Spybot messed up my XP-SP2

[Ed]

I installed Spybot on my XP (SP2) laptop. At the beginning is asked to
make a backup and I accepted it. I have not ran the scan but now I have
these problems on my machine:

- The list of running tasks are not shown on the taskbar (the ones
between Quick Lunch and sys tray)
- Right click on a drive in Window Explorer and selecting Search does
not display anything.
- Help and Support does not display anything.
- Right clicking on a link in IE and selecting Open in New Window or
clicking on a link in IE that it's displayed in new window does not do
anything.
- Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore
does not display the System Restore window.
- I checked the property of the System Restore and saw it points to
rstrui.exe. I started this from Windows Explorer. It displays an empty
windows with System Restore title.
- Norton AV displays a message basically telling me that something is
not consistence.

I try to run the Spybot Recovery but it does not show anything backup
list. I short, the system is screwed. What can be done to fix this?

Thanks

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Ed;
Try System Restore to Date/time before issue started:
Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore.

Spybot most likely was not the cause.
Most likely the issue was there or already waiting to happen.
Do you suspect you have spyware or a virus?
That could explain it.

 

[Ed]

Thanks for your reply.

As I said in my original post, I cannot do System Restore neither.

I did not expect any spyware. I use the Yahoo toolbar to remove spyware
and does not show anything.

 

[Steven Henson]

Thanks for your reply.

As I said in my original post, I cannot do System Restore neither.

I did not expect any spyware. I use the Yahoo toolbar to remove spyware
and does not show anything.

I used Spybot on a XP SP2 machine without any problems. I doubt that this is the
issue.

If you cannot do a restore and you uninstall SP2 from Add/Remove Programs?

See if anything here will help you:-

http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm


Steven

 

[PA Bear]

And you say you just installed Spybot but never scanned with it? Did you
use any of Spybot's 'Immunize' features/options?

How long had you had SP2 installed when you installed Spybot? If you were
sufficiently pleased with the way <spit> Yahoo Toolbar dealt with spyware,
what caused you to install Spybot?

Does uninstalling Spybot make any difference?

Does uninstalling SP2?

Like Jupiter Jones, I'd suspect the install of Spybot has nothing to do with
your problem. Most of us are recommending that those with laptops,
especially older ones, contact the manufacturer for info on upgrading to
SP2. I would not upgrade until I got an "all clear" from the manufacturer
as well as download links for any model-specific drivers which SP2 would
require.

I would uninstall SP2 and then run a thorough check for hijackware, Ed:

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

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

WinXP SP2: What's New for Internet Explorer and Outlook Express
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/ieoeoverview.mspx

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

 

[Ed]

And you say you just installed Spybot but never scanned with it? Did
you use any of Spybot's 'Immunize' features/options?

Yes. I checked i=the Immunize feature.

How long had you had SP2 installed when you installed Spybot? If you
were sufficiently pleased with the way <spit> Yahoo Toolbar dealt with
spyware, what caused you to install Spybot?

Someone told me that it has a feature like MSCONFIG to disable some of
the startup task but it's better. I also wanted to have another program
to search my machine.

Does uninstalling Spybot make any difference?

No. It did not.

Does uninstalling SP2?

No. I uninstalled SP2 and nothing changed

Like Jupiter Jones, I'd suspect the install of Spybot has nothing to do
with your problem. Most of us are recommending that those with laptops,
especially older ones, contact the manufacturer for info on upgrading to
SP2. I would not upgrade until I got an "all clear" from the
manufacturer as well as download links for any model-specific drivers
which SP2 would require.

I have a Sony laptop which is less than 6 month old. I had XP2 for at
least a couple of weeks and had no complain. This happened immediately
after I installed Spybot.

What should be my next step?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Sorry Ed, how did I miss that.

Uninstall Spybot through Add/Remove Programs

Follow the yellow section on this link, skip Spybot:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

Otherwise check for damaged/missing system files:
Start/Run
Type "sfc /scannow" ENTER
Follow prompts and have the Windows XP CD available.

 

[Ed]

Did you not see?...

I did the fix in aumha and it did not seem to work. Nothing happened
between the 2 lines even when I ran it from their page as instructed. I
installed and ran ad-aware and it detected many entries but all where
tracking cookies and some "alex" if I remember. I removed this, reboot,
still the same.

Did you Immunize on the tab of the same name or did you 'Immunize IE' in
advanced mode without RTFM?

I used the tab and not the advanced mode. I disabled it before
uninstalling Spybot.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Ed]

Thanks. I tried a few of the links in the yellow section but none worked
due to my IE problem. I tried sfc command and now the system is back to
normal.

I appreciate all the help.

 

[PA Bear]

I did the fix in aumha and it did not seem to work. Nothing happened
between the 2 lines even when I ran it from their page as instructed.

You ran the "online quick *check*" at http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm; You did
not complete all the recommended "Quick *Fix*" steps at
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm. The "online quick check" is but a cursory
scan for the easier-to-find and -identify hijackers. Passing the "quick
check" is not a clean bill of health by any means nor is running the scan a
thorough check for hijackware.

I installed and ran ad-aware and it detected many entries but all where
tracking cookies and some "alex" if I remember. I removed this, reboot,
still the same.

Did you install Ad-aware SE v1.05 (core) *and* seek & install updates before
scanning?

I used the tab and not the advanced mode. I disabled it before
uninstalling Spybot.

That would *not* have accounted for the problems you were having IMHO.

I tried sfc command and now the system is back to
normal.

Thanks for your time.

YW, Ed. I have a hunch you'll be back. <w>

"There is no 'silver bullet' solution."
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=33131