pop ups and no control panel

[tetonbob]

When files found by other scanners are in the Recovery directory inside the Spybot-S&D directory, it is only a backup. It is no longer of any harm there, as the file won't be loaded from there. But once you are sure you don't need the backup, go to the Recovery section inside Spybot-S&D and purge the files.

1. Open Spybot.
If you have a shortcut on your desktop, double click it.
or
Click Start, then All Programs, then Spybot - Search & Destroy and then Spybot - Search & Destroy.
2. On the left side, click "Recovery".
3. Select (place a check) beside ALL the backup files that contain quarantined items.
4. Click on the Purge Selected Items button.
5. A dialog will appear, stating that the backup will be removed. Click Yes.
6. When the Recovery window is empty, Exit Spybot.


Open NOTEPAD.exe and copy/paste the text in the codebox below into it:

@echo off
if exist "%temp%\log.txt" del "%temp%\log.txt"

for %%g in (

"C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.20071225-134520.backup"

) do (
del /a/f %%g >nul 2>&1
if exist %%g echo.%%g>>"%temp%\log.txt"
)

for %%g in (

%systemdrive%\Deckard

) do (
rd /s/q %%g >nul 2>&1
if exist %%g echo.%%g>>"%temp%\log.txt"
)
if exist "%temp%\log.txt" ( start notepad "%temp%\log.txt"
) else echo.Deleted Successfully !!

pause
del %0

Save this as fix.bat Choose to "Save type as - All Files"
It should look like this:
Double click on fix.bat & allow it to run

Post back to tell me what it says

[uniqeme]

It said "Deleted succesfully!! Press any key to continue"

[tetonbob]

Plesae do press any key, if you've not already.

Your logs appear clean.You should be good to go. We still have a few items to address.

Go to -> Run -> copy/paste in the following single line command & click OK

combofix /u

This will uninstall ComboFix. It will also implement some cleanup procedures and reset System Restore points.

Now that your system is clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you follow these steps and use the following free programs:

• Microsoft Windows Update - http://www.windowsupdate.com
  Visit regularly. This will ensure your computer always has the latest security updates. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.
  
  
• SpywareBlaster to help prevent spyware from installing in the first place.
  • Install & update SpywareBlaster with the latest definitions.
    After you have updated, click the button - enable protection for all unprotected items
• MVPS HOST FILE
  The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one that will restrict known ad sites form serving you unsolicited advertisements. Basically, this prevents your computer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is the IP of your local computer.
  • Download Host.zip to your desktop.
  • From your Desktop right-click (hosts.zip) and select:
    Extract All from the menu.
    
  • Click Next, click Next, select the option:
    "Show Extracted files", click Finish
    
  • This will open the newly created hosts folder on your Desktop.
    
  • Double-click on the included mvps.bat file, this will rename the existing HOSTS file to HOSTS.MVP, then it will copy the included updated HOSTS file to the correct location on your machine.
    
  • Once updated you should see another prompt that the task was completed.
• ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
  It is very important that you have anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future. It is imperative that you update your antivirus software at least once a week (even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then it will not be able to catch new malware that may have come out.
  
  Do not install more than one AntiVirus program because they will conflict with each other.
  
  
• FIREWALL
  Using a third-party firewall will allow you to give/deny access for applications that want to go online. Without a firewall your computer is susceptible to being hacked and taken over. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. A tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones can be found here
  
  Do not install more than one firewall program because they will conflict with each other.

Scan here http://secunia.com/software_inspector/ for out of date & vulnerable common applications on your computer

Here are some additional utilities that will further enhance your safety.

• http://www.trillian.cc ? Trillian or http://www.miranda-im.com ? Miranda-IM - These are Malware free Instant Messenger programs which allow you to connect to multiple IM services in one program! (AOL, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, MSN)
  
  
• http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ - Firefox - Use this alternate browser. While Internet Explorer is not a bad browser, almost every exploit crafted is targeted to take advantage of an IE weakness.
  
  
• http://java.com/en/index.jsp - Sun's Java - It's much more secure than Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine.
  
  
• http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt-setup.exe - ERUNT - A useful freeware utility for users of Windows 2000/XP. It's made up of two parts - ERUNT & NTREGOPT.
  
  ERUNT will create daily complete backups of your computer's Registry. Whilst System Restore does the same thing, a corrupt registry file may prevent Windows from booting & this effectively renders disables System Restore. With ERUNT, you're able to restore the damaged Registry.
  
  NTREGOPT works by recreating each registry hive "from scratch", thus removing any slack space that may be left from previously modified or deleted keys. In other words, it compacts the Registry to a small size which allows Windows to load & perform faster.

In light of your recent troubles, I'm sure you'll like to avoid any future infections. Please take a look at these well written articles

• HOW DID I GET INFECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE?
• MAKING INTERNET EXPLORER SAFER

If you want to fight back the Malware Writers that have made your life a misery, please take a look here and read what you can do against it.

Please respond to this thread one more time so we can mark this thread as resolved.

[uniqeme]

Hi,

Thank you soo much for all your help! I had one more question... I tried installing the updates (the first one was the SP2 update) but it goes halfway through and then it gives me an error message "access is denied" and stops the installation. Would you be able to help me with that???? This same problem kept on coming up before you helped me out with the other stuff!

Thanks once again!

[tetonbob]

Probably best if you ask for help for that issue in our Windows XP support forum. The staff and members in that area will be better able to assist you with that.

[tetonbob]

Or....you can try this first:

Let's try dial-a-fix

http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix

• Download/save the program and extract to it's own folder.
  
• In the WU/WUAU area click the button Flush SoftwareDistribution (Click Yes)
  
• Tick all boxes in the WU/WUAU and Registration center area then click the Go button.

There is also a Policies area that will show any registry restrictions. Check on that, and fix any found.

[uniqeme]

Thank you soo much for ALL your help!! You're awesome!! :)

[tetonbob]

Thanks...

Did Dial-a-fix solve the problem?