random important files disappear, no virus found

[wiresnips]

The title pretty much sums things up. Three or four files
with important-sounding extensions (dll's for the most
part) were declared missing when I booted up. Second
reboot had no error message, but all the symptoms (things
run slow and crash) were still there. System restore more
or less fixed the symptoms, but when I got to run a
service pack it says it can't find an essential .inf, so
I don't think my troubles are solved. I'm not actually
haveing any problems, but this seems like the kind of
thing that'l bite me in the ass as soon as I've forgotten
to worry about it. Howabouts woudl I find out again which
files are missing, and how woudl I replace them? I don;'t
want to go to the hassle of a reinstall, what with the
antipiracy authentication redtape waiting to strangle me.

suggestions?

 

[PA Bear]

Rule out hijackware:

Dealing with Hijackware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm#tshoot
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

These days most of us are recommending HijackThis to identify and assist in
the removal of these bad guys. **Post your files to
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/, not here.**

NB: If you have ever downloaded HijackThis or CWShredder, it is urgent that
you upgrade to the latest versions before using them again. Due to a new
variant of the CWS Trojan, using either HijackThis or CWShredder on an
infected Win98 or WinME computer may lead to severe damage to that computer.
You must update to the very newest versions of these programs before using
either of them again, and you should get a new copy of CWShredder before
each and every use.
(11 Nov-03)

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/hijackthis.zip :: HijackThis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/cwshredder.zip :: CWShredder
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html :: SpywareBlaster

Also update your virus definitions and then run a full system scan. From
now on, do both daily.
--
HTH...Please post back to this thread

~Robear Dyer (aka PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp