MSCONFIG.EXE and Win2k SP4, MSCONFIG dissapears ?

[agreaves]

I've been using MSCONFIG to help manage my system, suddenly, after
upgrading to SP4 when I run MSCONFIG.EXE it exits after a second. Is
anyone else seeing this problem ? Is MSCONFIG.EXE being disabled on
purpose ?

 

[Fabio]

Hi agreaves

ther is no MSCONFIG in Windows 2000 by default. Did you ever copy one there?

Rgds,

Fabio

 

[XS11E]

(e-mail address removed) (agreaves) wrote in

I've been using MSCONFIG to help manage my system, suddenly, after
upgrading to SP4 when I run MSCONFIG.EXE it exits after a second. Is
anyone else seeing this problem ? Is MSCONFIG.EXE being disabled on
purpose ?

Me too, can you run the Task Manager? When I try to run it, it also
closes after a second or so.

 

[Spinner]

Most likely your machine is infected with a virus.
There are several that will prevent those utilities from running.
Try re-nameing msconfig.exe, regedit.exe & tskmgr.exe
to msconfig.com, regedit.com & tskmgr.com.
If you can run them now, then it's almost a sure thing your infected.
Look for any strange entries, like .scr files loading at startup.
The one I got caught with was wincfg.scr. Trends and Nortons did NOT
catch it.

 

[Peter]

Try to run msconfig.exe in "Safe Mode"

 

[XS11E]

Most likely your machine is infected with a virus.
There are several that will prevent those utilities from running.
Try re-nameing msconfig.exe, regedit.exe & tskmgr.exe
to msconfig.com, regedit.com & tskmgr.com.
If you can run them now, then it's almost a sure thing your
infected. Look for any strange entries, like .scr files loading at
startup. The one I got caught with was wincfg.scr. Trends and
Nortons did NOT catch it.

Thanks, that was it. I tried PC-Cillin, McAfee online virus scan, etc.
etc. nothing caught it or removed it but the old tried and true seems
to have removed it very nicely!

Guaranteed virus removal:
Boot on Win2000 CD
Select install a new copy
Delete drive C:
Install.

Works every time!

 

[agreaves]

Try to run msconfig.exe in "Safe Mode"

I have run the latest copy of symantec anti-virus but it says my
system is clean. I CAN run taskmanager, but not regedit. I guess
it's time for a full re-install.

To answer the earlier question - yes I know msconfig doesn't come
with 2k, I downloaded it.

I will try the full re-install - but does anyone know if this has
anything to do with SP4 or a specific security update ?

 

[George Hester]

What are you saying? You fixed msconfig by reinstalling your operating system?

 

[XS11E]

What are you saying? You fixed msconfig by reinstalling your
operating system?

Correct, MSCONFIG, REGEDIT, TASKMGR and who knows what else wouldn't
run because of a virus (wincfg.scr) that I couldn't remove with any of
the virus scanners I tried and I still can't figure out how I got it?

I removed the virus by deleting and formatting drive C: and
reinstalling the operating system, a VERY quick and simple task for
those who have backed up the right stuff regularly.

I've yet to see a virus that can survive that but I suppose someone
will create one someday... <sigh>

 

[Spinner]

(e-mail address removed) (agreaves) wrote in


I'm afraid so, that's what worked for me.


No, not as far as I can tell. Another question, does anyone know of a
way to remove the virus? Since Norton, AVG, McAfee and PC-cillin won't
detect it, they obviously won't remove it. Anyone got any ideas?

It is very easy to remove. Rename regedit.exe to regedit.com. Run regedit
..com and search for win "Winsock2 driver"="WINCFG.SCR"
under [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] and
delete it. Reboot your computer in to safe mode and delete the wincfg.scr
file.

 

[XS11E]

OUCH! That will do it all right. ;-)

Fast and easy!

 

[XS11E]

(e-mail address removed) (agreaves) wrote in

Thanks for all the replies gentlemen, many thanks for the tip to
reinstall the OS, it saved me time.

Right. With good backups formatting the hard drive is often the
fastest way to solve problems. Rather than spend hours trouble
shooting, I've done this myself on several occasions.

BTW, I do a selective re-install on applications, when Windows is re-
installed I remove OE, install Pegasus Mail and Xnews for email and
news groups right away but I do NOT re-install Microsoft Office until I
need it, ditto for Quicken (I *know* I'll need it on the 1st or 15th
when bills are due <sigh>) and all my other apps, I don't even install
my color photo printer until needed (Win2k just automatically installs
the HP Laser). Re-installing everything may take weeks or.... it's
surprising how many applications I find never get re-installed!

 

[Spinner]

Ok here's the final word and what I've tried:

1. Like I said, I downloaded the latest Norton Anti-virus from
Symantec. My system came up dead clean. Nuttin' suspicious at all -
not even a burp. I also checked for my symptoms on SARC.com, Zero
matches.

2. I tried upgrading to SP4, uninstalling back to SP3, repairing, etc.
Again - no soap.

3. The only thing that worked was a full reinstall of the system. And
I'm in the process of reinstalling all my apps, mail, everything.

It would be great if someone would identify this virus, but the
symptoms are clear: Regedit, Msconfig will exit a moment after they
launch - and - I had SVCHOST.EXE errors as well.

Did you read any of the other posts in this thread?
Did you try renaming the files and checking for strange entries?
Did you find a wincfg.scr (or other strange stsrtup file) file on your
computer?

I have fixed 4 machines with this problem and it takes less then five
minutes.