Please help me

[Guest]

I just finished cleaning my computer from virus', adwarem and malware; my
recent scans from several programs by the aid of a tech specializing in this
proves this; however, it has dome a lot of damage to my computer. I'm trying
to repair my Internet Explorer program. I tried to to the following: 1) From
the Start menu, select Search, and choose Files or Folders; 2) Click the More
Advanced Options item and ensure that there is a checkmark beside the Search
hidden files and folder option; 3) In the Name field, type ie.inf; 4) In the
Look in drop-down menu, click C: or the letter of the hard drive that
contains the Windows folder; 5) Click the Search Now button. The correct
ie.inf file should be located in the Windows\Inf folder; 6) Right click the
ie.inf file and choose Install from the drop-down menu that appears;

The problem is that when I do this, I get a FILES NEEDED window that tells
me "The file IEXPLORE.EXE on Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 1 is
needed" [without quote]. I've searched and searched on my DELL OPERATING
SYSTEM MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION INCLUDING SERVICE PACK 1a CD, but is
no where to be found. What can I do to fix my I.E.? Thank you. Ben

 

[Uncle John]

Ben,

It reads you have not installed Service pack 2. I suggest that you so.

Otherwise to correct problems in your existing system, hit Start\Run
Type cmd then hit enter to get a command prompt
At the command prompt type sfc /scannow
This will start the Windows System File Checker. It will prompt you to
insert your installation CD and then repair any missing files.

 

[PA Bear]

1. Is WinXP SP2 already installed?

2. What problems are you still having which you think repairing IE might
resolve, Ben?

 

[PA Bear]

If SP2 is not installed and problems due to hijackware persist, best not to
install SP2 just yet.

 

[Guest]

Dear PA Bear: First of all, yes, you are right. A few months ago I installed
the SP2 update while, unbeknowst to me, I had malware on my computer. I just
finished cleaning out my computer a few days ago. I've even used several
programs, including Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta, Norton Internet Security,
AD-Aware SE Personal, Spyware Blaster 3.4, About Buster, and CWShredder 2.14
to scan and insure no virus', adware, or malware exist still in my computer.
Here are the problems that I'm still having with my computer as you asked
for):

1) I cannot access the Windows XP Update site; every time that I do, I get
to the window for it; however, it never scans and times out; consequently,
nothing happens and it subsequently times out; ergo, I am not able to
download the SP2 update as you suggested;

2) Every time I log onto the Internet after my Connect To window connects to
it, a window for Windows Messenger pops up asking me if I want to update the
program to a newer version; every time that I do so, I go through the update,
and still am not able to Log On to this program;

3) I'm also unable to Log On to the Newsgroups in Outlook Express;

4) I'm also not able view any movie clips that I download from trusted
sites, e.g. trailers from Yahoo Movies;

5) Also, when I'm on my desktop, after a while, my CONNECT TO window just
pops up on it without my prompting or clicking on the icon for it;

Furthermore, I ran the SYSTEM FILE CHECKER as you said. When I did so, afer
putting in the CD for my Dell Operating System with WXP SEr. Pk 1a, I kept
getting a window constantly about 100 times telling me that it can't find a
file; each time I clicked the RETRY button, and the download bar kept
progressing until the scan completed (I'm presuming it obtained the files it
needed).

What should I do? Thank you.

Ben

 

[PA Bear]

Please include previous messages in your replies, Ben.

It sounds like the machine still has some hijackware present, despite using
those anti-malware tools (CWShredder v2.15 and Ad-aware SE v1.06 are new
versions, BTW). When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.net/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware.

Post your HijackThis log to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 or
another appropriate forum for expert analysis, not here.

Given your last post, I'd advise that you Uninstall SP2 via Add/Remove
Programs (if you've not done so already) before attempting to resolve the
lingering hijackware problem. Once an expert has given your HijackThis log
a clean bill of health, then you can install SP2 (and any other critical
updates) again.

More inline below.

Dear PA Bear: First of all, yes, you are right. A few months ago I
installed the SP2 update while, unbeknowst to me, I had malware on my
computer. I just finished cleaning out my computer a few days ago. I've
even used several programs, including Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta, Norton
Internet Security, AD-Aware SE Personal, Spyware Blaster 3.4, About
Buster, and CWShredder 2.14 to scan and insure no virus', adware, or
malware exist still in my computer. Here are the problems that I'm still
having with my computer as you asked for):

1) I cannot access the Windows XP Update site; every time that I do, I get
to the window for it; however, it never scans and times out; consequently,
nothing happens and it subsequently times out; ergo, I am not able to
download the SP2 update as you suggested;

See above. You need to rule out hijackware and Trojan infections as a cause
of this problem.

2) Every time I log onto the Internet after my Connect To window connects
to it, a window for Windows Messenger pops up asking me if I want to
update the program to a newer version; every time that I do so, I go
through the update, and still am not able to Log On to this program;

Probably related to the lingering infections.

If you don't use Windows Messenger, you can disable or remove it:
http://kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_messenger.htm

3) I'm also unable to Log On to the Newsgroups in Outlook Express;

What happens when you try to do so?

4) I'm also not able view any movie clips that I download from trusted
sites, e.g. trailers from Yahoo Movies;

Again, probably hijackware-related behavior.

5) Also, when I'm on my desktop, after a while, my CONNECT TO window just
pops up on it without my prompting or clicking on the icon for it;

Ditto. Something's trying to "phone home".

Furthermore, I ran the SYSTEM FILE CHECKER as you said. When I did so,
afer putting in the CD for my Dell Operating System with WXP SEr. Pk 1a,
I kept getting a window constantly about 100 times telling me that it
can't find a file; each time I clicked the RETRY button, and the download
bar kept progressing until the scan completed (I'm presuming it obtained
the files it needed).

I didn't suggest any such thing. Another poster did.

Reinstalling IE won't help to resolve hijackware problems as Windows is
what's infected, not the IE browser.

Should you ever need to Repair or Reinstall IE in WinXP, see this KB
article: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318378. (There is an
SP2-specific section there, you'll see.)

 

[Uncle John]

Ben,
When you ran sfc /scannow like that it just skipped the files because it
could not find the original setup, so unfortunately you have not cleaned up
anything.

It seems that you are spending so much time on this you would do better to
reinstall Windows with a clean install and then you are sure that you have
no malware on your system.

 

[Guest]

Thank you. How do I perform a "reinstall Windows with a clean install"
without reformating my computer? Ben

 

[PA Bear]

All yours, Uncle John.
--
~PA Bear

Thank you. How do I perform a "reinstall Windows with a clean install"
without reformating my computer? Ben

 

[Uncle John]

Ben,

A clean install removes everything and installs a clean copy of Windows XP -
in you case you seem to have the disk for XP+SP1 so you will then have to
install Service Pack 2. If you have enough disk space you can allow Windows
to install itself to a new partition, install SP2 and if your internet
access is OK, reinstall programs and pick up the data from the old Windows
still on your computer. Once everything is OK then delete the old version.
However reading what you said earlier you WERE in possession of SP2 and if
you look in Windows you should see a folder called Service Pack Files with a
sub folder I386. In which case have one more try running SFC.--
Uncle John

 

[Guest]

Dear John: Greetings. Thank you for your help so far:

1) My system is apparently cleaned from all viruses, sypware, adware, and
malware;

2) I receive from Microsoft a few days ago a CD by mail for the Windows XP
SP2 update; will it help if I just load it, and would it fix my problems I'm
having?

3) My sub folder I386 has nothing in it, F.Y.I. humbly;

4) How do I make a partition as you said, i.e. can you tell me or show me
step by step documentation as to how to partition my drive (or refer me to
documentation as to how to do so), install a clean copy of WXP from my Dell
OEM Windows XP SP1a CD into the new, empty partion, update everything
necessary on it (note, again, I received the WXP SP2 CD from Microsoft by
mail a few days ago), transfer any files from my current installed O.S. copy
into this newly installed copy that I want to install, and then delete this
current (then old, once I do this) copy of my O.S.? Are there any Microsoft
documents about this? Would this be better than just reinstalling the O.S.
over the one I currently have in my computer?

Thank you so much. Ben J.