be closed until it drains
all memory
and the computer freezes. At which point all i can do is move the
mouse on
the desktop ,but, clicking on anything yields no result. usually by
this point I'm forced to hold in the start button and restart.
I have tried everything i can think of to fix the problem. I
removed
all programs that are new to the system, tried to do a system restore
but i
fails to complete nomatter what date i pick, If i start and run the
computer in safemode the problem goes away.
Any thoughts on the problem would be most appreciated.

Of course, I have no idea what your "tweaking" consisted of, but I can
tell you that MediaAccK.exe is malware. I suspect that you may have
downloaded some cr*p programs like RAM "optimizers" and the like, all
of which are useless at best and usually filled with spyware. If I were
you, I'd do a System Restore to before you starting messing about. In
any case, a complete malware cleanup is indicated. Here are general
malware removal steps. Do everything with updated tools (get from a
working pc with a cd burner if necessary) in Safe Mode.

First delete all Temporary and Temporary Internet Files. Then:

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2004)
antivirus using updated definitions.

Before you remove malware, get LSPFix (or WinSockFix for XP which you
can get from MajorGeeks) - see links below.

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).

If the malware remains even after you used Ad-aware and Spybot, you can
scan with HijackThis. HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and
disable hijackers, but it requires expert skill. See below for
HijackThis links, including sites where you can post your HJT logs. 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 after the system is clean 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
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm - Repair Winsock 2 settings after
removing spyware
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html - WinsockXPFix.exe

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

General:
http://aumha.net - 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

 

[Kelly]

Hi Adam,

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

This installaton program will reinstall the missing or corrupt Windows XP
system files command.com, autoexec.nt and config.nt. The absence or
corruption of one or more of these files causes a "16 Bit Subsystem" error.

XP_Fix.EXE by TRF Systems, Inc.
http://www.visualtour.com/downloads/xp_fix.exe

TrojanDownloader.Win32.Dia.a,
http://groups.google.com/[email protected]

Manual Removal:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/t/trojandownloader_win32_dia_a.asp

Torgeir Bakken (MVP):

Also, AVAST (antivirus software) can be the cause if you
have WinXP SP2 installed:
http://groups.google.com/[email protected]

More info here:

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

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com