user accounts and lost files

[Guest]

This morning when I woke up the computer I noticed that all the icons for the
accounts on the welcome psge hsd changed to the chess picture snd then when i
logged onto my account I had the messages that virtual memory low,norton
antivirus subscription unable to read. I then checked ie explorer and found
the home page had changed to a mixture of symbols and wouldn't change back
and i was unable to access the main section on registry microsoft/ie
explore/main (this has happened before but is usually fixed by by just
restarting the computer). I then found all my documents and saved files
missing as well. I check the other account users and their were fine. I
restarted computer but although home page was reset nothing else was so I
tried changing the user account pictures but no appeared in the box as normal.
i am presuming i have a virus by have been unable to locate the problem
despite virus scans.
anyone any ideas

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

I am assuming you did a virus scan with up to date virus software.

Next search and destroy any installed SpyWare/malware/adware:
Ad-aware is a free multi spyware removal utility that scans
your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware
components and lets you remove them safely. After installing
Ad-Aware make sure to run the update feature before scanning.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ For large amounts of installed
spyware and such, it may be necessary to run Ad-Aware several
times to clear them all.

Here are a couple more removal tools that should also be run.
CWShredder: http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/

SpywareBlaster:
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it
prevents it from ever being installed. SpywareBlaster is
a non memory resident utility. It works by setting a "kill bit"
for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls, it prevents the
installation of any of them from a webpage.

For more information:
The Parasite Fight:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Cleaning a Pest-Infested Computer:
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

 

[Guest]

Yes and I have just enstalled and run the ADAWARE as you suggested but
although it found few more infected items than my other virus scanners it has
not fixed the problem. it looks as though all files and pictures from my
documents and favourites have been deleted. the only items deleted from the
others users are the shared pictures from 'my pictures' folder all their
other files and photos are still intact
Wegs

Hi,

I am assuming you did a virus scan with up to date virus software.

Next search and destroy any installed SpyWare/malware/adware:
Ad-aware is a free multi spyware removal utility that scans
your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware
components and lets you remove them safely. After installing
Ad-Aware make sure to run the update feature before scanning.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ For large amounts of installed
spyware and such, it may be necessary to run Ad-Aware several
times to clear them all.

Here are a couple more removal tools that should also be run.
CWShredder: http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/

SpywareBlaster:
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it
prevents it from ever being installed. SpywareBlaster is
a non memory resident utility. It works by setting a "kill bit"
for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls, it prevents the
installation of any of them from a webpage.

For more information:
The Parasite Fight:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Cleaning a Pest-Infested Computer:
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/

This morning when I woke up the computer I noticed that
all the icons for the accounts on the welcome psge hsd
changed to the chess picture snd then when i logged onto
my account I had the messages that virtual memory
low,norton antivirus subscription unable to read. I then
checked ie explorer and found the home page had changed
to a mixture of symbols and wouldn't change back and i
was unable to access the main section on registry
microsoft/ie explore/main (this has happened before but
is usually fixed by by just restarting the computer). I
then found all my documents and saved files missing as
well. I check the other account users and their were
fine. I restarted computer but although home page was
reset nothing else was so I tried changing the user
account pictures but no appeared in the box as normal. i
am presuming i have a virus by have been unable to locate
the problem despite virus scans.
anyone any ideas

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

Ad-aware is not virus scanner, it scans for and remove spyware,
adware, parasites and the like.

Did you run Spybot and CWShredder as I suggested? And install
Spywareblaster?

These programs are not going to reverse the problem but hopefully keep
it from happening again.

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/

Yes and I have just enstalled and run the ADAWARE as you
suggested but although it found few more infected items
than my other virus scanners it has not fixed the
problem. it looks as though all files and pictures from
my documents and favourites have been deleted. the only
items deleted from the others users are the shared
pictures from 'my pictures' folder all their other files
and photos are still intact
Wegs

Hi,

I am assuming you did a virus scan with up to date virus
software.

Next search and destroy any installed
SpyWare/malware/adware: Ad-aware is a free multi spyware
removal utility that scans
your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware
components and lets you remove them safely. After
installing Ad-Aware make sure to run the update feature
before scanning. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ For large
amounts of installed spyware and such, it may be
necessary to run Ad-Aware several times to clear them
all.

Here are a couple more removal tools that should also be
run. CWShredder:
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/

SpywareBlaster:
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it
prevents it from ever being installed. SpywareBlaster is
a non memory resident utility. It works by setting a
"kill bit" for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls,
it prevents the installation of any of them from a
webpage.

For more information:
The Parasite Fight:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Cleaning a Pest-Infested Computer:
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/

This morning when I woke up the computer I noticed that
all the icons for the accounts on the welcome psge hsd
changed to the chess picture snd then when i logged onto
my account I had the messages that virtual memory
low,norton antivirus subscription unable to read. I
then checked ie explorer and found the home page had
changed to a mixture of symbols and wouldn't change
back and i was unable to access the main section on
registry microsoft/ie explore/main (this has happened
before but is usually fixed by by just restarting the
computer). I then found all my documents and saved
files missing as well. I check the other account users
and their were fine. I restarted computer but although
home page was reset nothing else was so I tried
changing the user account pictures but no appeared in
the box as normal. i am presuming i have a virus by
have been unable to locate the problem despite virus
scans.
anyone any ideas

 

[Guest]

es
I already had spybot installed and spywareblaster running but something must
still infect this as as everytime my home page is changed it shows the error
message 'spywareblaster has encountered a problem and has to close'.

In relation to all the missing files/photos i suppose the only thing i can
do is a reinstall/repair of XP then.( I know i will not be able to recover my
own files and photos though) but it will repair any corrupt files

Wegs

Hi,

Ad-aware is not virus scanner, it scans for and remove spyware,
adware, parasites and the like.

Did you run Spybot and CWShredder as I suggested? And install
Spywareblaster?

These programs are not going to reverse the problem but hopefully keep
it from happening again.

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/

Yes and I have just enstalled and run the ADAWARE as you
suggested but although it found few more infected items
than my other virus scanners it has not fixed the
problem. it looks as though all files and pictures from
my documents and favourites have been deleted. the only
items deleted from the others users are the shared
pictures from 'my pictures' folder all their other files
and photos are still intact
Wegs

Hi,

I am assuming you did a virus scan with up to date virus
software.

Next search and destroy any installed
SpyWare/malware/adware: Ad-aware is a free multi spyware
removal utility that scans
your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware
components and lets you remove them safely. After
installing Ad-Aware make sure to run the update feature
before scanning. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ For large
amounts of installed spyware and such, it may be
necessary to run Ad-Aware several times to clear them
all.

Here are a couple more removal tools that should also be
run. CWShredder:
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/

SpywareBlaster:
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it
prevents it from ever being installed. SpywareBlaster is
a non memory resident utility. It works by setting a
"kill bit" for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls,
it prevents the installation of any of them from a
webpage.

For more information:
The Parasite Fight:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Cleaning a Pest-Infested Computer:
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/


wegs wrote:
This morning when I woke up the computer I noticed that
all the icons for the accounts on the welcome psge hsd
changed to the chess picture snd then when i logged onto
my account I had the messages that virtual memory
low,norton antivirus subscription unable to read. I
then checked ie explorer and found the home page had
changed to a mixture of symbols and wouldn't change
back and i was unable to access the main section on
registry microsoft/ie explore/main (this has happened
before but is usually fixed by by just restarting the
computer). I then found all my documents and saved
files missing as well. I check the other account users
and their were fine. I restarted computer but although
home page was reset nothing else was so I tried
changing the user account pictures but no appeared in
the box as normal. i am presuming i have a virus by
have been unable to locate the problem despite virus
scans.
anyone any ideas

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

You may want to check here also.
AumHa Forums :: View Forum - Parasites - Adware, Spyware & Other
Scumware
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=28&sid=c7291725cb3088c8235ef20fc69e4d12

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/

es
I already had spybot installed and spywareblaster running
but something must still infect this as as everytime my
home page is changed it shows the error message
'spywareblaster has encountered a problem and has to
close'.

In relation to all the missing files/photos i suppose the
only thing i can do is a reinstall/repair of XP then.( I
know i will not be able to recover my own files and
photos though) but it will repair any corrupt files

Wegs

Hi,

Ad-aware is not virus scanner, it scans for and remove
spyware, adware, parasites and the like.

Did you run Spybot and CWShredder as I suggested? And
install Spywareblaster?

These programs are not going to reverse the problem but
hopefully keep it from happening again.

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/

Yes and I have just enstalled and run the ADAWARE as you
suggested but although it found few more infected items
than my other virus scanners it has not fixed the
problem. it looks as though all files and pictures from
my documents and favourites have been deleted. the only
items deleted from the others users are the shared
pictures from 'my pictures' folder all their other files
and photos are still intact
Wegs

:

Hi,

I am assuming you did a virus scan with up to date
virus software.

Next search and destroy any installed
SpyWare/malware/adware: Ad-aware is a free multi
spyware removal utility that scans
your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware
components and lets you remove them safely. After
installing Ad-Aware make sure to run the update feature
before scanning. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ For large
amounts of installed spyware and such, it may be
necessary to run Ad-Aware several times to clear them
all.

Here are a couple more removal tools that should also
be run. CWShredder:
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/

SpywareBlaster:
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it
prevents it from ever being installed. SpywareBlaster
is a non memory resident utility. It works by setting a
"kill bit" for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls,
it prevents the installation of any of them from a
webpage.

For more information:
The Parasite Fight:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Cleaning a Pest-Infested Computer:
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/


wegs wrote:
This morning when I woke up the computer I noticed
that all the icons for the accounts on the welcome
psge hsd changed to the chess picture snd then when i
logged onto my account I had the messages that
virtual memory low,norton antivirus subscription
unable to read. I then checked ie explorer and found
the home page had changed to a mixture of symbols and
wouldn't change back and i was unable to access the
main section on registry microsoft/ie explore/main
(this has happened before but is usually fixed by by
just restarting the computer). I then found all my
documents and saved files missing as well. I check
the other account users and their were fine. I
restarted computer but although home page was reset
nothing else was so I tried changing the user account
pictures but no appeared in the box as normal. i am
presuming i have a virus by have been unable to
locate the problem despite virus scans.
anyone any ideas