tetonbob

Please print out or copy this page to Notepad. Make sure to work through the fixes in the exact order it is mentioned below. If there's anything that you don't understand, ask your question(s) before proceeding with the fixes. You should 'not' have any open browsers when you are following the procedures below.

Go to My Computer->View->Folder Options->View tab and make sure that 'Show all files' is checked under the 'Hidden Files' section. Also make sure there is no checkmark beside 'Hide file extensions for known file types'.

Restart your computer and boot into Safe Mode by hitting the F8 key repeatedly until a menu shows up (and choose Safe Mode from the list). In some systems, this may be the F5 key, so try that if F8 doesn't work. Make sure to close any open browsers.

Run a scan in HijackThis. Check each of the following and hit 'Fix checked' (after checking them) if they still exist (make sure not to miss any):

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [winmain] winmain.exe
O4 - Startup: palstart.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.aol.com


Delete the following Files/Folders (delete folders if no filename is specified) according to their directory (if none, just do a search for them) and delete them if they exist:

winmain.exe<<<find via Start>Search
palstart.exe<<<find via Start>Search

Restart into normal mode now.

I see you've run a scan with Panda ActiveScan, but I'd like to see a log, so please do this:

Perform an online scan with Internet Explorer with Panda ActiveScan - requires Internet Explorer

1. Click on the Scan your PC button & a 'pop up' window shall appear. * ensure that your pop up blocker doesn't block it
2. Click On 'Scan Now'
3. Enter your e-mail address & click 'Scan Now' ...begins downloading Panda's ActiveX controls.- 8MB
4. Begin the scan by selecting My Computer
   * You needn't remain online while it's doing the scan but you have to re-connect after it has finished to see the report.
5. If it finds any malware, it will offer you a report. Click on see report
6. Then click Save report
7. Post the contents of the report in your next reply

* Turn off the real time scanner of any existing antivirus program while performing the online scan

Next, run a new HijackThis scan. Save the log file and post it here.